Chances are, if you've ever talked to me for any length of time, you know how important I think it is to have family photographs done. Not only to have family photographs done, but to get them up in your house so you (and everyone who comes into your home) can enjoy them.

But like the cobbler's children have no shoes, I realized last summer that our last family photographs were almost two years old, meaning Grace wasn't in them. Around that same time, I found out the amazing Raye Law of Arkansas was going to be in Seattle in a few short months. So I quickly arranged for her to photograph my family when she was in the area.

I think I bought everyone 3 different outfits before I narrowed down what I wanted everyone to wear. I love the shirt that Angelo is wearing so I started working with yellow and grey. I pulled the grey out of his shirt with Grace's dress and added some colour with her bright pink sweater. I'm not really a skirt girl so I paired my jeans with a long cream blouse and a grey sweater. And Jim was easy with a co-ordinating blue polo shirt.

Basically, when you throw all the clothes we're wearing onto a bed, they all look reasonably good together. Not too much of any one colour but just a good co-ordinating mix.

So the whole point of this post is to let you know that I know it can be stressful to figure out what you're going to wear, who's going to do your hair and make-up, how to get everyone ready right on time etc. but let me tell you, it is so worth it. These still bring tears to my eyes every time I look at them.

all images courtesy of Raye Law Photography

And look at them I do. My favourites from our time together, became this gallery of canvases in our dining room. And I can't even tell me how happy it makes me every day.

Thanks Raye! I treasure the art you created for my family.

What to Wear Part 3: Maternity Session

On to the final installment of what to wear for your family photography session. Today's post covers what to wear for your maternity photographs.

If you missed the first two posts about what to wear for your photography session, check out:
What to Wear for your Family Photography Session and
What to Wear for your Newborn Photography Session

For a lot of people, this session can be the toughest one to dress for. At 37 weeks pregnant, most people don't feel very sexy. But the good news for maternity sessions is.... almost anything goes. Wear that one outfit you have in your closet that you know looks great. If you look great in a white tank and jeans, wear that. If you look fabulous in a fancier dress you bought to wear to a wedding, we can pick a more urban setting and your photographs will look great!


The big thing to keep in mind is the more fitted, the better. We want clothes that are going to show off your gorgeous bump!

And remember, you can always change clothes half way through the session if you want some sexy dressed up photographs and some more casual yoga pant photographs.

What to Wear Part 2: Newborn Session

Naked is best - for your baby that is! Most of the photographs I take will be with your baby in his or her diaper or in the buff. Please make sure you put on loose fitting clothing for the few hours before our session. We don't want to see any elastic marks from tight fitting socks or the waistband from a cute little outfit. Make sure you put the diaper on looser beforehand too - don't want any diaper marks! I have lots of wraps and diaper covers I'll bring along so we'll be able to get some colour and texture into your images that way - though who can resist newborn baby skin.

Hats can be really fun for a few of the images too. I have some I'll bring along but if you've picked up one or two (or ten) bring them out for your session and we can incorporate them.

Don't worry about your little one being cold - we're going to have the heat cranked.

Now that we have your baby sorted out... on to you. I know I'm usually an advocate for colour but newborn sessions are one place where neutral tends to be best. In general, a plain white, black or coloured t-shirt or tank along with jeans, nicer black leggings or yoga pants is great for mom. A plain tee with jeans usually works best for dad.

Since we're going to be inside your house and it's going to be hot, bare feet are a good option. If you're going to wear socks, please make sure they are a similar colour to your pants.

Newborn sessions tend to be fairly simple to dress for but if you have any questions, please put them in the comments or send me an email and I'll post the answer here for everyone.

Coming soon... part 3: maternity sessions.

What to Wear Part 1 : Family Session

You've booked your session and you're excited that you're finally going to have great portraits of your family adorning your home, when suddenly you get a sinking feeling in your stomach. What are you going to wear?

This is definitely the question I get asked about most often. Today I'll go through some general tips about what to wear for your family portrait session. Watch for upcoming blog posts about what to wear for maternity sessions and newborn sessions.

Remember, colour is a good thing! When most people look at my photographs, the first thing they comment on is how colourful they are. While I do bring in lots of colour from wherever we're doing you session, the more colour your wear the more fun and vibrant your images tend to be.

Patterns are also a good thing - especially on kids. Personally I think there is nothing cuter than plaid shorts on little boys or polka dots on little girls.

So colour and patterns are good but how does that help me? I suggest you start with a colourful patterned piece of clothing you love for your children and pull colours out of that when you're coming up with the outfits for the grownups.

Try to think of everyone's outfits combined as one big outfit. If you put all the pieces of clothing that all the members of your family will be wearing during our photo session in a big pile on your bed, you want the pile to be colourful and have some variety but still look fairly pleasing all together.

Here is an example from the JCrew Crewcuts May catalogue. While there's no pattern, there is lots of colour without everyone being too matchy matchy.



And if you happen to be browsing through the May 2009 Crewcuts catalogue online, check out the adorable tutus for girls on pages 8 and 9. I would love to a session with two girls in those tutus!

I'm not a big one for rules but there are a few you need to think about....

1. Avoid words or big logos on clothing. Your eye will immediately jump to them.
2. Avoid obvious trends. These images are going to be on your wall for a long time to come so you don't want to look at them a year from now and say "what was I thinking".
   
3. Dads - do not wear white socks with darker pants and darker shoes. I know, this one goes without saying everyday but seriously, check the socks before you leave the house.
4. Another for dads - take off the wristwatch. Unless your watch was specifically put on to be part of your outfit, take it off for the two hours we'll be together. Your eye will immediately go to the big black thing on your wrist when you're looking at your images.
5. This one is going to be a bit controversial but here goes... you wouldn't all dress in the same thing when you're heading to the mall on the weekend so why would you do it when you're having your family portraits done? Your family is so much more fun and interesting than every family member in white shirts and jeans!
   

If you can't decide between something funky and something a little more traditional, bring a change of clothes in the car. We can take a little break halfway through your session and you can all change in the car.

I do a planning session with all my clients before their actual photo session. Use this opportunity to pull some outfits out of your closets. I'm happy to looking through them and tell you what will look great and what you might want to add.

My final advice... be yourselves. Wear what you're comfortable in - but jazzed up a bit. If the thought of colour in your closet makes you cringe, add a colourful necklace or scarf.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below and I'll make sure and answer them in a future post.