CHOOSING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATION
I want you to choose a place where you will feel comfortable and love the photos I take. In choosing a location, please consider the following Tips.
Personalize your Shoot
Find a location that is personal to you and your family, a place that will be representative of the things that will spark your family’s or your child’s personality. You may find a special park, farms, historic sites, old buildings that work for you. You may have a horse, a meadow, a dog – but make it personal for you. The sites can be determined by colors and textures as well as “things”.
Determine the Lighting
Being first and foremost a photographer of natural light, ensuring plenty of natural lighting is always a good choice. The time of day can also determine the most ideal time for snapping those special shots. Direct sunlight in the middle of the day can appear harsh. For these shoots, we will need to be sure we can find a shady spot as well.
WHAT TO WEAR
What you wear for your portrait sessions is just as important as choosing the right location and lighting. In choosing outfits, please consider the following Tips.
- Clothes should be flattering and help you feel your best
- Coordinated and Complemented – not necessarily matching using a couple of colors to meet color scheme
- Determine if you prefer bright or neutral clothing
- Accessories add to your outfits and can be fun – consider hats/necklaces for kids to play with – scarves, jackets, vests, belts, hair accessories – these should complement not be center stage
- Patterns can add interest as well as personality; however these should be limited – everyone should not have patterns – complimentary solids always work well
- Coordinating collections always look well on kids
- Prepare your clothing in advance to be certain it is clean and fits well
- For family or children sessions, characters on shirts will be distracting
- Layers and textures create interest in photos – think tweed, embroidery details, lace, ribbons, ruffles…..Texture is especially good in B&W enhancement – Even with a monotone color palette, many layers and textures add interest
- Shoes matter – think about coordinating to match another member of the shoot’s colorful scarf – hip boots, colorful ballet flats – imagine BOLD and FUN and remember sometimes simply NO shoes work best
- Subtle props work well when kept simple and meaningful – a favorite stuffed animal, a vintage toy/camera/chair, flowers, basket of apples – make sure it makes sense
- Always think about the location or background of your photos in order to maximize results – is your background a rustic barn or urban graffiti wall
- Think Classic – Timeless for choosing for photos that will be hanging on your walls and treasured for years
- Clothes that are comfortable and move well always work well the movement of children – allowing for twirling, jumping, dancing – keeping kids comfy are easier to work with than grouchy and uncomfortable
- Remember these are guidelines – Rules can be broken – If you are unsure, please feel free to email me
