what to wear for a photo session?

The number one thing people ask me when they book a session with me is “What do we wear?”

I used to brush off the question with

“Wear whatever you feel comfortable in!” or “It doesn’t matter!” 

However, in my 20 years of making photos I’ve realized that talking about what to wear before a session can majorly reduce stress for my clients and just a little bit of input can help make my photos interesting, layered, and authentic. 

Here are my top suggestions for feeling comfortable, confident, and yourself for a photoshoot.

* Don’t be afraid of texture, prints, and layers. 

Linen and cotton are my favorite to photograph in the warmer months and in the cooler months I am drawn to knits and flannel.  Don’t be afraid to wear prints that make you happy or to mix prints.  I love a small floral print with a plaid flannel.  Layering can add some dimension and interest to your photos.  Think a cozy sweater over a dress to make it feel less formal. If possible it’s not to have someone wearing something that doesn’t visually cut the body in half (ie don’t have everyone in jeans and a t shirt).

*Shop your closet first. 

There’s nothing wrong with buying some new things for your session but start in your closet first.  Find the pieces you gravitate to and have history with.  Wear your grandmother’s earrings, or that dress your husband lights up when you wear it.    

I love sessions where kids wear their favorite t-shirt, or a tattered tutu.  I can always tell in photos when someone just went to tj max and got everyone something brand new.  Shopping your closet first gives you a jump start on capturing authentic images in your session.  

*Don’t try to be something you’re not. 

I personally love dresses, and I love photographing dresses because of the movement.  But if wearing a dress makes you feel awkward and fake because you’re a jeans and tshirt girl, don’t do it.  If your dad is going to complain the whole time because he’s wearing an itchy sweater, don’t make him.  Who cares how so and so’s photos look, these are your photos, with you in them.  So embrace who you are.

*Wear something that you feel good in at all angles. 

This is not the time to try to squeeze into something that doesn’t fit.  Being photographed in a  photo documentary style or with small children means you aren’t going to be posing and giving just the right angles.  So if you only look good sucking in and giving just the right 45 degree angle to the camera, choose something else. If you don’t love your arms, don’t wear something sleeveless, if you’re sensitive about your belly, don’t wear something you have to suck in to feel confident in.

*Colors don't matter as much as you think they do. 

I always choose texture above color and so a session of mostly neutrals can still feel interesting to me.  Take note of what your background is going to be.  Wearing bright green in the summer isn’t going to pop the same way as wearing white in the snow or orange or red in the fall kind of blends in.  Choosing a few colors that blend well together is great instead of feeling tied to one or two colors.  Don’t overthink it. 

Lastly, if these suggestions make you feel confident and relaxed…that is awesome!  But if following rules stresses you wear whatever you feel like!

Want to make some authentic, priceless photos with me? Send me a message HERE

to sullivan on his 13th birthday

Dear giant, taller than me, grown man valentine child,

You tower over me now. I cannot believe 13 years ago you were so tiny and new and now when you hug me you have to hunch over. In the past 3 months you have grown SO tall, your voice is SO deep, and you just aren’t a little boy anymore! Sometimes I have to remember you’re not a grown adult! Ha!

Well we’ve has a lot of quality time this year…in the ER. In the past few months you have slipped and fallen on a mason jar and cut the side of your butt so deep that you had to get stitches…this happened when I wasn’t home-your brother saved the day with a belt to stop the bleeding. It was not fun. Then a few weeks ago you were playing football at school at lunch and someone tackled you and you broke your pelvis! But the crazy thing is you walked around on it for a few hours and by the time you got home it was hurting pretty bad. After a chiro visit we thought it was sciatica and so I was forcing you to stretch it for 4 days! You got really, really bad and I’ve never seen a human not about to give birth in so much pain. Broke my heart! You’re tough and quiet.

Speaking of quiet, the other day I just said to you in the kitchen

“Sully, you’re gonna have to be a squeaky wheel sometimes!”

You literally are the opposite of the other two. Quiet, a bit more chill, and kind of an inward processor. I don’t want you to get so middle childed here but I think it’s happening by default.

I adore you the way you are. I love how quiet you are but then you pop up with these insanely hilarious one liners. You still love and find animals everywhere you go, especially (to my horror) snakes. You are so into fishing right now and go every chance you get.

It kind of bothers me that authority figures often talk to me about you having the potential to be a leader. I don’t think the world should be made up of all leaders, we wise followers and that is my prayer for you. That you will follow the right people or follow your own self.

Right now you are at the most awkward and hilarious stage. Like 3 months ago I had to force you to shower and now you fix your hair and shop for cologne. Lucy got you old lady curlers as a joke for Christmas and you wore them for real. Cracked me up. You also seem to be trying on all kinds of personas, just finding your way like we all do. I hope that over this next year you find you don’t have to become anything, that you are your own kind of magic we all need.

Your dad took you to Hawaii this December and it you haven’t been the same since. It was paradise for you. You even did a very, very intense 9 mile hike.

You played football and ended up playing quarterback about half the time. You were SO SO good at it. You’re just so un-assuming I think it shocked people. You were steady and didn’t rush and threw some amazing touch downs.

Finding photos felt sooooo painful (like growing pains painful). Here’s something I noticed. That photos after Jimmy came…your little spark came back. Actually, to be honest…I almost broke up with him after our 2nd date and he mentioned how much he loved hunting for salamanders at the river and he had that same twinkle you used to get. I suddenly starting thinking…wait a minute, this guy could be more than just for me. The day I introduced you all we went to the river and both of you were gone in your own little worlds. I have seen that spark come back more and more and more ever since.

This past weekend you had a man date and found the perfect cologne for the school dance next weekend.

I love you so very much. I am pretty positive you’re gonna live your life on the beach somewhere fishing and enjoying the slow life. You joke you’re gonna find a wife who makes a good living so you can just fish.

I’m so glad you’re here, you’re a breath of fresh air to this family of deep feelers and fast movers.

Love Mama

to barclay on his 15th birthday

Barclay,

This will be the year that I will remember as the year you were always flexing. Ha! You have grown so much and gotten so strong and you’ve also become self aware in a way that’s normal but kind of funny.

You wrapped up middle school this May at a small school where I felt you were in a groove that you couldn’t get out of. High school has been wonderful as you find who you are.

You have always excelled at sports but being at a bigger school pushed you in such a good way. This fall you played soccer (goalie) and were the VARSITY football kicker. The first time I heard them say your name over the loud speaker I wept with joy. It’s really something to see your child do something they love and get better at it. I would make you blush as I screamed often “I made him!” ha! You really, really worked hard and it paid off. Even though I almost lost it going to so many games a week, it thrilled me to watch you play. Just as much as I loved watching you kick a field goal, I loved watching you put your arm around the coach’s son who took a liking to you and looked up to you. You also started going to the gym with me to lift and have taken off way past me-working out with guys twice your age in the early mornings. Goodness you are strong-mentally and physically.

This past year has been a little achey as friends have come and gone and you’ve tried to find your place. You are well liked but I know you want deep friendships. It’s been really, really hard to navigate a phone. As much as you want in real life interactions I’ve realized my restrictions regarding phone usage have left you a little in the dark. I hate it. We are figuring it out. I am so glad I waited so long for you to have a phone. You can have full conversations with adults and have pretty good boundaries as far as being present.

Your first girlfriend relationship ended this summer. It really crushed you even though I think you knew it was time. When you told me your eyes were welled with tears as you denied it hurting. You were a great boyfriend. You were so thoughtful, tender, attentive, and you were even in tune with her cycle and would walk to the Dollar General to buy chocolate with your own money when you knew it was her time.

This year Jimmy came into our lives and I love seeing ya’ll together. You have the same sense of humor and the same tender heart. It’s been interesting and wonderful to see you not have to be “the man of the house”, and also at times a little wobbly. I’m so very glad that you have his daily example. I’m so glad you get a front row seat to the work we put into our relationship, the romance, the tiny things that make a good life.

I’m trying to balance your obsession with lifting and sports with exposure to yoga. You’ve started going to yoga at my studio on Wednesdays and you chatting with the older ladies melts me. Your willingness to go and be the only guy sometimes speaks a lot to your inner confidence.

It has been kind of a hard year financially for me as I have taken some big risks in my businesses. You are the most grateful person and always aware of my desire to get you what you might want but also so forgiving of my limitations. I’ll never forget going to the Nike outlet before high school started. Money was so tight and I knew that you wanted the yellow back pack, it made your eyes light up. But you told me a dozen times you were fine with the simple black one that was half the price and I knew you meant it. I’m bad at math but figured it all up and made it happen (with 56 cents to spare). Your delight and surprise and gratitude that day…I’ll never forget it. You were so kind to me when I found out the FIFA game I got for the used xbox I traded someone for was NINE seasons behind the most current one. In fact, you really leaned into the word retro for that. Thanks haha. For your birthday I got you $40 to dollar general for snacks and you were wild with happiness. You’re so easy to please.

I’m so proud of you. I’m proud of the man you are becoming, the way you are navigating hard things, the way you push yourself, the way you open yourself up to new things. You have a beautiful heart, even if you do pretend to have a tough exterior. You don’t fool me.

Parenting you is simultaneously healing part of my wounds and bringing waves of grief. I truly love that you know I love you even as you make mistakes. I watch in awe as you learn and shift and grow, knowing that when you go into the world you’ll be whole. I have said it so much but I will say it again…you do not ever make me feel like I have to be a perfect mom, and I really am thankful for that.

I love you and that impish grin of yours. I really, truly love spending time with you. You are SO much fun. Excited to see you grow and become. We’ve got this.

Mama