This week I will leave the introduction of Jessica Paxson of Jessica Paxson Photography up to our very own Morgan Dawson … here’s what they have to say:

Every few weeks we invite a fellow photographer to be a guest contributor. I’ve been following Jessica Paxson’s work for some time now, and immediately thought she would be a fun addition to our lineup. What makes her unique is the attention to detail she puts into her shoots. Sessions often have a theme, and she isn’t afraid to think outside the box. What I personally find difficult is striking a balance between doing too little – and doing too much when it comes to styling a shoot. You want to convey a theme or feeling, but avoid looking hokey or tacky. While the easy thing to do is play it safe, a well thought-out look can really take your photos to the next level.

This session from Jessica helped inspire a recent shoot of my own. The mother wanted to take some photos of her son in a relaxed setting. Knowing how much he loves to paint, we decided to make that our theme. We talked about the shoot for weeks, gathered materials, and asked friends and family if we could borrow props. On the day of the shoot we met each other with two cars full of options – it was great! What resulted was a totally unique session and a photo neither of us will forget. Bottom line – the more effort you put into your shoot – be it wardrobe or props – the more personal and rewarding the final image will be.

Before I let Jessica introduce herself, I’ll show you the image that inspired her this week. Rock on!

Hello, hello everyone! My name is Jessica Paxson of Jessica Paxson Photography First off I have to thank all the ladies at Wardrobe Wednesday for asking me to do a guest spot! I’m really excited and I hope you enjoy the looks I put together for you.
 
I chose to do a family look because those are the type of sessions I enjoy most. There is just something about capturing the love a family has for each other that really makes me love this job — probably because I am a mother myself of three amazing little boys, and there is nothing I love more than when I get a shot of the boys just being their crazy, fun loving, sweet, silly, ornery selves, and being able to capture that moment and keep it forever!
For today’s looks I’m sharing with you a little bit of a rock & roll theme, because let’s all face it, who wouldn’t love to be a rock star for a day? The looks I’ve chose can all be found at Gap and Piperlime. Enjoy

Mom
Center Seam Dolman Sweater $49.50
Boyfriend Jean $69.50
Lightwash Lip Scarf $29.50
Black Denim Lip Tote $39.50
Naughtey Monkey (Rugged Racy) Shoes $89.00
Hive & Honey Antique Button Ring $22.00
Hive & Honey Stud Stretch Bracelet $32.00
Hive and Honey Leather Wrap Bracelet $24.00
 
Dad
Jefferson Cord Blazer $88.00
Merino Hoodie $69.50
The New Crewneck “T” $16.50
Authentic Fit Jeans (deconstructed vintage) $49.99
Slub Knit Beanie $16.50
Converse Check taylor (specialty ox) $50
 
Young Boy
Skull Sweater $39.50
Heather Plaid Flannel $26.50
Slub knit beanie $16.50
Creative Recreation (Cesario XVI) Shoes $35.99
 
Young Girl
Admirals Jacket $42.50
Ruched turtleneck $16.50
Solid Tights $10.50
Charcoal Bloomers $29.50
Headband $7.50
Jessica Simpson (lilana) Boots $55.00
 
Baby Boy
Wool Moto Jacket $44.50
Mini Skinny Jeans (black wash) $29.50
Mohawk Fleece Hat $12.50
Skull Scarf $24.50
Sriped Sweater $24.50
Creative Reaction (testa toddler) Shoes $43.99
 
Baby Girl
Moto Jacket $29.50
Tiered Ruffle Tutu $26.50
Tight n shoes $12.99
Striped Boatneck Sweater $12.99

I had a wonderful time with Kendal and her mom last week on a beautiful fall evening.  During Kendal’s consultation I learned that she wants to go into fashion merchandising, so I was really excited to see what she brought to wear, and she did NOT disappoint.    Some fabulous retailer will be lucky to have her one day!  I really love that she took advantage of switching up her accessories too.  I’m not sure if I got them all in the sneak peek, but we did have some shoe and jewelry changes among her different outfits, which I think is great!  Kendal had some great ideas of her own, including bringing her rain boots so we could end the evening in the lake.  Love it!  Kendal has a gorgeous natural smile and an awesome “serious” face too, hence the huge sneak peek.  I hope it was worth the wait!    Thanks for a great session, and enjoy your sneak peek!

I have so enjoyed working with Chandler and her Mom, and I know they have been anxiously (but patiently) awaiting this sneak peek!  They tell me that they have been following my work for quite some time (I feel honored), and I know they had high hopes for Chandler’s session.  I couldn’t be more pleased with how they came out, and I hope they will feel the same!    At her consultation, Chandler described her style as vintage and really wanted something unique, and I immediately thought of this location.  It may be the last time I shoot out there, so we made sure to make the best of it!  Chandler was such a natural in front of the camera, and her outfits were spot on.  Mom was an excellent assistant too!    Thank you so much for a fabulous session, and enjoy your sneak peek! 

I love the outfits that Stephanie of Stephanie Reeder Photography put together for this week’s Wardrobe Wednesday post.  These would make for a stunning couple’s wardrobe, but would work individually as well for all of you seniors out there.  Here’s what Stephanie has to say:

“Fall can be such a wonderful time of year to capture the true love at heart. The last couple of weeks we have showcased great wardrobes selections for dressing the families for fall photos. This week, we’ve decided to showcase the “couple” as family or engaged. As a wedding photographer, I love capturing the story of engaged couples during the fall season. For most, this is the opposite time of year that they’ll be married and adds as a great contrast to their wedding day photos. Not only is this a great time to capture the love, it’s also a fabulous time to capture the colors of fall. With the leave changing to bright orange, yellow, and red; you can truly have a variety of color added to your wardrobe selection. In this week’s Wardrobe Wednesday {where fashion meets photography}, I’ve decided to showcase two different selections for your fall “couple” photos.

First we have our classic dressy yet somewhat urban selection that highlights the couple against the colors of fall. With the darker colors, you’ll truly stand out from the vibrant colors and allow your love story to be the highlight of your session. Not only will this selection allow you as the couple to be showcased, it also adds a bit of a the romantic european feel. Imagine yourself being amongst the hustle and bustle of urban lifestyle with beautiful brick and colorful trees surround. This selection can be worn with or without the jackets and can certainly be dressed up with beautiful accessories.

Selection number two is more of a full fall attire. With the earthy tones and sweaters your able to capture the true feeling of fall and cuddling next to one another to keep warm. You can choose to go with adding pattern as you see in the selection seen here or change it up a bit with solid more simplified colors. Either way, you’re story will be told as a whole with the feel of the fall in love season.

I always try to express to my engaged or couple clients that your wardrobe represents you and your love story. So make sure to pick an attire that will allow your love together to be captured and featured as your story before your future “family” photos. With fall as your backdrop, the colors will pop regardless. What you want is to showcase your love and life together before children and other life’s responsibilities. Best of luck to you and if you ever need some suggestions, please feel free to contact any of us at Wardrobe Wednesday {where fashion meets photography}!

Look No. One

Female
Crossover Dolman Blouse $59.50 Gap
Curvy Jean $69.50 Gap
Ruffle Collar Coat $59.50 Gap

Male
Velvet Blazer $98.00 Gap
End on end tailored shirt $29.99
Standard fit jeans $54.50

Look No. Two

Female
Cropped Toggle “Jet Sweater” $30.00 Old Navy
Long perfect tank $6.97 Old Navy
Diva skinny jean $29.50 Old Navy
McNeff boots $140.00 Aldo

Male
Argyle v-neck sweater $16.00 Old Navy
Loose fit jeans $29.50 Old Navy
Yaden shoes $60.00 Aldo

I had the pleasure of photographing the beautiful Caroline in one of my favorite locations in Highland Park recently.  The light in this particular location is just amazing … throw in a beautiful girl with a great personality and some awesome outfits, and you have the recipe for some stunning images!  Caroline was completely up for anything (which I love), and so I got to use this location in some new ways.  I’m really pleased with how everything came out!  She has such a great natural smile, and her throw-the-head back laughter was completely natural too.   Love it!  Thanks for being soooo patient, I hope you enjoy your sneak peek! 

Baby Joseph officially held my record for “advance” booking until recently … Mom contacted me back at the beginning of the year when she was only 5 weeks pregnant to take advantage of the newborn special I had going on at the time.  Gotta love that foresight and enthusiasm!    I’m very lucky to know this family and to have worked with them before.  I took older sister Madilyn’s newborn pictures, and she responded to my casting call for babies back in March!  Of course, I was so honored to be asked to photograph their newest addition and update their family portrait.  Joseph was wonderful!  He was such a great sleeper, and he let me postition him in all kinds of fun ways.  Thanks so much for letting me capture this precious time again!  Enjoy your sneak peek!

This week’s Wardrobe Wednesday post may look familiar … recognize my pal Erica and her lovely family?    Erica (of Erica May Photography) put together a great post on dressing your large or extended family for the perfect fall portraits.  She certainly knows what she’s talking about – they rocked their wardrobe!  Here’s what she has to say:

“We have had a lot of questions lately on our new facebook page Wardrobe Wednesday {where fashion meets photography} on how to coordinate a group of 5 or more for pictures. It is definitely more challenging to coordinate a wardrobe for a larger group but it is possible!  I recently had my very own extended family session which was photographed by another Wardrobe Wednesday contributor, Lindsay Horn. I was in charge of coordinating my family’s wardrobe and the pressure was on to find us some great outfits! I am lucky in the fact that my mom and sister live close by so we could all go shopping together which helped but it would be possible to coordinate from a distance too. It is so worth it to take the time to coordinate your clothing. And try to stay away from all wearing the same color as it makes you all blend in together and it does not create any depth or interesting features. I doubt you all sit around in black t-shirts at your family gatherings so why wear it to a photo shoot? Here are a few key things to remember when trying to put your wardrobe together.

1.) Choose 3 or more colors to make up the color scheme. It is a lot harder for 5 or more people to not be too matchey when there are only two colors to choose from. For our group we chose Burgundy, Blue, Browns, and Denims. As you can see that leaves a lot of color choices for the group to pick from. Having everyone incorporate two or more colors makes the group look well rounded and pulled together.

2.) Layer, Layer, Layer!! Instead of everyone wearing a solid color shirt mix up the color by layering. This allows two people standing next to each other not to blend in and adds a lot of dimension to the photograph. Layers and textures can add a lot to the ensemble.

3.) If you can, choose a centerpiece. It is always easier to decorate a room when you have one colorful piece (whether it be artwork, a vase, a chair, etc…) and the same goes for photo shoots. In our instance we only had one child in the photo so we choose his outfit for the centerpiece. We bought him a colorful outfit and then pulled all of our colors from that. If you don’t have children in the photos you could always use a colorful scarf or jewelry to be your centerpiece.

4.) Dress the hardest people first. Women’s outfits are usually way harder to find than the guys shirts so dress all the women first. That way you can wait and see what colors you need to fill in and buy the guy’s shirts last. After we bought my mom’s outfit, we bought my sister’s outfit, and then we bought mine because I am the least picky about clothes =P.

5.) Don’t forget accessories! Belts, jewelry, shoes, and scarves are all great accessories for adding a splash of color that you might not be daring enough to wear all over.

6.) Have fun with it and try not to stress! Try not to wait till the last minute to do this either that way you are not stressed out and you have time to shop for bargains or hard to find items. You don’t have to spend a ton of money. Most of our clothes came from Kohls, Dillards, JcPenney, and Baby Gap.

Shopping Guide (from left to right):
Only a description and store is provided on this Shopping Guide since items were purchased more than a month ago. Although you may not be able to find the same tops at these stores you can very easily find something similar.
My husband:
Brown Undershirt from Kohls
Denim Polo Shirt from JcPenney
Jeans from JcPenney
Me:
Brown sweater from Kohls
Burgundy Top from Eddie Bauer
Jeans from Kohls
Boots from DSW shoes warehouse
Dad:
Burgundy Shirt from JcPenney
Jeans
Mom:
Camel Cardigan and Navy tank from Coldwater Creek
Jeans from Coldwater Creek
Tristan (cute adorable little man):
Shirts: Baby Gap
Jeans: Baby Gap
Shoes: Cranberry Converse from footlocker.com
My beautiful sister:
Shirt and Belt from Dillards
Jeans
My Brother-in-law:
Shirt from Kohls
Jeans

These display folios are a great modern take on a traditional senior product, but they would make a beautiful keepsake for any session type!  You can choose a custom photo cover (as shown), or you can choose a cover from 32 different fabrics and leathers (see below).  There are two inside panels to display two of your favorite images, and the folio is perfect for sitting out on a shelf or table for all to see!  They come in 4 sizes: 4×5, 5×7, 8×8, and 8×10, and you have the option of either lustre or metallic paper.  As always, these are available to past clients, so please contact me if you are interested! 

I was really excited when Ragan and Matt asked me to take their portraits.  Not only are they good friends, but they are super photogenic AND Ragan is an artist herself, so I knew she would have some great ideas!  This session did not disappoint!  We hit up a couple of close locations in Wylie that they had suggested, and they were a photographer’s dream.    I really had a hard time picking out just a handful to show, hence the massive sneak peek.  The love between these two is just palpable, and I really think it came through in their images.  I hope this will encourage other married couples out there to have professional portraits taken.  You don’t need to wait until you have kids, this time in your life is just as important and just as deserving of being captured!  I so wish my husband and I had nice portraits taken during the 5 year period after we got married and before our sweet little Emory.  Thank you Matt and Ragan for letting me document this special time in YOUR lives, you will not regret it!   Enjoy your sneak peek! 

While I’m really in love with most of my products, the new Session Book is kind of like my tabletop masterpiece.    If you want a beautiful way to have and display all of your favorite session images, then this is the answer.  The Session Book is an 8×8 or 10×10 custom-designed press-printed book containing 20-30 images from your session.  It is printed on hinged paper (either Semi-Gloss or Pearl), which allows the pages to lay flat for a much cleaner appearance.  You can choose from either a custom photo cover (as pictured on metallic paper) or one of 32 different fabrics and leathers.  I have several different designs for you to choose from, and then your book will be customized just for you!  These books make a wonderful keepsake to hold your precious memories.  As always, these are available to past clients as well, so please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or to place an order!