Summer can be a great time to update your family portraits, get senior portraits out of the way, or schedule something for the kiddos while they are out of school.  Of course, just because the timing is great for you, does not mean the weather will cooperate, especially if you live somewhere with brutal summers like we have here in Texas.  I have photographed many a session in 100+ degree weather, and there are some important things to keep in mind, both from a practical and fashionable point of view! 

 Don’t Lose the Layers
I know, the last thing you want to think about when it’s really hot out is layering, but there’s no reason you can’t keep some great layers and add depth and texture to your images AND stay cool.  Women have some wonderful options available right now – pick up a light vest, sleeveless shawl or crochet cardigan and pair it with a cute lace cami for a very stylish and breathable look.  Guys of all ages can add a button-up (either short-sleeve or long-sleeve with rolled arms) over a light cotton shirt.  Girls can add a crop jacket or sweater over a sleeveless shirt or dress.  The great thing about layers is that you can take them off!  Just make sure your lower layers are photo-appropriate as well, and you can have two different outfits with ease.  A word of warning … summer weather can lead people to show more skin then they may really intend to.  Keep in mind that these images will hang in your house year-round, so make sure you are completely comfortable with your wardrobe choices and how much of you they will be revealing! Ladies, if you choose to go with something sleeveless or strappy, pay attention to your choice of bra.  Bra straps can be very tedious to remove, and it may be something that your photographer charges extra for. 

Staving Off the Sweat
Sweat is inevitable during the hot summer months, and some people are more prone to it then others.  Keep in mind how your wardrobe will hold up to sweat.  Choose breathable undergarments for starters, every little bit counts!  Stay away from fabrics that will easily show sweat lines.  While denim may not be the most comfortable when it’s hot, it’s hard to see sweat spots on jeans!  Patterns may do a better job hiding sweat then solids, and medium-dark solids tend to show sweat the worst.  Lighter colors or very dark colors may be a better choice for you if you are prone to sweat.  You’ll see our “be prepared” list below, but having towels or blotter paper on hand to touch up as you go are a must.  Ladies, you also might plan on a second “up” hairstyle that you can switch to during the session if necessary. 

Ditch the Footwear
Summer is the perfect opportunity to go barefoot for your pictures!  Shoes can be such a tough addition to your wardrobe, especially for the guys.  Going barefoot means no distracting (or unmatching) shoes or worrying about dirty soles when you are sitting down.  It lends a great organic feel to your images that looks good in either natural or urban locations.  To top it off, feeling a cool breeze on those toes might help cool the rest of you down too! 

Be Prepared
Your photographer may bring some items to your session to help you combat the heat, but you should be prepared just in case you are on your own.  Here’s a must-have list for staying comfortable and looking good for your summer session:

• Bottled water to stay cool and hydrated
• Towels and/or blotter paper for staying dry
• Makeup for touch up so you can stay fresh and keep the oil at bay
• Umbrella for shade in between shots
• Bug spray, summer is prime-time for insect life

Another thing you can discuss with your photographer is the timing of your shoot.  Mid-afternoon is usually the hottest point of the day, so scheduling for first thing in the morning or closer to sunset may make everyone more comfortable, and the lighting is best at those times of day anyways. J Photographers, this list goes for you too!  Bring yourself (and your clients if you want bonus points) towels and water at least – you will be hard at work too and it’s important to stay as cool and well-hydrated as possible. 

Don’t let the hot summer weather ruin your portrait session, just plan ahead and be prepared, and you’ll never know from your images how hot it really was! 

LAYERS SHOPPING LIST:

Men

Denim Shirt (Green wash) – Gap $49.95
T-shirt – Gap $16.99

Women

Brown Crochet Cardigan – Old Navy $26.50
Coral Lace Cami – Old Navy $12.50
Cream Sweater Vest  – Old Navy $26.94
Green Lightweight Vest – Old Navy $26.94

Boys

Outfit #1 – Old Navy
Plaid Shirt – $16.94
Red T-Shirt – $6.00
Shorts – $13.00

Outfit #2 – Gap
Grey T-Shirt – $14.99
Blue Shirt – $17.99
Hat – $18.99

Girls

Outfit #1 – Gap
Grey Cardigan – $29.95
Pink Shirt – $24.95
Pants – $24.95

Outfit #2 – Gap
Crop Jacket – $19.99
Floral Dress – $28.99
Pants – $18.99

Honestly, it seems like just yesterday that I was planning and booking and scheduling and daydreaming about the Class of 2011.  Yet here we are in June of 2011, they’ve all been met, photographed, have graduated, and are preparing for this next phase of their lives.  Now it might just be the pregnancy hormones, but I am getting a little emotional typing this up!  I truly feel like I’ve made such wonderful connections with this fabulous group of 29 seniors – they have each touched me and brought joy to my life in different ways, and I can honestly say that it was an absolute pleasure to work with each and every one of you.  We planned, we talked, we laughed, we made many a mom cry (always happy tears), you shared your plans and goals with me, and I shared my stories of my life with you as well.  I hope that you enjoyed our time together as much as I did, and that the final product made you feel beautiful inside and out.  I have enjoyed running into you around town since our sessions, and I hope you’ll never hesitate to stop me and give me a hug if you see me out and about!  I know that great things are going to come from this class, and I can’t wait for your stories to be told!  So here you go … enjoy!

If you can’t see the embedded video above, click here for a direct link.  And now here I am preparing for the Class of 2012 … and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for me!  Can they top the Class of 2011?  Let’s just say that the challenge has been put forth …

I’m so excited to have my session with the beautiful Meagan featured over on an awesome new photography site called Inside the Locker.  It’s all about senior photography, and it has some great inspiration and resources for all of you photographers, and seniors too!  Go check it out! 

I just love the great colors and patterns that Erica of Erica May Photography has pulled together for a summer family session.  AND she’s thrown in some fun prop ideas too!  Here’s what she has to say:

I have to admit I love summer and all the bright colors that go along with it! Summertime is great time to get outside with your family and have fun! Why not capture that sense of fun with a summer photo shoot? Maybe you have done fall sessions the last few years and your pictures are all starting to look the same, or maybe you want to get photos of your kids adorable bare feet, or maybe you just want to capture that summertime fun! Whatever the reason is, you need an awesome summer wardrobe to wear for your portraits. Nothing reminds me more of summer then a good nautical theme! You wouldn’t need to be near a beach to pull this look off either! The bright colors, stripes, and beautiful blues are sure to make for some fun and interesting portraits. When choosing this ensemble I chose the little girl’s dress first and then the boy’s outfit. Once you have the kid’s outfits picked out it is much easier to pull from those colors to pick outfits for mom and dad. I also decided to highlight a few fun props that might be fun to go along with it. Giving your family something to “do” for part of your photo shoot is always a great idea to capture those less posed moments that really let your kid’s personalities shine through! So get out there and have some fun with your family!

Girl’s Outfit:
Marina Drop-waist Dress $49.00   Tea Collection    

Salt-Water Original Sandals $34.00  Tea Collection

Boy’s Outfit:
Striped half-zip hoodie  $24.95   The Gap  

Convertible chambray pants  $26.95  The Gap   

Red Bimini Youth Classics  $38   Toms   

Mom’s Outfit:
Halter Maxi Bra Top Dress  $69.50    Victoria’s Secret   

Dad’s Outfit:
Dobby shirt  $49.95   The Gap    

Straight denim shorts (beige wash)  $54.95   The Gap

I was totally blown away when Tabitha of Confessions of a Prop Junkie asked me to be one of the first featured photographers on her brand new site.  What an honor!  I was a little nervous about a photographer interview, but Tabitha had such great questions it was a piece of cake.  To check out my very candid interview and a special “tip”
 (hint, hint, it has to do with reflectors!), head on over to Prop Junkie and check it out.  Make sure to look around, Tabitha has some great inspiration resources and vendor giveaways going on all the time!  And you may recognize some of my images in the header too.   Thank you for the fabulous opportunity! 

It’s been a LONG time since I entered an I Heart Faces challenge, and since I’m on bed rest I figure I don’t have much of an excuse to pass up this one!    Especially when I have the perfect image of my own little cutie to use for this week’s theme.  “From a distance” is about all she gave me on this night, but I LOVE how this image turned out.

To see more great entries, head on over to I Heart Faces!

Rebecca of Rebecca Keeling Studios has put together an awesome post just for photographers this time around!  I don’t photograph weddings, but I imagine these tips will be very helpful for those of you who do! 

I was so excited when Shannon posted a request for feedback for suggestions on upcoming posts the other week. She did a fabulous job last week with the extended family wardrobe and I wanted to follow that up with the other request specifically for our fabulous photographer followers! I actually thought about doing a post several months ago about photographer wardrobe suggestions but I had totally forgotten about it, so thanks for the reminder, y’all!

Being knee-deep in wedding season myself, I thought it would be a great idea to start this series of photographer wardrobe suggestions with…well…weddings! In considering the overall wardrobe, it seemed only natural to break down each part and discuss them individually because they all play an integral part in the grand scheme of things. So let’s jump right in, shall we??!! 

 When shopping for tops for the wedding day, I always look for comfort first. Stretchy fabrics, designs that hide my “flaws” so that I look my best, and most importantly on hot summer days, breathable materials. The blue tank blouse shown here is a great combination of all of these things. A cotton blend material, ruching around the middle, sleeveless to give you some breathing room, AND…a side zip instead of a button front. For me personally, I have a larger chest area and can’t really get away with button front blouses without being paranoid that at any moment the girls might turn me into the main attraction! So, the side zip option on some modern blouses is always helpful! A great little jacket is one way to layer stylishly for evening weddings when it gets chilly. Again, in a great linen blend material. I actually own this black vest and wear it quite a bit with a simple cotton shirt, similar to the one shown here. I love the professional look it gives me while still being lightweight and very comfortable. Although I typically do wear dark pants with my black vest, I think it’s fun to throw a pop of color under the vest with a cute little cotton shirt of choice. The great thing about all of these tops is that you could mix and match them for many different combinations of looks. The tank with the vest, the t-shirt with the jacket, and vice versa. I always shop with this in mind so that I get more “bang for my buck” and have lots of different options when dressing for the wedding day. 

 One of the features I absolutely MUST have in any bottoms that I purchase for the wedding day is STRETCH! I don’t know about y’all, but it’s not unusual for me to be on the floor, on a chair, or anywhere in between trying to get THE shot, and I certainly don’t want to be hindered by my pants…or (for the love of everything holy) have them split down the back! I also prefer to have pants with pockets to hold a spare memory card when I’m running around. And, I also love to have flat front closures…they just seem to be more comfortable overall. Here are some great pants options along with a pair of pin-striped capris for those warmer, outdoor weddings where you still need to look nice. Pair these with the cotton shirt and vest and voila! A super cute (and FUNCTIONAL) wedding day wardrobe. For those weddings where you need to dress a bit more formally, here is a perfect stretch cotton wrap dress. Be sure to pair these with some short black leggings so that you can still get the shots without worrying about flashing your bride and groom! 

 Next on our list, and arguably the MOST important part of your wedding day wardrobe…shoes! All of these brands have come highly recommended by some of my wedding photographer colleagues, so I hope that one of them will be perfect for you. I typically prefer to wear flats on the wedding day but if I were to shoot a very formal event, I would consider wearing a higher heel for the ceremony and then changing into more “sensible” shoes for the reception. The wedge design of these two shoes in particular makes them much more comfortable than the traditional high-heeled shoe to start with, but they are also rumored to be even MORE comfy. Be sure to check out the links for these particular suggestions…the Cole Haan shoe has Nike Air technology embedded into the sole and they have a complete line of “Air” shoes with this same comfort technology. They are a little pricey but then again, so are Nike Air tennis shoes. I know what’s on my list to purchase next! 

 Last, but certainly not least, the most fun part of your wardrobe…accessories! As I mentioned earlier, I do tend to stick with darker color clothes when dressing for a wedding but not when it comes to my accessories. This is where I let my personality really shine through. I love to choose one large piece of jewelry, a statement piece, and then go smaller with the other items. Such as this fabulous necklace, I might pair with small diamond stud earrings. Or this gorgeous bracelet (with no bangles, I might add…don’t want to be jangling around in the back of the church during the silent prayer!) with a small, understated ring. And check out this super cool Michael Kors belt! It’s not your momma’s fanny pack! It’s big enough to hold extra cards, batteries, lip gloss, your phone, or whatever you need to keep on you at all times and still look FAB.

I wanted to leave you with a few other items that are a “must have” for the wedding day so that you can be successful AND stylish…and rock those shots!

1. A few weeks ago, I had the brilliant idea to purchase a new pair of shoes and wear them to a wedding the same day. Let me just say that I wish I’d had these little babies stuck in my bag that night. Perfect for your aching dogs after a long day, yet still stylish enough to pull off at a late night reception!

2. A change of clothes…you never know what might happen and you always want to be prepared!

3. A little beauty bag with some back-up cosmetics, deodorant, extra girly items, and perfume…for those days when you need to get freshened up after sweating your bootie off at the 104 degree July wedding with no shade.

So that’s it! I hope this list will have you on your way to wedding wardrobe success. Happy shooting, y’all! 

BUYING GUIDE

(Shoes)

Cole Haan Air Tali OT Wedge | $158

Clarks Domino Pip Beige Leather | $95

Seychelles Chirp | $90

Aerosoles Laser Printz Yellow | $60

(Bottoms)

J Crew Premium Stretch Bistro Pant | $88

Boston Proper Paris Fit Classic Trouser | $89

Ann Taylor Loft Ann Olivia Stripe Cropped Pants | $60

Ann Taylor Loft Knit Wrap Dress | $70

(Tops)

New York & Company Ruffle-Front Sleeveless Solid Shirt | $30

Arden B Ruffle Collar Trench Coat | $69

New York & Company Five Button V-Neck Vest | $40

(Accessories)

Nordstrom Michael Kors Leather Belt with Woven Bag | $68

Chicos Tansy Earrings | $16

Arden B Flower Cluster Necklace | $34

Express Beaded Stretch Bracelet | $35

Last month, I had the wonderful opportunity to have my work featured over on the awesome new inspiration site TML:Focus, from the ladies of The Maternal Lens.  There are so many amazing photographers and sessions over there, you’d be crazy not to go check it out.  It’s a great place to get some inspiration, whether you are a photographer or a client with an upcoming session.  Thank you ladies for the wonderful opportunity, and thanks to Miss Charly for a killer senior session – “urban vogue” indeed! 

I am so incredibly honored to have one of my senior sessions (starring the beautiful Chandler) featured over on a great photography site, The Lens Loves.  It truly is humbling to have my work published among so many talented photographers.  Even better, the founder of the site, the supremely talented Drew of DrewB Photography, was one of the first photographers I came across whose work really inspired me.  So to be selected for a feature by her is really a dream come true!  Go check it out and make sure to browse the site, there is so much wonderful inspiration to be found.  You can also find Lindsay Horn Photography and LHP Seniors listed under their new nationwide Photographer’s Directory as well!   Thank you Drew and Krista for this great opportunity!