This week’s great Wardrobe Wednesday post is brought to us by Jennifer of Minor Impressions Photography.  She’s right, it is still pretty stinkin’ hot down here, but it won’t be forever!    I love the colors she uses for this family ensemble – they would go perfectly with the beautiful fall color palette.  Enjoy! 

“Here in Texas, it’s still HOT and the thought of putting together an outfit for the fall just seemed downright dreadful! If you’re anything like me, you like to procrastinate a little bit, and you can’t help but laugh (or cry) at the thought of planning anything for the holidays already. But, here it is September, and most photographers are beginning to schedule those family sessions right now. So, don’t wait too long and miss out on your chance to have the holiday card everyone is talking about!!
Alright, now that you’ve scheduled your family session, what to wear?? You would think that it would be easier to just have everyone wear the same color shirt and be done with it, right?! Not so fast – it is almost always inevitable that someone purchases a cream shirt instead of a white one, or maybe their black shirt is a little more faded than yours, or your idea of red is a little bit closer to maroon than cherry red. It’s usually MUCH harder to match all of the same colors instead of coordinating around one outfit. In the wardrobe below, I’ve picked out a dress for the girl that has multiple colors. Everyone else has a shirt or sweater that blends in with at least one of the colors of the dress. Add a few accessories and voila, you have a matching ensemble without trying to “match” 4 shirts of the same color.”

 
Shopping List:
 
Girl’s Outfit
Sweater Dress – JCPenney – $19.99
Boots – Kohls – $39.99
Headband – LovMely Accessories – $15.00
 
Boy’s Outfit
Polo – JCPenney – $7.99
Jeans – Kohls – $17.99
Shoes – Kohls – $34.99
 
Mom’s Outfit
Sweater – Old Navy – $34.50
Jeans – Old Navy – $25.00
Boots – Kohls – $28.99
Bracelet – JCPenney – $10.99
Earrings – JCPenney – $8.99
 
Dad’s Outfit
Shirt – Kohls – $27.99
Jeans – Kohls – $36.99
Shoes – Kohls – $39.99

Since we like to keep things fresh over here, Shannon of Shannon J. Dodge Photography has done a 180 and given us some great tips on things to avoid as you pick out your portrait outfits.  Now, don’t feel embarassed if you’ve fallen victim to one of these – it happens to the best of us (yes, even me)!    That is our job as the photographer: to educate, and hope that you comply.  So, enjoy the post! 

“Over the years, there have been certain things that have stood out during photoshoots. Sometimes it’s been really evident during the shoot, and other times it wasn’t apparent until I started editing.  You want to look your best, yet be yourself, correct? So be yourself! BUT there are certain rules and regulations when it comes to classic and well put together ensembles for your portraits! That’s why I decided to put together a “What Not to Wear” segment for our Wardrobe Wednesday this week!

First up: Your entire outfit.

It’s OK to coordinate your colors but, let’s leave entire matching outfits to little girls, shall we? Mix and match your colors and coordinate…it makes for much more interesting images!  Notice I mentioned the word color.

Solids and small prints photograph best…beware of loud stripes or plaids. 

Next: Shoes.

Shoes can be tricky, I know. They can make or break an outfit.  You want to be comfortable but please leave the Crocs at home! They tend to be an eyesore in photos. They are bulky and bright and they draw a viewer’s eye down to the ground. You want people to look at YOU not at your Crocs.  

If you choose to wear sandals or flip flops, PLEASE do not pair them w/ socks. 

Finally: Details.

Look at your nails. Is the polish chipping? Do you have on an obnoxious color that’s going to draw attention to your hands and only your hands? Neutral nails photograph best.
How are your highlights holding up? Don’t forget to check your roots, girls!
If you don’t normally have a tan, now is probably not the time to run and get a spray tan or lay out in the sun all day.  You don’t want to look like an Oompa Loompa or a lobster. 

PLEASE check your bra straps. If you are wearing a tank top, make sure your bra straps are not visible. Wear clear straps or better yet, buy a bra strap concealer that converts your regular bra into a racer back bra…they are cheap and easy to find!

I hope you find these tips helpful. Booking a photo session is fun and exciting. Make the best of your photos by dressing your family adorably and paying attention to the details!”

I had the pleasure of meeting up with Katie and her brothers last week at one of my favorite locations.  I know Mom has really been looking forward to getting some shots of all of her kiddos, and they were real troopers on another very hot evening.  I have had such a great run of siblings who get along so well together, and they were certainly no exception!   After we got some sibling shots, the boys were released from duty and Katie and I got to work on her senior pictures.  She actually graduated in May (class of 2010), but it’s never too late to get your senior pictures!  She brought some AWESOME outfits AND her guitar.  I got so excited when I heard that!  She even gathered an audience while playing her guitar up on our little hill there at the end of the night – that gorgeous laughing shot was right after someone asked her to sing too!   Thanks for being so fun and laid back, I had such a great time!  Enjoy your sneak peek!

I met up with this very brave family last weekend on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year here in Dallas.  Yes, when I pulled up, my car thermometer said 107.  No, that is not a typo.  Luckily, you would have never known it by the way they acted.  We had so much fun – what an awesome carefree bunch!  I’m horrified of the teenage years, so it’s always so refreshing to see families with teenage (and a little older) kids who are so sweet and good-natured.  These two were certainly no exception.  They even brought along their family dog who posed for a few shots and then {happily} waited out the rest of the session in the AC.    I loved working with you guys, and in all honesty, you turned what could have been a miserable night into a memorable one.  Bravo!  Enjoy your sneak peek!

This week’s post comes from the very talented Morgan of Morgan Dawson Photography!  She gives us some great tips and a great store to take the stress out of shopping 3 or 4 or 5 (as I did) different stores to put together your portrait wardrobe.  I wish I knew about this then …. thanks Morgan!

“This week we’re all about saving time and adding convenience.
That’s because I had to figure out: What’s a girl to do when her Wardrobe Wednesday post is unexpectedly due a week early? It’s easy! One-stop shop at a place that picks the outfits FOR you.

I’m probably the last one to the Boden party, but better late than never, right? Not only do they have adult clothing, they also have lines for kids (miniBoden) and teens (Johnnie B). So when you’re shopping for a family, this is really a great place to start. It also helps that Boden has a chill, relaxed style (who doesn’t love clothing you can actually live in!) and a tendency to feature bright colors. Always great for a photo shoot!

Often we suggest picking a piece or color and creating an outfit around it. With Boden, once you select an item you’ll see photos and links to other clothing and accessories that will complete the look – from head to toe. It’s that easy!

Are you visual (like me) and need to see a few more outfit combinations? You’re in luck (as long as you’re shopping in the women’s section). Boden provides an outfit creator that allows you to add and subtract items on a virtual mannequin. I’m great at picking out individual pieces, but when I’m buying for myself, I struggle with creating an entire look. This is such a huge help.

Need a few more reasons to check out Boden?

1) Check out their sale or clearance items. While some places wait until the season is over to start pricing things down, Boden isn’t afraid to discount current styles.
2) You can order items for your entire family and only check out once – with a flat shipping rate of $10.
3) If you call Boden you hear the most polite voice recording from owner Johnnie Boden himself – with a charming British accent

Cheers and happy shopping!”

I was so excited to finally get to photograph this lovely family after we initially had to reschedule due to rain.  We were blessed with some gorgeous light the second go-around, but man was it hot and humid!   I think we were all looking forward to ending the night in the creek!    They did a great job keeping “fresh”, and Mom did a fabulous job with their outfits – aren’t they such a good-looking family? Thanks for being such good sports and enduring that lovely Texas weather with a smile (lots of them in fact)!  Enjoy your sneak peek!

Yes, it was my turn to supply our weekly dose of wardrobe awesomeness this time around, and I think I may have discovered a “left out” segment!  Since I photograph a lot of seniors, I also end up photographing a lot of families with older children (teens and college-age).  Just because your children are “grown” does not mean you can’t have a casual family portrait with killer outfits.  In fact, the same rules apply!  I think that they key to a great casual wardrobe is looking put-together without wearing the same thing.  I can hear you already, “but wearing the same thing is so much easier!”  That may be true, but the end result often looks very traditional and formal, and if you are one of my clients, then that’s probably not what you came to me for.  So, take a deep breath and read on.  It’s not as hard as it sounds!

Pick a color scheme.  I usually suggest one or two muted or neutral colors (browns and creams here) and then an accent color (a lovely turquoise blue).  Pick clothes that you are comfortable in and that you like!  Your cute teenage daughter will probably want to wear something current and stylish – that’s wonderful!  Your typical teenage son will likely want to wear something casual, something he’s comfortable in.  That is just fine, and he may enjoy the experience a little more because of it.  Dad wants to wear jeans – great!  That’s the beauty of a casual portrait.  Everyone gets to let some of their own personality shine through and the end result is fabulous.  And yes, Mom, that means that you get to buy those killer shoes you’ve been eyeing.  I give you permission!

Shopping List
 
Brother
Turquoise Polo – Sears $8.99
Cargo Shorts – JC Penney $19.99
Sandals – Kohl’s $9.99
 
Sister
Top – Kohl’s $17.99
Skinny Jeans – Kohl’s $29.99
Sandals – Kohl’s $29.99
 
Dad
Button-up Shirt – Kohl’s $14.99
Jeans – JC Penney – $32.99
Shoes – Kohl’s $41.99
 
Mom
Brown Top – JC Penney $16.99
Khaki Capri’s – JC Penney $17.99
Bronze Sandals – Kohl’s $39.99

I LOVE what Jennifer of Minor Impressions Photography put together for this week’s Wardrobe Wednesday.  Honestly, how many women out there wear a size 4?!?  Not many, and that’s no excuse to hold off on capturing precious memories of your family (read this wonderful article if you haven’t yet).  Here are some great tips to flatter your fuller figure!  Here’s what Jennifer says:

“Ok, so I admit that one of my biggest reasons that I don’t let too many people take pictures of me is because I am not quite a size 4. Let’s just say that I’ve had a couple of kids and my body isn’t really shaped the way it was when I was in college. This seems to be the reason that many of my clients put off taking pictures as well or if they finally agree to have pictures taken, they usually choose something black to wear. So, I decided that I would show you ladies that you don’t have to be tiny to have flattering family portraits done, and you can add a little bit of color to your wardrobe. These outfits are great to coordinate with any family session, but it’s also perfect for the graduating seniors who have a fuller figure.
 
The first two outfits have bottoms that are high-wasted. The blue jeans and the pencil-skirt both accentuate the smallest part of your waste and help to elongate the section between your waist and knees. You should avoid low-rise jeans because it makes your legs look shorter, and the darker wash jeans are better because stone-wash jeans often emphasize your rear and legs and make them larger than they really are. Both shirts fall right at the waste which draws the eye to the smallest part of your body, but they don’t cling to your stomach.
 
Outfit # 3 is a great sundress that really makes the waste look tiny. Many women are also self-conscious about their arms, so it is great to pair with a cardigan.
 
Higher-heeled shoes are a great way to make your legs look much longer. The higher the heel, the longer your legs will look, but be sure to wear something you will be comfortable in.”

Shopping List:
 
Outfit 1
Shirt – Dillards – $38.00
Jeans – Belk – $32.99
Shoes – Dillards – $49.99
Earrings – Overstock.com – $19.99
 
Outfit 2
Shirt – Dillards – $29.99
Skirt – Lane Bryant – $44.50
Shoes – Target – $19.99
 
Outfit 3
Cardigan – Old Navy – $22.50
Dress – Old Navy – $34.50
Shoes – Dillards – $79.00
Necklace – Old Navy – $8.99

I had the pleasure of photographing these two cuties last weekend on a very toasty morning.  Madilyn and Kenna are cousins (and only a couple of weeks apart age-wise), and the focus was definitlely all on them!    The proud parents hopped in for a few shots, but they spent most of their time singing and dancing in the background to help get some of these adorable smiles (thanks guys!).  It was a little bit harder to coax a smile out of Kenna (my Emory is the same way), but we managed to get some good ones.  Thanks for trekking all the way over here on your Saturday morning, I really had a blast!  Enjoy your sneak peek! 

I couldn’t have asked for a better way to ease back into shooting after my vacation then working with Lauren and Adam.  Apart from the fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk heat, it was an absolutely wonderful shoot.  These two were so at ease and sweet with each other, it made my job all too easy.  You could tell immediately how close they are and how well they get along, and I hope that comes through in these images as well.  They brought some great outfits too!  They each came with lots of options and then we spent the first few minutes of the shoot choosing outfits and making a plan of attack.  If you ever aren’t sure about wardrobe choices, feel free to do the same!  Thanks Lauren, Adam, and Mom for enduring that unforgiving Texas heat – I hope you’ll think it was worth it too!