I love how Shannon of Shannon J. Dodge Photography gets back to the basics for this week’s stripped down theme.  Sometimes less IS more!

I am all about color or props in photographs. Bright colorful patterns on children OR coordinating with bright and colorful props can be wonderful. But sometimes I like things toned down a tad. It may boil down to preference or a matter of taste, but sometimes…less is more. As a lifestyle portrait photographer, I tend not to use too many props. I like to focus on the soul and emotion/interaction between my clients, rather than force a situation. Which brings me to this week’s post: whether you are photographing a baby, child or family, sometimes it’s best to leave most of the props behind, tone down the clothing, and focus on the individuals instead.

Some of my most favorite sessions recently have been those where the individuals i’ve photographed were just being themselves. I recently had the privilege of photographing the SUPER talented Jean and Travis Smith and their GORGEOUS boys. Jean told me ahead of time the vision she had for her session. She wanted lots of warm evening light, and photos of her family just being together. She decided she’d like some images in a grassy area with everybody dressed and then some by the water with her boys shirtless. All of her boys wore khakis and were barefoot. Jean wore a neutral colored maxi dress. The result? Pure joy and delightful images. Her boys were naturally comfortable and more likely to relax around me as a result.

Pssst…let me tell you a little secret. Sometimes the little ones need their comfort items with them–blanket, stuffed animal, doll. And you know what? Capturing them with their “lovies” is PRICELSS and clients LOVE IT!

I photographed this beautiful little guy last year. His mom wanted some of him tastefully naked. I love the result with this adorable crocheted hat!

His bedroom had the perfect white room with just the right amount of light. We placed him in his crib and voila. With gorgeous blue eyes like that, who needs anything else?

Here’s another example. Just a few weekends ago, I went to a client’s home to do a photoshoot with her children. I told her with the heat, humidity and bugs, that her children would most likely be most comfortable in their own home. I was in heaven when I arrived to their large and open home FULL of natural light. The kids were naturally active, as one and three year olds are, but I was able to relax them and get natural expressions by letting them do the things they like to do. The little girl wanted to read and hang out in her bedroom, so we did just that. I brought along some inexpensive blocks for the baby to play with, and he was very happy! It’s amazing what a book and some blocks can do. Keep that in mind when using props. In this case, less was more!

And one last example. This little girl loves dress up, so I knew this beautiful flower wreath would work perfectly for her. I was able to focus on JUST her and add a little bit of color and whimsy.

These are just some subtle ways to have fun and focus on the inner soul and personality of your clients. The compilation I put together is very simple and easy. All of the clothing items are from the Gap (keeping in line with my usual “one stop shopping”!). I am picturing the Dad’s jeans rolled up and everybody barefoot. Of course this would have to be a session shot in a warm climate, so it’s perfect for summertime! The props do not go along with the outfits I put together. They are just some ideas to add something a little extra special to your photoshoots. Take some time to relax and relax your client’s by letting them play and just “be”. You might be surprised at the results!

SHOPPING LIST

Dad:

Men’s Jeans–The Gap $59.95

Men’s Shirt–The Gap $39.95

Mom:

Women’s Dress–The Gap $59.95

Boy:

Boy’s Shirt–The Gap $12.99

Boy’s Shorts–The Gap $24.99

Girl:

Girls Dress–The Gap $29.95

Props and Accorsories:

Crocheted Hat-Etsy–Modiste Bee

Blocks–Wal Mart $23.99

Orange Blossom Wreath-Bloom Design Studio- Etsy $20.00

I am so in love with the beautiful colors and awesome details of this Wardrobe Wednesday post by Rebecca of Rebecca Keeling Studios.  I’ll let her explain where the inspiration came from!

“Recently I asked our Wardrobe Wednesday fans to give me some ideas about what they’d like to see in my upcoming post, and my question was answered with “vintage” and “retro” and “not costumey” and “family.”  I thought, well, that sounds right up my alley!  I am so in love with all things vintage and retro…and absolutely love all of the stylized sessions I am seeing lately…so I said to myself, why don’t we put them together?  When I have my pre-session consultations with clients, I always give them lots of ideas on props to bring to make their session unique and different.  I know this can seem a bit overwhelming to some clients, but I am here today to tell you, it is super easy!  It just takes a little bit of creativity and a bunch of Googling, and there you are!  Since we are obviously in the throws of summer, I wanted to do something with a summer-inspired theme, and what could be more “summer-y” than lemonade?  I started on Etsy and typed in “lemonade” and within about 30 minutes, I had found a dress for the little girl, a flag banner, cute little straws, and the cupcake decorating set.  The dress and straws I found first, so that set my color palette.  From there, I started imagining things that would look cute (and also be functional) for a family session.  Then I headed over to Google, and typed in “vintage soda”, “metal drink tub”, and “pink and green candy.”  It was really that easy!  In about an hour, I had found just about everything I needed for my stylized session.

Before every session, I always take some time to imagine different scenarios that I might want to try with my clients.  That way, I’m not stuck for ideas if they don’t magically pop into my head on site.  For this session, I imagined a field of green grass, maybe some little wildflowers (if we were lucky), a lovely tree to hang our flag banner, and my family sitting on a beautiful quilt, surrounded by all things pink, green, and yellow.  Cute little cupcakes (that you can bake yourself) topped with the items from the decorating set on a lovely plate…being eaten and enjoyed during the session…maybe even with a little icing fun!  Pink soda pop chilling in a bright green metal tub and kids eating candy from the Mason jars.  There are so many possibilities with this set up, I could just go on and on!”

The wardrobe was inspired by the little girl’s dress and the fact that I knew I wanted something a little bit vintage for Mom.  Luckily, I already knew about ModCloth and their fabulous vintage clothing, so I went there directly.  I already had my color palette from my props, and since my theme was lemonade-inspired, I quickly scanned through the dresses for something yellow.  After finding Mom’s dress, I picked a pop of color for her shoes, and a bit of a retro feel with the owl ring.  The boys were fairly easy; I just pulled colors from the outfits I had picked already!  Bare feet for kids during the summer is my absolute favorite, so we didn’t even have to stress over choosing shoes.  And that’s it!  A stylized session pulled together in a matter of hours.  You can do it too…it really is amazing what you can find on Etsy and Google!  The important thing is to have FUN and enjoy the process…and remember, there are no limits to your imagination. 

Shopping List

Props:
Green Metal Beverage Tub | Pier 1 | $49.99
Hard Candy Watermelon Slices | Candy Warehouse | $6
Pink & Green Rock Candy Sticks | Groovy Candies | $1
Fufu Berry Jones Pure Cane Soda | Jones Soda | $18.99
Mason Jar | Ace Hardware | $9.49
Lemonade Stand Bunting | Etsy: Stitchin’netka | $35
Pink & Lime Cupcake Kit | Etsy: The Bakers Confections | $14.95
Lemonade Stand Paper Straws | Etsy: The Bakers Confections | $10

Dad:
Men’s Mini-Check Patterned Shirt | Old Navy | $24.94
South Notch Shorts | Abercrombie & Fitch | $68
Men’s Classic Pique Polos | Old Navy | $12.50
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Slim | Piperlime | $60

Mom:
Sunny Day’s Best Dress | ModCloth | $87.99
Owl Be Ring-ing You | ModCloth | $20.99
Keen on Kelly Wedge | ModCloth | $39.99

Daughter:
Raspberry Lemonade Ruffles Twirl Dress | Etsy: Reimagined Treasures | $60
Flower Headband | Gap | $11.95

Son:
Boys Striped Pique Polos | Old Navy | $7.50
Painter Roll Up Pants | Tea Collection | $29.50

Somehow I totally missed this post from Jenn at Minor Impressions Photography.  I’m so bummed because it’s all about the boys and was nicely timed for Father’s Day.  Oops!  Be sure to scroll down and see the adorable photos of little (and big) guys in the cutest ties by Trendy Ties!

“Father’s Day is this coming Sunday, so there’s no better time for us to focus on all of the men (and boys) in our lives! When giving advice on wardrobe compilations, we usually start out by having the outfits revolve around the little gals or moms. So, when there’s not a female involved in the session, it can be difficult for the guys to plan what to wear.

It’s best to keep it simple and introduce just a couple of basic coordinating colors. An easy way to do this is with plaid shirts or shorts. Be sure not to involve too many different plaids, otherwise it becomes too busy. With button-up shirts, you can roll up the sleeves, and leave it untucked to have it on the casual side, or tuck it in and add some accessories to dress it up.

One of the simplest ways to add a little class to your outfit without putting too much effort is by including a tie.  Who can resist a bare-bellied baby with some adorable polka dots, a handsome father with his precious newborn son, or a young man dressed to impress? Just add a tie to the basics you already own, and people will think you spent hours putting the outfits together! A great place I’ve found to purchase these ties with style is Trendy Ties. Not only do they have modern neckties and bowties, but they can also create hair flowers and brooches for sister and mom. You can check them out on Facebook or Etsy! She just completed a crazy sale, so she’s taking a short vacation, but be sure to visit her starting June 20!

SHOPPING LIST

Boy’s Outfit
Shirt
Pants
Shorts
Polo
Shoes

Dad’s Outfit
Shirt
Pants
Shorts
Straw Fedora
Sandals

Teenager’s Outfit
Shirt
Shorts
Shoes
Jeans

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

Extended families almost always make for difficult wardrobe situations, but Shannon of Shannon J. Dodge Photography has some great tips on dressing the whole bunch of you for your next multi-generational shoot!  Here’s what she has to say:

I love Morgan of Morgan Dawson Photography’s take on how all of the guys (or the women dressing them) can build on their basics to create some great portrait outfits!  Here’s what she has to say:

In my last Wardrobe Wednesday post I talked to women about building your outfit around two closet staples - a white tank and jeans. But what about the guys? Let’s start with the same basic idea: start with what you already have and go from there. In this case, I chose jeans and a white dress shirt.

It can really work, too, without being even a bit boring!

First, the basics.

Let’s start with a pair of dark wash jeans that really fit well. Again, no saggy pants or faded dad jeans. If your man doesn’t have at least one pair of nice darker jeans, get thee to a store pronto and make him TRY THEM ON. I’ve absolutely made my husband try on jeans before buying them, only to have a few women critiquing his figure to make sure the fit works. Might he be embarrassed for a minute or two? Perhaps. Will he leave with a killer pair of jean? Absolutely. Totally worth it.

(Husband’s note: You get used to hearing your wife ask the other women to check out your butt.)

The white dress shirt. Again, this MUST fit well. The good thing is that no matter what his size, you can find a cut that works. I suggest going to a store like Men’s Wearhouse where they have a large selection of special cuts (like athletic or slim). My other suggestion – and this comes from the wife of someone who wears a white dress shirt five days a week – is to buy one that is wrinkle or iron free. These aren’t a myth or made of some weird material. I honestly haven’t ironed a dress shirt in YEARS. My newest favorite white shirt can be found below in the shopping guide.

Now, let’s jazz this up a bit.

Even if he only wears the jeans and white shirt, little things like great shoes, a belt and watch can make a huge difference. I almost always suggest rolling the sleeves. Not only will this make the look a little more lived-in and real, but it will also make him feel a little more relaxed. Show even more style with a pair of geek chic glasses or a light scarf.

Consider taking the outfit one step further by adding a loose tie (or bow tie for the adventurous). Again, you can make it more casual by keeping the top few buttons undone on the dress shirt. Keep in mind that this is a great opportunity to show a little color, or compliment something that another person is wearing. The trend in ties now is skinny, skinny, skinny.

Don’t be afraid to layer things over the shirt. Vests look cool and can be worn with or without a tie. If the example below is a little too modern, consider a basic sleeveless golf sweater vest like this from Nike Golf. Button-down and full-zip cardigans are hot now, but you can’t go wrong with a zip-neck mock sweater as well. And finally, jackets. These can look super cool and casual with a slightly unbuttoned dress shirt and jeans. Depending on the material, you may even be able to roll up the sleeves a little. Go with a more formal look by  adding a simple tie and maybe even cufflinks.

SHOPPING GUIDE

TOPS:

Buckle Pop Icon Edify Vest - $39.95

Zara Cotton/Metal Cardigan – $39.90

Macy’s INC Core Two Button Blazer – $69.98

J.Crew Sun-Faded Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt – $49.50

Express Full-Zip Mock-Neck Cardigan – $41.94

 WHITE DRESS SHIRTS:

Zara Structured Shirt – $59.90

Mens Wearhouse Joseph & Feiss Slim Fit Dress Shirt – $39.99

SHOES:

Buckle District 3 Latitude Shoes - $49.95

J.Crew Sperry Top-Sider Leather Chukka Boots – $125.00

ACCESSORIES:

Macy’s Kenneth Cole NY Watch – $95.00

Banana Republic Madras Scarf - $49.50

Buckle ReClaim Textured Belt – $19.95

Forever 21 Vintage Leatherette Belt – $7.90

Express Narrow Silk Tie – $39.90

J.Crew Brisband Madras Tie – $59.50

Amazon.com Wayfarer Clear Fashion Glasses – $25.00