“We’ve all seen feature articles in fashion magazines and even TV talk show segments about how to choose the right bathing suit for your body type, but what about regular clothes? Certain types of clothing definitely flatter particular body types. And lets face it, we’d all like to accentuate our best features and subtly hide the ones we’re not so fond of — especially when it comes to picking clothes for a portrait session.  With that in mind, when it’s my turn to do Wardrobe Wednesday for the next few rounds, I’m going to highlight each one of the four female body shapes — pear, apple, hourglass and rectangle — and discuss what to look for when shopping, as well as what to stay away from.

PEAR SHAPE

Typically pear-shaped women have:

A long or slender neck
Sloping or narrow shoulders
Narrow back
Small to medium bust
Defined waist
Curvy hips and backside
Full thighs and calves

It’s all about balance 

Ideally, giving the appearance of wider shoulders and a bigger bust will help take attention off the widest part of the body and bring the eyes up to your face, neck, bust and waist. Overplay your upper body and give your lower body a slimmer, sleeker look by using color on top, wide necklines, accentuate your waist and wear dark colors on the bottom.
 
Tops
For pear-shaped women, think details when it comes to tops. Prints, textured fabrics, great necklines and bright colors all help balance your lower half. Tanks with cute ruffled sleeves or wide-set straps will help to visually widen the chest and shoulders. Look for necklines that are scooped, draped, come to a V, rounded or squared. Halter tops will also add width to your shoulders and get that balance mentioned earlier.
Undoubtedly there are going to be lots of options at almost every women’s clothing store, but when it comes to pear shapes, no one does it better in my opinion than Ann Taylor. All of the following outfits are from this fall’s Loft collection:

Pants
Look for pants that are flared or have a wide leg. This will help hide thicker thighs. Go for mid-rise dark jeans (the darker the better) and dark pants. This gives the illusion of a slimmer hips and bottoms.
Here are some great flared pants and dark-washed jeans perfect for pear shapes:

Skirts and dresses
When dressing up, try to achieve the same balance. Look for A-line skirts and loose-fitting, drapy fabric in dark, solid colors and subtle patterns. Dresses with an empire waist or a wrap dress that is tighter-fitting on top and flows over your bottom half is ideal. 
And you don’t necessarily need to be afraid of all-around color. The center example is a great option for pear shapes that really would play up your curves.

What to avoid
Stay away from body-hugging bottoms like tight skirts, skinny jeans or pants with a tapered leg.  Those clothes will only accentuate the widest part of your body. Also avoid straight, floor-length skirts. The skirt starts wide at your hips and gives you one, thick straight block of fabric all the way to the ground.
Avoid bold, bright colors and attention-grabbing patterns on the bottom, as well as high-waisted pants, which tend to make your hips look larger. Jeans with too many details at the top such as extra pockets or embroidery should also be avoided.
Also stay away from straight, shapless jackets that stop at the widest part of your hips.

It’s official!  My new division {LHP Seniors} dedicated completely to my senior clients is up and running!  Check out for yourself by going to straight to the site here: www.lhpseniors.com or go through my main site if you want to see my fancy new splash page and updated portrait site here: www.lindsayhorn.com.  I’m really excited and really proud of how it turned out.  I truly believe that this separate site will be so beneficial to all of my clients – senior and non-senior!  I’d love to hear what you think about it.  I’m running a little celebratory contest too, so make sure to read all the way through to find out how to enter!

I really took some time to think about a lot while I was building this site - mainly what I love about senior photography and why I think it is so important.  I want to share some information from my site that will hopefully get you as excited as I am and encourage you to go check out some more!  Here are some of my thoughts:

“I didn’t have to shoot more than a couple of senior sessions to realize that I have a real passion for working with my senior clients.  Senior year is a time filled with so many contradictions – both excitement and nostalgia, confidence and vulnerability, hope and even a touch of sadness – it can be overwhelming to say the least.  I find immense satisfaction in helping my clients leave all of that behind for a couple of hours, and then really capturing their heart and soul with my camera.  For me, there is no greater joy than making a client feel beautiful {or handsome!} in their own skin.” 

“I want to take a minute to address a very important question that some of you may have … why should I invest so much {time/planning/money} into my senior portraits?  Is it really that big of a deal?  I’m here to emphatically tell you: YES.  It is!  Set aside the fact that we are capturing such a pivotal moment in your life, a moment encompassing so much of who you were, who you are, and who you are going to be all at once.  There will likely be no other time in your life when you have a portrait session dedicated to nothing but YOU.  Yes, ladies, many of you may have bridal or maternity portraits sometime in your future, but let’s be honest, those are about you {getting married} and you {having a baby}.  Your senior portraits may be your only opportunity to really capture {YOU} and only you.   So with that established, I encourage you to make the most of your senior portraits!  If I’m not the photographer for you (because I may not be the right fit for everyone), seek out a photographer whose work you admire and who will give you the attention you deserve.    Girls, go get your hair and makeup done!  Go shop for a couple of new outfits (that is directed to you too, guys!) – there are great bargains to be found everywhere.  While I have the attention of the men, let me just say that custom senior portraits are not just for the ladies.  The desire to have really great images that reflect you, your interests, and your personality at this point in your life is a universal one.  I promise it will be fun, AND I won’t tell your friends that you actually enjoyed yourself.  To sum up, I give you permission to treat this as the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that it is.  It’s my hope and my goal that you look and feel your best during your session.  For this reason, my sessions are very low-stress and relaxed.  I love to chat while I shoot and learn more about you.  I want you to feel as comfortable as possible, because then you will look as comfortable as possible.  I want to capture that beautiful natural laugh and maybe even lure out that inner super model (we all have one!).  I truly want to help you make the most of this very special occasion.”

Thank you so much for all of your support in this new venture, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it without the constant encouragement of my very loyal fans and readers.  You guys are the best!   As a thank you, I’m going to have a little contest!  Up for grabs is a $25 Starbucks gift card – with fall right around the corner, it should really hit the spot!  You only need to do two things:

1) Share either this blog post or the LHP Seniors site itself via Facebook or Twitter.   Here’s some sample text: “Check out this AMAZING new senior photography site!  I promise your day will be deeply enriched by taking a peek! http://lhpseniors.com.”    So it might be a little overboard, but you are welcome to come up with your own text too.

2) Come back to this blog post and leave a comment with a link to your post along with your favorite thing about the new site!   Only one comment per person please! 

See?  Easy peasy!  On Friday night at 10 p.m. CST I will use the Random Number Generator to select a winner.  I will mail it anywhere in the United States, so non-Texans may join in too!

“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

“Babies and Toddlers can definitely be the hardest age group to photograph. Between the spitting up, drooling, crying, and running away from the camera it can get pretty difficult. However, when you get that great shot of a challenging toddler all the hard work pays off! But dressing your baby/toddler doesn’t have to be hard! This is the one time in your child’s life that they won’t have a strong opinion about what you dress them in so go for it! I give you permission to go crazy and get your toddler something ridiculously cute to wear to their session! I put together some great outfits below that are full of personality, color, and layers – all things we have been talking about every week in our Wardrobe Wednesday posts. Of course, I would never spend $100 on an outfit for my little boy to wear everyday but I do splurge for his photo shoots. Why? Because it totally makes the pictures come alive! For babies and toddlers make sure to try their outfit on ahead of time to make sure it fits them just right (even if it means buying the size they are about to outgrow!). It is always a good idea for a toddler session to bring a snack and drink for them so they can take breaks during their session (being that cute is hard work!). A really good trick to get portraits of your baby/toddler holding still is to bring something for them to do. We had a fantastic post a few weeks ago about props and toddlers are a great example of how a prop can make a picture. I added a few pictures below of toddlers in action with their props. Often we can save the prop for the end of the session when they are bored with it all and it gives the child an extra boost of energy and smiles! Remember toddler photo shoots don’t always go as planned but just relax and try to have fun!”

Featured Stores:
www.miniboden.com
www.ralphlauren.com
www.littleboychic.com
www.oldnavy.com
www.babygap.com

“My favorite people to shoot, you ask?  KIDS – of course!!  They are so fun, spunky and full of personality.  Even better, they don’t mind being goofy and crazy – they welcome the unusual – and they love to be unique.  That’s why when I give style suggestions for kiddo shoots I always recommend these FIVE things.

1.       Go for the BOLD…

It’s all about the color and pattern!  There is no better way to show off their bright shining personalities then through their clothes!  Colors should be bold – not neon.  If it even remotely resembles the oh-so-famous (could they get any brighter?) yellow/pink/green/blue/etc. school highlighter – it’s a no go.  Deep strong color is key.  Also, patterns can be your friend.  Thick stripes, large polka dots, and chunky plaid are all great!  Just make sure to stick with one bold pattern per outfit.

2.        Three’s Company…

This is a simple rule and I have no idea where I heard it, but I live by it.  It’s all about coordinating your colors.  You wonder – how in the world do I know what color goes best with what?  Ack.  It can be very intimidating.  I’ve been there.  But don’t worry – breath – what I tell you next will free your mind.  Are you ready… ANYTHING GOES TOGETHER.  Did you get that – I know totally mind boggling.  But it’s true.  Anything goes as long as the colors appear a few times throughout your outfits.  For example, in the pictures below –so graciously borrowed from the miniBoden website (love their style) – you will see this rule used over and over again.  Yellow, brown, blue, burgundy – WHAT?  They can’t go together you say – oh yes my friend – they can!!  Yellow appears in the jacket, tights, and hat.  Blue appears in the tights, skirt, and jeans.  Burgundy/brown appears in the shoes, tights, hairclip….etc.  I usually suggest 2-3 main colors and then have them appear 3 or more times throughout the outfits.  Easy Peasy lemon squeezy.  Right?!!

3.       One Singular Sensation…

When building an outfit, pick one thing your child likes – this could be a hat, necklace, jacket, tights, boots, shirt, etc. – and build up.  If it’s a hat, then look at it, find the colors in it, and then add to the outfit by following rule number 2.  For example, I heart the little grey kitten shirt below.  If I started with this, I could then build up my outfit using the colors within, which in this case are blue, red, and white.  Adding a jacket, jeans, shoes, and then creating a complimentary look following rules number 1 and 2 leaves you with the completed look.  Bravo miniBODEN. 

4.       Layer Cake…

Now that you’ve got your colors squared away, just make sure to layer…layer…layer.  Chunky layered looks add dimension and spunk – especially when you use various textures.  Add a fun jacket, a sweater, a vest, a belt, a hoodie – well the list goes on and on.  Just do it – I promise it will be just what the doctor ordered!  Check out the cute dudes below, layered to perfection!

5.       Comfort Zone…

Last but definitely NOT least – make sure all clothing is comfortable!!  Kids want to be able to move and groove as they normally would, and as the photographer, I want them to too.  When they feel comfortable in their clothing it shows, again letting their personality shine through.  Then I can do my oh-so-fun job of capturing them dancing…jumping…laughing…being themselves – being kids.

Well – I hope this helps ya’ll!!  Happy Kiddo Stylin’!! 

All outfits can be found at www.miniboden.com.  They are awesome for way cute kid fashion.  Plus sometimes most of the times – they do the hard styling work for you – fancy that! Ha ha.”

“It’s your special day and you want to capture it all!! As a wedding photographer I am always looking for the smallest details and personalization. So ladies and well gents when it comes to planning your special day always remember the smallest detail is and will be captured. I love when a bride personalizes not only herself, but her groom, and bridesmaid as well.  I am not about to tell a bride what to wear on her special day, but I thought it would be fun to discuss some great trends and alternatives for those who love to dream of all things beautiful!

Hair piece or veil?
A veil is a beautiful and traditional way to go and how stunning is a bride with a fingertip veil walking down the isle. Some fun ways to be different and bring flare to your dress is glamorizing your style by adding a fun broach,  bird cage veil, and/or soft feather to your hair.

Jewelry
Every girl dreams of her special day all dressed in white. Now it’s time to accessorize with jewels and gorgeous gems. I love when a bride has a special story behind her jewelry. Whether it was on a romantic trip to Mexico where she found the bluest of turquoise bracelet, or personalized it further with her great grandmothers diamond earrings. Either way by adding a story to your jewelry it tells an additional story or memory in your wedding day photos. Also something fun to remember is adding color to your dress through jewelry gives an extra detail some brides tend to overlook.

Shoes
Remember comfort is important when picking out your shoes. Make sure to be aware of the ground you’ll be walking on as well. Golf courses and heels don’t always favor one another, neither do stilettos and cobble stone. After choosing your comfort think of personalizing your footwear with glam, fun colors, or the cutest of floral.

Bridal Bouquet
Choose your favorite flowers and style them together by adding a special touch with your mother’s broach, favorite trinket, or that special butterfly that reminds you of someone special. Your flowers are what complete your look and why not keep the story telling going with the array of beautiful flowers which will be held in your hands and lead by your heart.

Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids make sure to always keep the bride at heart and ask her what she wishes for you to wear on her special day. With that being said, it’s always a fun idea to have a theme with accessories and shoes for your bridesmaids. I have even seen where brides get creative and make special flower wristlets for their bridal parties or have them walk the isles with different arrangements such as lanterns, crystal balls, and even lollipops to fit their candied theme.

Groom
Now ladies, I know we dream of how our dresses, shoes, and jewelry come together, but don’t forget the men in your life who will fabulously be meeting and leading you down the isle. Color coordination is key and already probably a known, but don’t forget those small details we were talking of earlier. Cufflinks, handkerchiefs, socks, and ties are always a special and fun way to accessorize. Trends now, are even suggesting the simplest of suites if your style permits.

Oh how the details could go on. I could seriously re-plan my wedding over and over again with details, but in the end, its those details I remember in my photographs. Your photographer is there to help capture your planning, your fairytale dreams, and love of your special day. Keep every detail personal to you and your fiance. Find a theme or even a story to tell through out your day. If you ever need some great inspiration, head on over to some of my favorite blogs. Happy Planning!

Style Me Pretty www.stylemepretty.com
One Lovely Day www.projectwedding.com
One White Dress www.onewhitedress.net
Ruffled www.ruffledblog.com