Where to begin?

The days of “everyone in khakis and a white shirt” are gone. Instead of all matching outfits, choose a palette of coordinating colors that are represented across all of the family’s outfits. I like to start the process by choosing an outfit that Mom feels great in, and then build the style of the rest of the family around that. Choose comfortable outfits that will allow freedom to move and play with your family. Many poses during a session involve holding or carrying your children, so it is important to choose clothing that allows you to do so without wrinkling easily or slipping off of your shoulders, etc.

Your photos should look timeless, so start with one or two neutral shades (think white, cream, gray, or beige), and then add some pops of color. While it is great to embrace colors and small prints as accents, be sure to stay away from large and mixed patterns when possible.

When thinking about what to wear for your family portraits, be sure to consider:

The session location – You don’t want to blend into the background, so consider looking at colors that will stand out against greenery.

The season – Deeper hues for fall/winter, lighter colors for spring/summer. Check out our full family guide for detailed instructions and examples.

Your home decor – Your wall art should fit the room where it is displayed. Think about the finished products that you are envisioning and how you’d like the portraits to be displayed. If your home is filled with all muted tones, perhaps a session with bright and bold colors is not the best choice.

It’s all in the details

Now that you have chosen your clothing for your family portraits, it is time to consider all of the little details.

Layers + Textures

Layers like jackets, cardigans, and vests provide depth. Textures such as knits, lace, and denim add interest. When used together, it’s a winning combination!

Accessories

Complete your look by adding headbands, jewelry, or a colorful scarf for some of your portraits. It’s a great way to show off your personality, without taking over the focus of the photoshoot.

Hands and nails

Your hands will be holding, hugging, and snuggling your children in many of your photos, so make sure everyone has clean and trimmed nails with no chipped nail polish.

Are you ready to start planning your family portrait session?

We offer family portrait sessions here in our Cuyahoga Falls studio or at the location of your choice. We have many favorite spots in our beautiful community and are always happy to make recommendations to fit your vision. Be sure to fill out our contact form for detailed information and access to our full family portrait session guide!

Love is in the air!

Join us for some simple and sweet Valentine’s Day sets. The weather is chilly and gray, so this is the perfect time to stop into our warm and cozy studio for some updated photographs with the ones you love. Choose from one set or combine up to 3 looks for a variety.  We’ll have multiple looks from a light and airy teepee set to our beautiful red velvet couch, perfect for interactive and snuggly poses.  Spots are limited, so please book today!

Set options include:

Heart wall

Red velvet couch

Pink and beige balloon arch

Floral Teepee set- best for toddlers, young children

Distressed bricks-personality poses, no props

The $250 session fee includes a 20-minute appointment and includes a private gallery with print copyrights to print and share as you wish.

If you are a member of the Mini Session VIP group and would like Valentine’s Day portraits to be the first of the four sets this year, please reach out for your coupon code to enter when booking.

Important Details:

Please note that this session is for immediate family only this time! (if you are looking to include your extended family such as grandparents, cousins, etc please shoot me an email and we can book you a family session.)

Love the Valentine’s Day sessions, but are interested in a custom-designed full portrait session? Reach out to Ashley with your vision and she is happy to design a one-of-a-kind session for your family or children’s session!