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!

Sweet Grayson is one!

We had the best time visiting Grayson and the entire family for a day of updated portraits. (check out of his big sister Emersyn’s photos also on the blog!)

Grayson is all smiles and just the sweetest little guy. We stuck with a light and airy setting in their home and as always his mom Kayla had the perfect accessories ready. He loved playing with the giant birthday balloons and sported some pretty cute outfits. (Is there anything better than an adorable chubby toddler in bib overalls?) After a quick family session we wrapped up with the cake smash. He was not quite sure about his cake and messy hands at first, but once he had a fork he was all in! (what a little gentleman!) We are so happy to see you again baby Gray and we can’t wait to see you grow and grow!

Emersyn is three!

Birthday shoots are so much fun. We have been lucky enough to photograph sweet Emersyn many times through the years, and she is always such a joy to be around! We photographed her parent’s wedding in 2015 and have been capturing all of their special milestones ever since. I always look forward to catching back up with this sweet family and seeing how they have grown and changed. (We’ll be sharing little brother Grayson’s first birthday cake smash next!)

For Emersyn’s third birthday, she had a beautiful light and airy set-up complete with her grandmother’s tea set and some very special guests. We always do lifestyle sessions at their home, and it’s a perfect way to incorporate their beloved family dog each time. Can we take a moment to talk about how adorable she is with her best buddy Duff? After Duff was all partied out, she enjoyed a sweet little party with her dad. Is there anything more special than daddy/daughter time?

She was absolutely adorable in her party dress and perfected her tea party etiquette before we busted out some balloons for a twirling good time! She ended her shoot with a special cookie from Tiffany’s Bakery and we can see why they are a family favorite. Happy Birthday sweet girl!