Nadia J Photography – Yorkville IL photographer, pregnancy, maternity, newborn, infant, baby, child

I thought that it would be a great idea to start the new year with a freshly designed photo blog. Let me know what you think. I’m still in the middle of designing but it should be done soon. Please stop by anytime, and if you are new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feeds.

I decided that my first post of this year should include some useful information to my clients. So, get comfortable, grab a cup of coffee and please read on.

You’ve scheduled the session and are now frozen in confusion; WHAT do we wear to our photo shoot??? Well, we have some suggestions for you.

Looking Good: Your Style
1. Show me your personality! You are more than just khaki pants and a white dress shirt – show it! If red is your favorite color, wear red. Like stripes? Great! Bring them with you. Simple patterns and bold colors look great on in person AND in photos. Choosing a bold color that is similar to your eye color is an awesome choice too.
2. Add LAYERS and TEXTURE. Think scarves (light weight or winter weight), hats, jackets, blazers, ties, denim, knits and corduroy. Long sleeves under short sleeves, leggings under skirts/dresses. Fun shoes like tall boots or sassy heels. A variety of textures will give your photos some extra punch to go with your great smile.
3. Be a head turner. Wear the blazer that fits just right. Or that dress that makes you feel like a million bucks. It’s a fact; clothes that make you feel good make you LOOK good. If you have the option, why not wear something that makes you want to smile?
4. Avoid logos, bold patterns and character-wear. Leave Dora and Diego at home. Character-wear and logos may be precious in person but will leave you clueless in twenty years when you look back on your photos and try to figure out who that is on your child’s shoes. Keep it timeless and focused on your faces, not your clothes.
5. Along the same lines, pick clothing that fits nicely. It should be neither too tight nor too loose. The clothes should hang on the bodies well, without folding or creasing. And always dress for full-length shots, which means socks and shoes that also match and are in good shape. A lot of times barefoot is best, weather permitting.

Of special note:
• Kids: Think personality. Cheerful, fun prints, polka dots, stripes, camo; whatever showcases who they really are. Add some layers and texture (maybe even a tutu, pettiskirt or tie) and voila! Instant photographic art. Most kids aren’t comfortable in formal dress and occasionally it can show in their pictures. So, if you have your heart set on your little angel in a suit and tie or an elaborate party dress, make sure to bring a second outfit that is more casual and comfortable.
• Families & Couples: Coordinating but not matching. Don’t over-match! The whole group does not have to wear black t’s and denim. Why not shake it up a bit and show some of who each person is as an individual within the whole? Mom should be the belle of the ball in a dress/skirt or fashionable jeans and ideally, heels! Make sure everyone dresses at the same level of formality; either all dressy or all casual, in similar or complimentary color tones. Examples could be earth tones, jewel tones, sky blue and chocolate brown, etc.
• Maternity & Newborn: Be who you are. For maternity, we suggest some simple basics: jeans with a real waist, tight tops that hug the belly, a beautiful dress or flowing skirt and a flattering, comfortable, yet attractive, bra/cropped top/sweater, possibly with a beautiful print. After all, most of this session will be all about the belly. For your precious newborn, au naturale, or just a diaper, is best. We want to capture those beautiful bellies, tiny toes and tooshies. If you have a special outfit be sure to have that ready to go as well. Props work well with newborns too; hats, baskets, bowls, etc.

Now that you have the info, where to shop?
Or even to just look for inspiration? Following is a list of our favorite retailers who always have something to offer:

www.hannahandersson.com
www.gap.com
www.chasing-fireflies.com
www.garnethill.com
www.bodenusa.com
www.childrensplace.com
www.justicejustforgirls.com
www.coollittlekid.com
www.bestdressedkids.com
www.gymboree.com
www.moppetfrocks.com
www.oldnavy.com
www.ae.com

Still stuck? Send me an email and we can work through the kinks together.

Thank you to Brea of Cye Photography for giving me the permission to republish her article.