Whether your session is in the studio or outdoors, the same styling rules apply. I've put together my top tips to guide you through your styling choices, but remember you can contact me anytime to ask my opinion - I love chatting all things fashion!
The number one rule is 'be true to yourself' - don’t wear anything that you’re not comfortable in.
Personally, I would always recommend soft, muted colours. Anything from white through to earthy, natural tones.
There’s nothing more beautiful than feeling confident in your own skin, so make sure that you choose an outfit that you feel comfortable in and that fits well. I always advise to bring more than one outfit with you. For outdoor sessions, wear clothes that are fashionable, yet still functional for the location - keep in mind we will be moving around!
Choose three or four colours to create a colour palette for your photos, and then incorporate the colours throughout your outfits in varying patterns, solids, and layers. Avoid matchy-matchy and black as your main colour. Soft, muted and neutral colours look great for my style of photography - please avoid bright/neon hues. It’s always a good idea to start with one statement piece - usually Mum’s outfit - and then pick the clothing for the rest of the family around that.
Want to go all-neutral but don't want it to be boring? I LOVE texture! Mixing up fabrics is a smart strategy to add some dimension to your images. A good cotton shirt is a good start, but adding things like knits, silks, lace etc can add a beautiful warmth to the images.
If you’re planning to display these photos around your home, it’s always key to consider what décor you have in your house. Try and pick a similar colour palette and your images will fit in beautifully. For example, you wouldn't wear pink if your living room was blue & white.
Don’t be afraid to dress up! When else can you wear a full length dress and not feel over-dressed?! It’s not only fun, but it’s something different to the everyday, and professional photographs can definitely be considered a special occasion!
For outdoor shoots, remember that you'll want to be comfortable as we move around, but please stay away from character themed shoes, athletic shoes, and bulky soles. Personally, I would always look to go barefoot where possible (indoor shoots only of course), or opt for subtle sandals. Consider the location - if we're in the woods then smart shoes are a no. That goes for outfits too, no one wears formal trousers or a suit to the woods!
This goes for all sessions, but particularly for newborn shoots - think about your nails! You'll forever regret arriving with chipped or half grown out nail varnish. Natural nails look lovely, but if you'd like to get them done then opt for something neutral or pastel - avoid bright colours at all costs!
Whether you plan to do your makeup yourself or book in with a makeup artist a few hours before your shoot, my main advice would be to keep it as natural as possible. Avoid dark, heavy eye makeup and thick fake lashes. Your baby is as natural as can be, so take this into consideration. Babies have really fair skin, so if you have gone overboard on the fake tan - then it's going to be noticeable!
Along with your nails, make sure that you're up to date with your hair! If you know you'll look at your images in years to come and wish you'd had your roots done, make it a priority. There's only so much editing magic that can be done!
There are a few styles of clothing that I would avoid wearing as they don't photograph well:
AVOID checked shirts - they can cause wiggly lines to appear on your photos!
AVOID bright block colours - they can cause colour reflections onto your skin
AVOID stripes - they're distracting
AVOID neon colours - they will come out a different colour in the final images
AVOID wearing yellow - I take a lot of this colour out of my photos, so any yellow clothing will look more white/cream
AVOID clothing with text, characters and big logos - No one wants "I'm a cool kid", or Chase from Paw Patrol in every image!
Not sure what to wear? Mamas, I've got your back! At the studio I have a beautiful selection of dresses for you to borrow. You can even pop to the studio before your session to try anything on and see what you like the best. For little ones, I have a range of outfits perfect for babies ages 6-18 months. Plain, neutral colours work best, so it can save you buying something in particular just for the photoshoot.
