I’ve had a lot of requests lately for advice on wardrobe and make-up so I decided to put it all together in one post. My biggest piece of advice for any photo session is to feel like the best version of yourself. The most put-together, the most polished. As a mom of an almost 2 and 4 year old, I realize that “polished” is not always a common word in most women’s vocabularies. But there are a few areas where you can focus to make sure you look and feel your best! Because at the end of the day, the more confident and comfortable you feel, the more you’ll love your images.

Keep it simple

You can never go wrong with classic. Avoid anything too trendy. You’ll thank me for it in a few years (or months!). Avoid busy patterns, thin stripes, logos, and graphics. You want to be the focus of your photos, not your clothing. Plaids can be ok on guys but if he’s is in plaid, keep the rest solid.

Determine your color palette

Neutrals are always a great choice. I tend to lean towards creams, greys, and blush but that’s a personal preference. If you love color, embrace it! I would recommend you pick one or two primary colors and select variations of those colors while filling in the rest with neutrals. For example, if blue is your color choice, you might have one family member in navy while another is in chambray or a light blue. Doing variations of colors within a complimentary color palette can help things feel cohesive without feeling overly matchy. A few colors to avoid: SUPER bright red or neons. Those colors can cause a “color cast” and reflect back up on your skin.

Consider your background

Your location can be a large factor in your wardrobe selection. If you’re shooting in a grove of Cherry Blossoms, keep your clothing soft and light. You want to stand out against the background but dark colors like black or navy can feel too harsh in such a soft setting. For engagements and maternity, I love to have her in soft flowy fabrics. Maxi dresses or skirts with movement photograph beautifully.

Be comfortable

If you’re fidgeting, fighting tags or hemlines, or just don’t feel comfortable, it’s going to show. You want something you can move and feel AWESOME in. Also, if you’re considering heels, definitely bring comfortable shoes to wear while transitioning between locations.

Put an extra layer on

I usually recommend adding one extra accessory than you would normal wear, especially if you’ve opted for solid colors. That can be a jacket, scarf, piece of jewelry, etc. Accessories can add wonderful texture to photos as well as help you feel more polished.

Go Pro

For special sessions, especially Engagements, Senior photos, and Headshots, I encourage my clients to take their hair and make-up a step beyond their daily-look (within your comfort zone of course!) Professional hair and or make-up takes a bit of the stress off of you and gives you an added boost of confidence. For engagements in particular, now is the perfect time to do a trial run for your wedding day so you will be able to see what your make-up looks like on camera. If a full face of make-up isn’t your thing, that’s ok! But maybe try adding a bit more eye make-up. Eyes in particular are important. Avoid anything too smokey, unless that’s your normal look, but lashes (even falsies!) can help define your eyes in photos and help them pop.

For Engagement Sessions:

Have your nails done and your ring cleaned! I want to capture that bling! I also recommend having 2-3 outfits - 1 casual, 1 WOW, and 1 wild card (if you choose to.)

I hope these tips help! As part of every session, I’m always happy to consult on outfits or provide personalized advice!

XO, Lacy

Feeling your best in front of the camera...