I don’t give a photography style guide for families. Full Stop. There I said it. I could end with that, and this would be a super short blog, but I should explain myself as this question comes up a lot. Here are the top three reasons I choose not to give a photography style guide for families and what I do instead.
#1 I want the photos to feel like you
It’s OK to dress up a little for your photos (or even down), but they should still be something you’d see yourself wearing. Your images should look and feel like your family. I can give you tips, but only YOU know what fits the feel of your family.
#2 Photography Style Guides Fo Families Don’t align with MY Style of photography
Now, I’m not saying there aren’t many styles of photography where guides are helpful; I’m simply stating my style of photos isn’t suited for “guides” and curation. As a Spokane family photographer, I focus on lifestyle images that celebrate the art of everyday moments. Your everyday moments, not some “family in a magazine’s” everyday moments or even your neighbor down the street.
I would be doing a disservice to the art I produced if I guided you into something that wasn’t YOU.
#3 I don’t want my photos to look the same
I have a strong belief about the images in my portfolio. As a brand, I believe in everyday life’s unique and unaltered beauty. I want my portfolio to reflect the diversity and uniqueness of everyone’s story.
I continue to grow my portfolio organically by holding space for people to show up as they are and using those images for a diverse portfolio. Life isn’t cookie-cutter, nor do I want my portfolio to feel like cloned images.
What do I give instead of a photography style guides for families?
While I don’t specifically tell families what to wear, where to shop, and which color palettes to always stick to, I do offer advice on preparing for sessions, like this blog on preparing for a newborn session or this one preparing for a family session.
Most articles I’ve written about preparing for sessions have more to do with what to expect and advice for making the most out of your session. However, I do touch on clothing. So, I promise I won’t leave you hanging when selecting clothes.
It’s just that I want your mindset around clothing to be focused on your family and staying true to how you do life. Often starting with a guide on what to wear sets people on the path for conformity, and that’s NOT my jam.
Here are a few tips I include for clothing at family session –
- If you NEVER wear dresses, please don’t show up in one.
- If purple is your FAVORITE color, go ahead and wear it to your session. Neutrals look nice in photos but don’t toss out your most favorite shirt because of that suggestion.
- Please wear comfortable clothes to sit, play and run in with your kids.
- Go ahead and lay out all your clothes on a bed side by side so you can get an idea of how they will look together in a photo.
Pro tip – In family photos, pick one person’s outfit first (like Mom) and then add the other outfits around theirs. It makes the process a little easier to have a starting point.
Hopefully, this post answers the question about why I don’t have a clothing guide for my families. However, check out Pinterest if you’re hitting a roadblock on clothing choices. There are thousands of beautiful photos for inspiration.
Cheers!
MB
P.S. Want to know how we can work together? I’m a Spokane photographer who serves newborns, families, and soulful brands and travels the Pacific NW. Let’s chat more here.
