Styling 101 – Why what you wear matters | Denver Lifestyle Photographer

Family

Mountain Maternity Pictures in Denver Colorado in the summer at sunset

WHY does what you wear matter?

Well I am going to tell you! You want the focus to be on your sweet family and your connection to each other. Some outfits that look amazing in real life just don’t photograph well. I am a Denver lifestyle photographer, and your experience with me will be raw, intimate and all about connection. While what you choose to wear plays a huge part in the overall look of your images, I don’t want it to be the first thing people see when they look at a photograph that I have taken.

Toddler running in a field during family photography session in Boulder Colorado

The first thing we need to think about is the location that you have chosen for your lifestyle photography session. I love to shoot connections! Dancing around in a meadow, hiking in the mountains or splashing in a creek all lead to beautiful connections and moments between your family. Having a wardrobe that is intentionally chosen to fit your personality, yet compliment the environment we are shooting in makes for the most beautiful images.

Family of 5 walking in a field at sunset in the summer in the Colorado Mountains
Water maternity photography session in Golden Colorado

Coordinate & Color

PLEASE DO NOT and I will repeat DO NOT show up for your photography session wearing matching white button ups and jeans. Odds are you chose a particular photographer because you were drawn to their style, the way their images looked, how they captured their subjects. Were any of the families in those photographs wearing matching outfits? Probably not. Matching your family is OUT my friends, coordinating them is IN!

Try to choose a pallete of 3 or 4 coordinating colors and dress your family accordingly. I always start with Mama and build from there, but it is totally up to you what works best. Just be sure everyone is coordinating NOT matching.

Neutral themed family photography session in Highlands ranch colorado
Lifestlye maternity photography session in the fall in Golden Colorado
Mother snuggles child during a sunset photography session in Arvada Colorado

When choosing your colors, I recommend sticking to neutral or earthy colors. Now that does not mean you are stuck with grays and browns, believe it or not there are neutrals in every color! Think deeper blues, forest green, rust, mustard yellow, deep teal, emerald, burnt orange, mauves and plums. Try to steer clear of anything neon, bright pinks and oranges, coral and red. Those colors tend to create a wonky color cast that looks strange in pictures. Again, colors that compliment eachother will work best.

lifestyle family photography session in the mountains in Boulder Colorado in the summer at sunset

Give me all the textures and patterns…

Within reason of course!

Patterns can be amazing in photos, but it can be super hard to coordinate a variety of different ones. Bold, loud, chunky, crazy patterns do not typically photograph well and its best to avoid those. Instead, look for a more subtle pattern. You can also opt for different textures. Knits, lace, corduroy, etc. I am OBSESSED with the gauzy fabrics that are used in a lot of the dresses my clients wear from Jens Pirate Booty These patterns are subtle and add just the right about of texture to really make your images stand out.

Mother daughter pictures in Denver Colorado

beautiful maternity pictures in colorado
Epic mountain maternity session in Colorado mountains at sunset

Do not be afraid of the wind……embrace it!

It is a Denver Lifestyle Photography session!

Dress blowing all around? Hair getting messy and in your face? Embrace the movement because often these images turn out to be the most emotionally moving photographs.

Family maternity photography session in the foothils in Boulder Colorado with a denver lifestyle photographer
Windy sunset maternity photography session in Boulder Colorado
Denver lifestyle photographer

Virtual Styling at your fingertips!

There is SO much inspiration online for styling. Especially if you are doing pictures with a Denver lifestyle photographer Pinterest is awesome – Check out one of my favorite accounts to follow – Style & Select. If you are a client of mine, you have seen style and select. I use it to help style my clients. They have a style to fit most families and you can even click on the item and buy it easy peasy! This is a service that I pay for, because I find it instrumental in helping my clients navigate styling and be successful at it! I also have an ever growing client closet that I offer to my Mama’s free of charge. It is full of amazing dresses that photograph beautifully!

Family photos with pets
fall family photography session denver lifestyle photographer
Family pictures in a meadow in the fall at sunset Denver lifestyle photographer

Let’s chat!

I take great pride in helping my clients achieve a cohesive look that both photographs well and accurately represents them as a family! For more information on booking a session with me click here to inquire! I can’t wait to help you create the PERFECT look for your next portrait session!

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