Choosing the right outfit for a Photoshoot

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Happy Colours

  • If you wear happy colours you’ll automatically feel and be happy.  If you rock up to the photoshoot in dark shades, you are going to feel dull.  Dark colours can also make you disappear into the background of a photograph.  If you choose some colours that really brighten up your face then you will feel energised and ready to smile for the camera.  Do be aware that colours that brighten your face doesn’t necessarily mean bright bold colours.  Pastel shades work really well and can make photos look really crisp and fresh.

  • Organise and choose the clothing you, as the parent, are going to wear before deciding on the rest of the family, really helps.  It will be easier for the rest of the family to fit with your outfit rather than choosing outfits the other way round.

  • When considering what the rest of the family are going to wear, you might be wearing your favourite colour, but you need to make sure the rest of the family are not going to wear colours that then clash with yours.

  • Try to avoid having a mix of colours throughout the family.  Too many colours in one shot can take away from what is important in the photo…..you and your family.  There is also a danger that the photographs will not flow and it will appear very busy.

Colours to avoid

  • For some skin tones green looks amazing and if that’s you then do wear it, but don’t go too bright.  As a general rule for most, green is not a colour that reflects well on your skin and can make you look drained and enhance the shadows on your face. You need to complement your skin tones.

  • When choosing what colours to wear, stand in natural light, try holding the colours to yours and the families faces.   Video yourselves, if it helps, and watch the tones in your face change.  Pick a colour that brightens your face.  As you look back at photos or videos you will notice a reduction in facial shadowing and minimal shine. Your face should look bright and clear. If you see a yellow glow this means it is not complimenting your skin.

  • When you have a colour that works try and match similar tones that will compliment all of the family.

  • Matching the tones with a pair of jeans works really well visually for the photographs.  Jeans are perfect in a photoshoot as they are always in fashion!

 

Coordinate - don’t match

  • The key to the colours you choose is to coordinate.  Coordinating with pastel tones works very well for all. Some families can get away with bold bright colours. 

  • Don’t all wear the same colour as it will appear as one big block of colour in your photos and it will be hard to distinguish where one person ends and another starts.

  • Wear solid colours staying away from patterns.  Patterns can make the photos look very busy and again take attention away from the family.

 

Clothes to avoid for a photoshoot

  • Big logos; I don’t say this to prevent product placement, but I do say it because people are automatically drawn to see what someone is wearing rather than looking at the people in the photograph.

  • Subtle logos are ok as the eye won’t be as drawn to them, but big logos on t-shirts or jumpers is too much and very distracting.

  • Big patterns and prints are also not recommended as these can also be distracting.

  • Other clothes I would suggest avoiding are crop tops showing off the midriff and excessive ripped jeans.  As with other things like logos and patterns, both of these can take the focus away from what is important in the photo; the family!

Prepare the clothes in advance so you’re ready

  • I really do recommend, as mentioned in my ‘How to Prepare for a Family Photoshoot’ Blog, that you should organise what everyone is going to wear ahead of the photoshoot.  Please look back at this blog to help you.

  • Once you have chosen your clothes lay them all out on the bed and take a photo of them.  Look at the photo and see where your eyes are drawn.  If your eyes are drawn to one colour, then you know this is the colour scheme for the family.  You will then be able to coordinate all of the outfits to match these tones.

 

Most importantly be comfortable

  • I spoke about this in my ‘How to prepare children for a photoshoot’ Blog.

  • If you think about which clothes make you feel most relaxed and the types of clothes you choose to be relaxed, but maybe not necessarily your PJs or tracksuit trousers, those clothes should be the style of clothes you should wear for the photoshoot.

  • I know I have some trousers that I feel great in and others that may cut in more around the waist, which makes me, fidget and want to adjust my top to try and get comfortable.

  • Jeans are a timeless piece to an outfit and are very flattering. 

 

Look out for my Colours Blog later in the series.

 

If there is anything I have not covered, please do contact me to ask any questions.  I’d be more than happy to help.

 

How to Prepare Children for a Photoshoot

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Prepare the children it is happening

  • As mentioned in my previous Blog ‘How to prepare for a family photoshoot’ tell your children excitedly about the photoshoot, so they get excited about it too.

  • Talk to the children and explain what a photoshoot is and what happens.  

  • Tell them the photographer’s name and maybe show them a photo of the photographer.

  • Discuss what they would like to do as a treat after the photoshoot, such as; going out to lunch, seeing a film in the cinema or even just buying them a little treat to eat!

  • On the day of the photoshoot, arrive a little earlier than the time the photoshoot is due to start, this allows the children to run around and release any excess energy.  We don’t want them releasing too much energy though as we need this energy to produce some great photo for you to keep as a lasting memory!

 

Make sure they wear comfortable clothes

 

  • It’s a fact; no one feels relaxed when they wear something they do not feel comfortable in.  This is the same for children.  Let them help you choose their outfit, within reason, as I know they can choose some crazy outfits when given free rein!

  • It’s very rare that someone will look at a family photo and comment on the outfits, most people will focus on the subjects and their expressions and what might be happening in the photo.  So really don’t get too worried about everyone’s outfits.  We want you to be just as relaxed as the children are, ready for the photoshoot!

 

Make sure the children are well fed

  • Although the photo sessions will not appear that long to an adult, to a child it can seem like it goes on for some time.  Make sure they are well fed before the shoot and always bring snacks incase they get hungry.

  • I would also recommend bringing a drink for the children, as you know, when they have a snack they always want a drink afterwards!

 

Bring family activities like a simple kite to fly

  • Having a bag of a few toys, games and activities to do during the photoshoot can really help tell a story in your photos.  These activities can also create lots of lovely natural smiles, which is what we want.

  • Activities can also distract children, who maybe having a moment, bringing them back in to the photoshoot without too much stress for them.

  • Toys and games can also create some amazing natural smiles.  This is what we want.  One thing I ask parents, during a shoot, is not to say to their children to smile.  This can go two ways, one; a big unnatural cheesy smile or, two; a child who refuses to smile as they’ve just been told to do it and they decide they don’t want to.

 

Talk positively

  • This tip is so important.  If you add excitement to your voice whenever you talk about the photoshoot the emotion will transfer to the children and they will be excited.  If you tell them with a monotone voice, the children will pick this up and question whether the photoshoot is something they want to do.

  • Excited, Excited, Excited!

 

Make sure the children are well rested

  • When younger children are involved, it is best to book the photoshoot in the morning at a time after any younger children may have had a sleep.

  • Being well rested also applied to the adults too, so you are more relaxed and refreshed and looking amazing!

 

Let them be them

  • This is so important and this is what you really want photos of.

  • If the children decide to have a strop, just let them, sometimes these emotions caught on camera are the best and give great memories for when the children are older.  Everyone loves looking back at photos when they were young and coming across a photo of them really cross or not being impressed with the situation. 

  • If the children want to dip in and out of the photos, that’s fine.  Within the session a good photographer will be able to capture them unawares and still create a great collection of photos for you!

 

If I have not covered something, please do contact me to ask any questions.

 

Photography Tips for You!

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Step Closer

When taking photos try stepping closer to your subject. This can benefit your photography skills in a few ways. It can cut out the background, which isn’t always necessary, giving composition to your photo and focusing on the subject.

Keep a Steady Camera

When taking a photo make sure you are steady on your feet, standing on solid ground, keep your elbows tight into your body and hold the camera tight to your face and with two hands. Sometimes, holding your breathe, as you push the shutter lease down, can help prevent any unnecessary shakes!

Reduce Blurry Photos

One of the most frustrating things is when you’ve been having fun taking photos and then you see the photos and notice they are blurry. To help prevent this you should not set your shutter speed any lower than the focal length of your lens. As a general rule, you should not go below 1/60th (shutter speed) as this is generally the slowest a hand can hold a camera without shake. If you want to go below 1/60th you are starting to get into tripod territory or I would advise you rest the camera on a solid surface.