Your Photo Session: Themes, Clothes, Props & Locations

Ok, so you have booked a photo shoot and now there is the big task in front of you.... "WhAt Do I wEar?!?!"  I get asked this alot from my clients, and my first question is, "What is the theme or style that you are looking for?"  That answer will be the foundation to build on for your specific photo shoot.  A client books with a certain photographer because they like their personal photographic style and want that applied to their themes. My job, as your photographer, is to tell that specific themed story in our session, whether that is a family session in a field, or a bride and groom on their wedding day.

For the hour session or more, you may choose bring a change of clothing and do some dressy and some casual.  A great suggestion is to go out and buy a new outfit for your session.  Not only will these clothes be unique because no one has seen you in them before, but everyone feels good in a new set of clothes, and that will show in your photos.  The below is just a small list of all of the possibilities that can work in a photo shoot.  

Guidelines for Your Photo Session

    1. Pick your style
         What "Look" are you going for?
          - Dressy/Preppy
          - Casual/Playful
          - Vintage
          - Edgy

    2. Pick your Theme
         This is just a small list of the possibilities!
          - Classic Family          - Retro
          - 70's hippy              - Vintage Anthropologie
          - Biker chic               - Farm life
          - 20's Flappers          - Tea party
          - My Birthday            - Senior Year
          - Summer Fun           - 50's bombshell beauty
          - Mall Shopping          - Ballerina
          - Enchanted Fairy       - Movie inspired
          - Family Picnic            - Country Christmas

    3. Pick your props to bring
           - Old suitcases           - Bouquet of fresh flowers
           - Umbrellas                - Old chair
           - Handmade kites       - Cupcakes, over-sized lollipops
           - Bunch of balloons     - Picnic baskets
           - Teddy Bears/Dolls     - Hats/Scarfs/Sun Glasses/Ties
           - Block letters             - Antique car,truck, bicycle or wagon
           - Quilt                        - Sports equipment
           - Animals

    4. Pick your location
            - Laundromat            - Open field
            - Horse Farm             - Pond or lake
            - The Mall                 - A Park
            - Downtown             - Old torn down house
            - Apple Orchard         - Garden Store
            - Barn                       - A bus
            - A Boat                    - Your house
            - Railroad Tracks         - Soda Shop/Ice Cream Shop
            - Any old colorful building
            *To find out if any travel fees may be applied to your location,
              just email the physical address and I will figure that up for you.     

     5. Pick your colors
            - Stay away from very small busy lined patterns, words
              and logos on clothing.
            - Pick a color palette instead of everyone in the same color.
              Different colors can compliment each other. Or pick a
              color that can weave the different clothes together.
              You can go with a soft color palette or a bold color palette.
            - Wear lots of colors, lots of layers, lots of textures
            - A great hint is to visit the mall and look in the store windows
              to see which clothing they mixed and matched together in
              their photo displays.  Remember, that company has hired a
              stylist to piece together for their photo shoots, so you have
              great ideas right at your finger tips!