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1. Wear something that makes you feel good and that flatters you, accentuates your good points and plays down any areas that aren’t your fave . If you are unsure, ask a friend. You can ask me too. Send a picture to me of the clothing options you’re considering and I’ll give you my opinion. It helps to send photos of you actually wearing the clothes.

2. Think about the general feel that you want for your photos and where we’ll be taking them. Do you want a casual outdoorsy feel? Or would you prefer an urban fashion look? Do you want a fun summer playtime feel or a cozy snowy and wintry feel? Make sure everyone that will be in the photo is on the same page and dressed appropriately.

3. In general I suggest wearing solid colors because it is a relatively easy and safe bet, but sometimes the outfit you really love  has a pattern and you just have to wear it. That’s ok, but if you’re going to break this rule make sure you think it through. Who else will be in the photo? Are they wearing patterns too? Will the patterns clash with one another? Is the pattern so vibrant that the photo will end up being more about the clothing than about you?

4. Does everyone in the photo need to wear the same color? No, they don’t. However, there should be a cohesive look between all of your outfits. My rule of thumb for colors is if *you* wouldn’t wear the colors together then don’t spread them across the family.

5. My last tip is one that many people may not have considered, but it’s a big deal if you want to display a large portrait in your home. What is the main color theme of the room where you plan to hang the photo(s)? Will the colors you’ve selected for your wardrobe look out of place? If so, it may be worth rethinking your color choices.

6. Bonus tip . If you’re looking for inspiration for what colors to wear, look to the magazines. Check out magazines like Cookie Magazine, People Magazine (look for the celebrity family photos in the articles), or any magazine that regularly features families and couples.  For my lovely pregnant readers, there is a maternity fashion site that gives lots of tips on what to wear to feel and look great on a daily basis and a lot of their tips work for maternity sessions too – She Knows.