Everyone does NOT have to match.

The biggest misconception I get for portraits is that everyone should be matching. This is not true! Pick a couple of colors and choose clothes that will fit in this color scheme. It's okay to mix patterns and fabrics as long as the colors tie everything together.

What season is it?

Another thing you'll want to notice is the time of season. Coordinate your clothing options and colors accordingly. You won't want to wear bright neon pink or yellow during the Fall or Christmas season. It just looks off.

Don't forget accessories.

Different textures and accessories like scarves or belts can really add to your images. Pretty necklaces, earrings, hats, and jackets are great too! Don't shy away from different textures.

Avoid distracting clothing.

Yes, your little one may love their Toy Story shirt but you probably want to skip it for your family photo session. Characters, logos, and words can be very distracting and take attention away from the face.

Undergarments.

Ladies, don't forget about bras! You might need a different bra for each outfit depending on colors, shape and straps! Bring a set of bras and strap adjusting accessories to work with any outfit you want to shoot in. Make sure to keep straps well hidden! Also, think about underwear lines. You never know when the might show up in photos!

Hair.

If you're coloring or cutting your hair for your shoot, do so about two weeks beforehand. Just in case anything goes wrong! And don't forget to remove hair elastics from your wrist before the session! For men, a fresh cut a couple days before the shoot is fine.

Nails.

Add a fresh coat of polish before your shoot. Pick a color that won't clash with your outfits. Your photo shoot is a great excuse for a manicure!

Make-up.

Ladies, I highly recommend getting your makeup done professionally. This can make a huge difference! But if you choose to apply makeup yourself, make sure to use a little extra foundation to even your skin tone and extra concealer under the eyes to hide bags and dark circles. Consider a cheekbone highlight and a colorful lip. False eyelashes always look great for photos as well.

Facial Hair.

Men, please shave with a new razor, shaving cream and a moisturizing after-shave lotion to avoid bumps and redness. Trim up your beard, sideburns, mustache or goatee. Ladies, if you're prone to a little extra peach fuzz on the chin or lip, indulge in a waxing in advance of your shoot! Facial hair can sometimes catch the light in some images. Everyone, please clean up your eyebrows!

Dry Skin.

Dry skin can really detract from a great photo shoot. Start moisturizing a week in advance of your shoot. Focus on your arms, legs, shoulders, neck, FACE, hands, anywhere you'll be exposed to the camera. For dry skin on the face, try using a face scrub and then applying lotion afterwards.

Tan lines and sunburns.

Please be conscious of how much time you're spending in the sun a few days before your photo shoot. Burnt skin and is not ideal for photos. If you have unwanted tan lines, a professional spray tan is a quick fix. Speaking from experience, you'll need a professional hand sprayed tan so they can even out your skin color for you.

Insecurities.

Almost everyone is a little insecure about some physical feature they may have. Maybe you have a mole on your arm that you despise, or maybe your tummy sticks out a little farther then you'd like. That's okay! I want you to feel great about your images so make sure to let me know about your insecurities so I can try and hide or edit the things that you're uncomfortable with.