One of the most common things I hear from clients is, “I have no idea how we should dress.”

No worries, I’ve got you covered.

Portraits are created to immortalize a moment in time, and often, these portraits are displayed front and center in your home. The pressure to look good is a little heavy, and that’s where I step in with my clients.

During their Style Consult, we talk a lot about the look they are going for. Sometimes clients know exactly what they want, and other times they have no clue. When I sit down to plan a client’s session, here’s what we do:

1. Choose a style. 
   When you submit an inquiry form on our website, we ask how you would like to be photographed, and include some examples to choose from; this is your desired Style (or Styles).
   The mom from this Fall Family Portrait session knew she wanted everyone to dress classically: dressy attire, but not too over the top. So we went from there.

    

   

2. Decide on colors. 
   How are you planning to display your portraits? If you’re thinking of a room in your home, you may want to consider having a pallet that compliments the room you have in mind. Or maybe there is a holiday card design you’ve been eyeing, think of colors that will look good in that layout.
   We wanted to go for a gold and cream look here, and we knew Burgundy would offer a nice contrast, especially considering our shooting location.

    

   

3. Book hair and makeup appointments. 
   Even if you feel you can do your own hair and makeup, take it from me, it’s so much better to treat yourself to booking with a stylist and makeup artist. Not only are you guaranteed to look amazing for your shoot, but you’ll also be a lot more relaxed with one less thing to worry about.
   For this shoot, the mom’s hair was styled by @taylordhair and her makeup was done by @allieyamaguchi. Be sure to check out these ladies’ Instagrams, especially if you’re looking for artists for the upcoming holidays.

    

   

4. Accessorize.
   Accessories will truly make or break your shoot. Sure, “less is more,” but I would love to style a session with many shiny and sparkly pieces. =]
   The dress was our accessory for this shoot. I found it in my studio stash and instantly knew it would be perfect for this style. (Yes, I do look for outfits for my clients, but only if they let me.)

    

   

5. Rock the shoot! 
   Now that you have all the styling components for your shoot, get out there and work it! Even if you’re a bit nervous, your photographer should be able to direct you into poses that flatter you. No need to worry about if you “look good,” your photographer has that under control.
   As I tell my clients, “Relax, and be beautiful!”

    

   

Just remember, your portrait experience should be enjoyable. And with a little planning and preparation, you will absolutely love them.

To see more images from this session, click here. If you would like more information on booking services with TeAirra Mitchell Photography, please reach out on our website. We’d love to hear from you!

Want inspiration on what to wear for your Fall Family Portraits, check out our board on Pinterest.