Styling Advice

For maternity, newborn and family sessions

If you read my styling advice and you’re thinking “I don’t know if that’s me” – that’s actually great! Be authentic. This is YOUR shoot. I want to capture YOU.

This styling advice is for you if you aren’t sure how to dress for your shoot because - of course - it’s not something you dress for every day. Your session is such a special and beautiful occasion and worth putting great care and thought into.

Beautifully coordinated colours, textures and designs elevate a simple photo to a treasured piece of art and different outfit choices create a different vibe entirely, so it is important to dress very intentionally for your shoot.

But remember: Every single do and don't on the list below can be disregarded, as long as it's done with intention and done cohesively.

I have carefully curated a beautiful collection of beautiful pieces in my client wardrobe for you to make it easy for you.
Every piece harmonises perfectly with my signature photography aesthetic and will look beautiful in your images.

CHOOSE AN OUTFIT FOR YOURSELF FIRST (we're the most difficult to dress)

COLOURS/TEXTURES:
  • Coordinate, don't match. 
  • Choose a limited colour scheme of 3 (4 max) colours across the family (example: beige, brown, a pop of colour or white, brown, beige)
  • Match with your surroundings (warm and neutral colours are beautiful anywhere but cold hues are best reserved for pastel sunsets at the beach
  • Textures: Mix and match chunky knits, lace, linens and denims intentionally to create interest in your images

STYLE/CUT/LENGTH:
  • Flowy, long dresses and skirts allow for mobility (which is so important when we chase kids) and visible movement in your images.

COMFORT:
  • Nothing that pinches under the arms or requires to suck in your belly or only looks good if it’s draped in an exact way (there is so much movement involved in posing and directing and you’ll rarely stand completely still).

HAIR & MAKEUP:
  • Hair: Long, open and curled works best to create movement in your images. Plus, it looks always more natural and beautiful that way
  • Makeup: Contrast and definition translates well in images but there are no specific rules. Wear as much or as little makeup as you feel comfortable with (but please keep in mind that photoshop is not a substitute for makeup).

SHOES:
  • Light sandals in summer for grassy locations
  • Closed boots in winter for grassy locations and year round on rocky terrain
  • Barefoot on the beach and in the studio
  • No heels (Unsafe, inauthentic in nature and limited mobility)
  • No sneakers (they cheapen and date your images - unless you're very intentional about how you style them consistently across the entire family)

UNDERWEAR:
  • Nude-toned underwear that matches your skin colour (choose your underwear how you would choose your foundation)
  • Fuss-free bra (strapless bra for shoulder-free dresses. Tucking never works that well and creates odd shapes)
  • Avoid panty lines

MATERNITY SESSIONS:
  • Simple robes and drapes show off your bump beautifully (and are my favourite way to capture pregnancy)
  • Consider investing in simple white or black bikinis to wear under a robe or in combination with a drape (or just by itself) for a session

NEWBORN SESSIONS:
  • Your hands are often close-up in the frame, often curled around your baby, but you don't need a professional manicure. Clean hands and neat nails are perfect.

AVOID:
  • Logos (they date and cheapen your images and distract)
  • Busy patterns (small florals are better than big patterns. Be intentional when coordinating patterns and never match them across the entire family. For example - you don't want everyone to wear the same chequered shirt).
  • Pinchy, tight fitting clothes that require constant adjusting
  • Sneakers, heels
  • Smart watches and hair ties around your wrist
  • Underwear that doesn't match or creates odd shapes and lines

Mum:

CHILDREN IN NAPPIES:
A visible nappy will ruin any shot immediately, so here are some outfit ideas for nappy-aged children:
  • Girls: Rompers or overalls instead of dresses (the nappy always shows under a dress as soon as they sit on your lap, crawl, bend down or are tossed in the air). Bloomers are also an option to cover nappies under a dress.
  • Boys: Rompers and overalls instead of shorts (the nappy often sticks out the top of shorts)

BLOOMERS/TIGHTS:
  • to keep undies covered and allow for mobility and movement

FUSS-FREE CLOTHING:
  • Choose outfits that need minimal rearranging during your shoot

HAIR:
  • Tie long hair back so it doesn't cover their face. Braids on each side are most secure
  • Pretty fabric bow clips look best (avoid neon coloured hair ties or anything that doesn't hold)

SPARE CLOTHING:
  • always pack a separate outfit for travelling to and from your session (in case of nappy accidents in the car and clothes that get wet at the beach)
  • always pack a backup outfit for the session itself (this applies mostly to toddlers)

OUTDOORS: DRESS FOR COLD WEATHER:
  • Sunsets can be windy and cool, even during the height of summer. Always pack spare layers, tights and even a warm jacket
  • Avoid short sleeves and bare little legs completely from autumn to spring. Children will often brave the cold well...until they suddenly don't. Then it is too late to warm them up again and your shoot is over.
  • Babies get cold quicker: They don't move around and wind is tough on their little ears. Socks, boots and a beanie are a must from autumn to early summer. 

OUTDOORS: SOCKS AND SHOES:
  • Babies who don't walk yet need socks and shoes to keep their feet nice and warm (they turn blue quickly in the breeze)
  • Leather Boots from autumn to spring and even in summer for those with sensitive little feet
  • Barefoot (only if it is warm enough) at the beach

INDOORS: SOCKS AND SHOES
  • None needed

AVOID:
  • Sneakers
  • Babies in socks only or barefoot in cool weather
  • Uncovered nappies under dresses
  • shorts for nappy-aged children
  • bright, plastic or acrylic hair ties and clips
  • long, loose hair
  • bright undies under white dresses




Kids:

PANTS:
  • Long pants instead of shorts (Long pants harmonise better with mum's long dress and are more elegant)
  • Chinos are best and can be rolled up above the ankles at the beach
  • No suit pants (too formal in any family photography context)
  • No cargo or track pants (too casual unless Mum also wears casual pants)
  • No denim with holes (unless Mum does the same - it's all about cohesiveness and intention)

SHOES:
  • Leather boots for grassy/rocky terrain
  • Barefoot at the beach
  • Barefoot or leather shoes in the studio
  • Sneakers will date and cheapen your images unless they are very intentionally styled

TOPS:
  • choose neutral tones with contrast to pants
  • textured fabrics like linen, waffle and crochet photograph beautifully
  • avoid the stiff, almost shiny suit shirts
  • avoid clear white (it doesn't photograph well) and choose ivory, stone, oat, beige or brown instead
  • Avoid grey (either choose a colour pop or a warm neutral colour)

Avoid:
  • Logos
  • Patterns (unless very intentionally coordinated)
  • Smart Watches
  • Phones and wallets in pockets (please take them out before your shoot and don't return them to your pocket until the shoot is over)
  • Underdressing compared to Mum (If she wears a long, elegant gown, try and match with long, elegant pants)
  • incohesive dressing (across the family but also wihin one individual outfit)
  • ill-fitting clothes (do a fit check in the weeks leading up to your session)
  • hats and caps
  • sneakers
  • suit pants and stiff suit shirts
  • denim with holes, track pants, cargo pants
  • crisp whites and greys

Dad:

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  1. FIT CHECK (The whole family has tried on their outfit prior to the session and they all fit - no stretching, pulling, popping buttons etc.)
  2. SPARE OUTFITS (a travel outfit for everyone, plus spare outfits for little kids are packed)
  3. SHOES (don't forget to plan footwear according to location and weather)
  4. HAIR (Mum & Kids)
  5. UNDERWEAR (Don't forget the right bra to go with your dress)
  6. NEWBORN SESSION: HANDS (hands and nails are neat and clean)
  7. OUTDOORS: EXTRA LAYERS (April to December)

(SCREENSHOT OR COPY AND PASTE)

check list for your session


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