Hey there, Friends!
Welcome to Michelle & Brittany Photography! We are so happy you have decided to join our circle of friends. We cannot wait to get to know you and capture those memories that pass away too quickly. Get ready to have some fun with your two new gal pals! (Be warned we love to laugh).
We created this Style Guide to help you prepare for your upcoming photoshoot. We understand that being in front of a camera is not everyone’s forte (TBH, even Brittany doesn’t LOVE being in front of the camera). This is a resource to help put your mind at ease as you have already done all of the work to look great.
Below you will find some suggestions, tips, and tricks we have learned through our photography journey to help you look your best on camera. This will give you photos that resemble our portfolio the closest.
General Rules
1. Pick a Color Palette
You don’t have to wear the same color, but you should pick a color palette and work within it. Here are a few of our favorites for reference:
2. Dress Like You’re Attending a Wedding
If you were going to be the guest at a friend’s wedding, ladies would probably dress up in a nice dress or skirt, and gentlemen would probably wear dress pants and a button-up shirt. This is where you get to have fun. Get dressed up and pretend it’s a date! We recommend this for our little friends too.
3. Favorite Outfits
We offer two looks for our portrait and engagement sessions. With that, we recommend that you each have two separate looks. The guys will get to make this happen a bit easier, as they can switch up a shirt with a few main accessories (belts, shoes, etc). We do recommend that parents pack an extra outfit for your littles. You just never know what may or may not happen. We will take a short break about halfway through in order to change.
Timing
Part of creating beautiful photographs is capturing the best light. We offer two distinct time frames: Sunrise & Sunset. Each session takes place within a period known as “golden hour.” This is within a two hour period of the sunrise and the sunset. This time frame captures the best, softest light which creates a beautiful, dreamy effect that flatters all skin tones.
At some locations, this timeframe might be moved up by an hour or so depending on environmental factors such as trees or buildings that cause the light to disappear well before the actual sunset time.
The alternative to this timeline is shooting at sunrise, which works better in some locations. For example, if you want your photoshoot to take place in a location that is generally very busy, it might be best to shoot there at sunrise to avoid the crowds and feature the special location that you’ve chosen in the background instead of a bunch of strangers.
Dress Up
You’ve made an investment so that you can have amazing photos of you and your family so we should treat this like a special occasion, because it is. This isn’t your everyday, and you only get to capture these memories once, so let’s make it count. We strongly encourage you to dress up. We're not talking about a ball gown and tuxedo (unless you want to of course!), but wearing something dressy makes a world of difference.
As photographers, we strive to produce images that are bright, timeless, and clean. This is achieved through a combination of lighting; location; and most importantly, you, the subjects. Not only does a dressy style add a polished look to your photos, but when you get dressed up, you feel more confident and that will show on camera.
Colors & Patterns
We have mentioned not everyone needs to wear the same color, however, you should pick a color palette for your photoshoot. Color palettes should have no more than three colors. We recommend wearing muted tones or pastels because bright or dark colors can draw attention and take away the focus of your beautiful faces. These colors can also reflect onto your skin which can make skin tones look different in the final images. (Crazy, we know). Now, if you have a favorite article of clothing that’s a dark color, by all means, wear it; just keep in mind that others in your family should wear lighter, neutral colors so that you compliment each other.
Patterns can be a fun addition to outfits that add visual interest, but you want to be sure that you use patterns sparingly. If you add too much visual interest, your eyes will dart around to all of the patterns before settling on you, which is the most important aspect of the photo. We recommend having only one pattern, for example, just stripes or just florals, and using it sparingly. If you have a floral dress, for example, your partner should wear a solid-colored shirt (within your color palette). If you wanted to incorporate the pattern into his outfit as well, you could add a floral tie or bowtie. Try to avoid pairing patterns with patterns, such as a floral dress and a plaid or checked shirt. Keep in mind where your shoot will take place. We do not want you to blend in with the background.
Styling
Now let’s dive into the specifics of what photographs well, and what should be avoided. We discussed earlier that this is a special day for you. You’re celebrating your family, whether it be for a birthday, anniversary, or just because. In honor of this special occasion, we recommend getting a little dressed up.
Adding texture will help make the color palette pop. For instance, If you are using a very muted pattern you can add visual interest by adding one or more textures to the outfit.
The Gents
As the song goes, “Every girl’s crazy ‘bout a sharp-dressed man.” And it’s so true! Not only does it provide a look of confidence, but it also flatters the body. For the guys, this can either be a completely formal look or semi-formal look.
Before we get into the differences, there is one item that we recommend wearing no matter what the rest of the outfit looks like: dress shoes. Dress shoes can add an amount of sophistication to even a nice pair of jeans, whereas tennis shoes can have the opposite effect.
For a completely formal look guys have a few options. The highest degree of formality would be a full suit or tuxedo: pants, button-up shirt, waistcoat (optional), jacket, and tie/bowtie. If you opt for this option, you also have the ability to create a slightly more casual, but still formal, look within these pieces by taking off the jacket and maybe even the tie.
For a semi-formal look, gents have several options. We still recommend a long-sleeved, button-up shirt and long pants. We know it can get hot, especially if we’re shooting in the middle of summer, but there is a reason for the madness. Not only do the long sleeves and pants make the limbs look slim and toned while also elongating the body, it also provides for a more polished look. With this, you can wear pants that are a little less formal: khakis, colored chinos, or even a nice pair of dark, non-ripped jeans. A nice sweater can also create a more casual look with some cozy vibes for the winter. It is important to note, it is best when worn over a collared shirt so that it still looks classic and polished.
The Ladies
No matter what kind of look you’re going for, I recommend wearing heels. Not only does it make an outfit more dressy, but it adds length to legs and points the toes so that you have an elegant curve when standing.
When picking your outfits, you also want to think about waistlines. In general, you’ll want to pick an outfit that accentuates your waist at some point: high, natural, or dropped; the choice is up to you. When you have a dress that just hangs straight down with no shape (and no movement because it’s a still photo) it tends to look blocky. If you have a dress that is a straight silhouette, you can always add a belt to it in order to add some shape.
For women to achieve a completely formal look, long flowy dresses or skirts, or shorter cocktail dresses tend to work best. These types of outfits provide a soft, feminine look and add some movement to the photos, creating visual interest.
For a semi-formal look, women can wear a nice sundress. You want to be sure that you’re still following all of your color and pattern suggestions. Also, it’s important to make sure it’s not too casual. If it’s a sundress that you would wear as a coverup to the beach, it’s probably too casual.
Women have an additional aspect to think about: hair and makeup. By no means does this have to be professionally done, but it is something that you should think about. When considering hairstyles, one of the biggest things to consider is what it will look like from all angles. In some shots you might be looking directly at the camera, head on, while in others, the camera might just see the back of your head or get a profile shot. If you wear your hair directly back in a ponytail, from some angles it might appear as though you have very short hair. You can absolutely wear your hair fully up, but I suggest having something with enough texture and volume that it can be seen to some degree from all angles. An easy way to achieve this is to leave some tendrils down to softly frame the face.
Accessories
When considering accessories to complete your looks, you want to be sure that you’re not adding too many details and that the details match your other accessories.
Necklaces and earrings should match (for when you have close-ups) whether they’re a set or a necklace with a simple pair of studs or hoops. If the top of your dress or shirt is detailed, go without a necklace or pick something simple, like a pendant or layered chains. If your top is simple, you can pair it with a statement piece.
Hats and scarves should be used sparingly. Both you and your partner should not wear hats or scarves, at least not at the same time. If you both love hats, plan one outfit where you have a hat, and the next where they do. When both of you wear larger accessories, they can get in the way and even distract from you! You still want to have your accessories add to your polished aesthetic, so avoid hats like baseball caps and flat-bill hats.
For men, accessories should match: belt, shoes, and (if you’re wearing one) a watch. As for ties and bowties, they should compliment, but not match, your shirt. If you’re wearing a solid-colored shirt, you can wear a solid-colored tie or bowtie that compliments the shirt color or you can wear a patterned tie or bowtie that uses the color of the shirt in it. If you’re wearing a patterned shirt, wear a solid tie or bowtie that uses one of the colors from the shirt.
In a photoshoot celebrating your love, rings, if you have them, are very important and can even be featured. I recommend getting them cleaned before the shoot. Most jewelers will clean rings for free and it only takes a few minutes! This way, any close-ups of your rings are featuring that beautiful sparkle, not any dirt that’s accumulated on them. Ladies should also consider getting your nails done because if your ring is captured, your nails will also be in the shot.