Look & Feel your Best

Wardrobe is one of the keys to the success of your photo shoot! In order to achieve my light and airy style, the clothing that you select has a huge impact on the way I shoot and edit. To help with this process, I have a detailed, complimentary Style Guide that will help you to coordinate your wardrobe. 

When picking outfits I recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if Dad is wearing a tan and gray striped shirt, Mom may want to choose a long, soft white dress. 
Photos where you are dressed up always stand out more than ones where you're dressed casually. You really can't get "too dressy" for this! Side note for the ladies, flowy fabrics look great in photos!

If you're ever not sure what color scheme to go with, neutrals never fail. They photograph very well, you can use the photos for different occasions and they're timeless and classic. Finally, I would be happy to host a one-on-one style consultation through a Zoom call. I'm here for you throughout the whole process!

what to wear

Wardrobe Styling Tips

more this way

With the growth of online shops, shopping for your littles is more fun than ever! I recommend choosing color families (neutrals, blues, etc) over perfectly matching outfits. If you're looking for some inspiration or some of our favorite shops for kids, check out the link to my information page

for the littles & more

custom styling

more this way

Still feeling a bit unsure about your wardrobe choices? Don't worry, I've got just the solution for you and your family! I offer a personalized service where I'll create a curated wardrobe tailored specifically to your needs. And the best part? It's all part of the package! Outfits are sold separately. Just give me a heads up when you're ready to book your session, and we'll get started on creating your perfect look!

more this way

One thing I've learned over the years is that my experience of my children is different from what others experience. For example, if you’re at the grocery store with your three year old son and he starts yelling, you probably think he’s irritating other customers more than he is. Most likely, those other customers just see a cute (slightly loud,) three year old. 

The same holds true for photo sessions. Your child is in a new element and a stranger is holding a big camera in front of their face. They’re likely not going to entirely be themselves. They may show off more than usual or your extrovert may suddenly become shy. 

Rest assured, it’s all okay.

Managing

little ones

The best thing you can do for your kids is to go with the flow and stay positive. The more you relax and have fun with things, the more likely your little one (or big one,) is to get on board. 

It can also be helpful to pack a few "bribes" for younger children. Favorite toys, special snacks and the promise of ice cream afterwards work wonders. 

I am incredibly patient with kids and I have a few tricks up my sleeve to help get even the smallest ones to cooperate! 

a note about

Newborn sessions

If we’ll be photographing the newest members of your family, the following tips below will help ensure everyone is happy throughout the session

prepping your little babe

Feed and change your little one’s diaper right before we arrive. This helps ensure that they are ready to go as soon as we arrive. However due to the tiny size of their tummies, it’s also likely that they’ll need another feed (and maybe a diaper change) during the shoot.

Please don’t worry about pausing the session to feed your little one. This is normal! I plan extra time for newborn sessions.

01

prepping your HOME

While your entire house doesn’t need to look like it’s ready for Pinterest, I do recommend cleaning up the nursery and any places you think we might shoot. This might include your bed, the couch or a spot in your home with beautiful natural light. But truly, that's all you need to prep. I know you're in the throes of newborn life and I won't judge the pile or dishes in the sink or baby paraphernalia that has suddenly taken over the house!

02

dear mama

This is a season when you might not quite feel like yourself. A fresh outfit you feel good in goes a long way. I've found longer, a-line dresses that are nursing friendly are often the most flattering. Brands like Petal and Pup and Morning Lavender tend to have quite a few of these at affordable prices. Session days are also a good day to take others up on that offer to help. You are one hard working mama and if you have time to nap, shower and get ready in peace, you’re going to love these images a lot more.

03

04

You’ve likely realized this by now, but babies can be a bit messy. It’s always a good idea for all members of the family to plan an extra outfit just in case. 

Backup outfits

Colors Pictured: Oatmeal

Colors Pictured: Portland Suede

Colors Pictured: Ardesia Leather & Something Blue

I've found that there isn’t a “good” or “bad” time to take your photos. We normally plan sessions based on a particular “look” our clients have in mind, spring flowers for example, or based on schedules. Summer sunset and sunrise sessions are a fan favorite for that signature golden look. But be sure to book early as these go quickly! 

Sessions typically last about an hour and love to begin sessions about two hours before sunset (or slightly after sunrise). I prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches. The first two hours after sunrise is also an ideal time to shoot.

I schedule sessions during what we believe will be the best light of the day - which means that it’s super important to be on time. If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets more harsh as it rises. 

Is there a "good time" to take photos

NEWBORN

time & light

Sunset & Bedtimes

In the warmer months, sunset sessions often fall during the witching hour. They may even fall during or after bedtime. 

As much as we love a consistent bedtime routine, in order to capture the best light during "golden hour", we're like going to need to throw off your schedule a bit. 

If our session takes place close to dinnertime, we recommend feeding kids (and yourselves!) before we begin shooting. 

If your little one is going to be going to bed later, consider pushing their nap a bit that day, letting them sleep longer or packing pj's so that you can quickly tuck them into bed as soon as you get home.

Things to keep in mind: 

Seasonality

If your session takes place in the fall, while it might be tempting to dress your little one in a pumpkin costume to eternally remember the cuteness that babies in costumes in giant piles of leaves holds, we advise keeping attire a little more neutral. 

Yes, that image would crush it on the ‘gram, but if you’re hoping to print these images for your walls, will you always want to see that pumpkin costume? 

The same holds true for images taken for Christmas cards. While those red and green sweaters might be worthy of the Minted hall of fame, are you really going to want to look at photos of yourselves in holiday sweaters in the summer? 

If you’re looking for outfit advice, feel free to send ideas my way! I'm happy to help curate a wardrobe that not only feels coordinated, but that looks beautiful for years to come. 

In spite of the heat, I am a big fan of summer sessions! Because of the later sunset, sessions sometimes begin as late as 6pm. If you’re taking your photos during the summer, I recommend bringing extra makeup and a few towels to make sure you stay fresh throughout your session. 

"if could always be like this"

Summer

view next

Fall is one of the prettiest times of the year on the East Coast and because of the perfect weather, my schedules typically book up quickly! If you have your heart set on a fall session, we recommend scheduling early!

"when the air is crisp"

Autumn

view next

If you your session takes place during the winter, we could begin shooting as early as 2:30pm to catch the sunset. We recommend dressing in layers so that in between photos you can warm up. Make sure you bring a little extra makeup and tissues in case your nose begins running. Pocket warmers and thick socks hidden in cute boots can help keep everyone warm without showing up in images.

snowfall, hot cocoa and cozy coats

Winter

view next

Even though Spring begins in March, I typically don’t begin shooting for another 6 weeks because the weather in our area is still pretty chilly. When I schedule spring dates, we typically schedule both a primary date and a backup rain date because #aprilshowers.

fresh flowers and sunny days

Spring

view next

a few things to keep in mind during each season:

Managing

I know that some family members just happen to be furry and I love when families choose to incorporate pets into their session. Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet friendly location. 

I recommend planning for your pet to be at the first part of your session and having a friend take them home. We won’t use the pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have someone available to hold him or her in between shots. 

If you’re going to bring a pet, we recommend exercising your pet before the session and bringing your pets favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot.  

furry ones

Soft pastels and light & neutral colors photograph seamlessly with my light and airy photography style. When picking outfits we recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” 

A good rule of thumb: pick 3 or so colors and spread them throughout the family. Don't be afraid to mix a few subtle patterns or textures (such as linen). 

And always keep the location in mind. If we're shooting in a green field, light green dresses might blend in too much with the surroundings. 

Wardrobe Styling

For everyone

Heels lengthen legs but if your heels aren’t comfortable for walking or we'll be in grass, bring an extra pair of shoes to slip into in between shots.

I love the way larger patterns and textures (like linen) photograph - just be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.

Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. I love bright, neon dresses, but we don’t love the neon reflection they add to your complexion. 

Wardrobe

For the ladies

Statement jewelry is a great way to add color or pattern to a simple dress. Lace and tulle look amazing in photographs.

And dresses with sleeves are a great way to help slim arms. Depending on your location, you might want to consider a fit and flare or a flowy dress.

They look great in walking and photos with movement. Choose an outfit you feel comfortable in, but don’t be afraid to dress up!

Accessories

For the ladies

Rent the Runway
ASOS
Morning Lavender
J. Crew
Anthropologie
Free People
Petal & Pup
Pink Blush (Maternity) 
H&M 
Vici Dolls
Baltic Born Clothing 
Madewell
Kate + Grace Boutique
Zara
Hill House Home
Nuuly
Shopbop
RedDress

Favorite Shops

For the ladies

I think it’s so important that you look and feel your best for your photos. Investing in professional hair and makeup can go a long way towards creating photos you love for years. 

Professionally done hair & makeup last longer than typical hair & makeup. They also tend to hold up better in humidity and wind.

If you go this route, we recommend staying a bit “classic”. Now probably isn’t the best time to try out that new contouring technique you saw on TikTok. 

If you’re planning to do any spray tans or waxing, schedule those for a few days before the session to give your skin time to recover. 

Hair & Makeup

For the ladies

You can’t go wrong with crisp button up. Or consider layering a blazer or sweater with jeans with this look. 

Be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.

Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. Cozy sweaters layered over button ups are a great way to stay warm and stylish during the cooler months

Outfits

For the gents

Rent the Runway
J. Crew
Zara
Nordstrom 
H&M
Urban Outfitters
Madewell
Lululemon
Everlane
Banana Republic
Mango
Reiss
Alex Mill
Untuckit
Amazon - GoodThreads
Bonobos
Abercrombie
Rag & Bone

Where to Shop

For the gents

Kate Quinn
Zara Kids
Quincy Mae
Rylee & Cru
Target - Cat & Jack, Art 
H&M Kids
Crew Cuts by J Crew
Hanna Andersson

Alice & Ames
Briar Baby
Jaime Kay
Spearmint Love
Gap
Old Navy
Boden

Favorite Shops

For the kids

where to shop

for the kids

where to shop

outfits

for the gents

Hair & Makeup

where to shop

accessories

outfits

for the ladies

for everyone

Inclement Weather

what to do if it rains

It’s typical for us to schedule two session dates. A primary date and a rain date. Having two dates helps us make sure that your photos happen in a timely manner. Coordinating schedules can be tough and we’ve found that the best way to make sure our families get the look they have in mind for their photos is to schedule two dates at the same time.

I'll check in the week of your session to confirm the time & location we’re meeting and the weather. We know it takes a lot of time to get ready for session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain. Let me know what works best for your family, but if the weather looks like it won’t be great, we typically try to make the call at least 12 hours in advance. 

posing

"What do I do with my hands"?

When it comes to posing for your session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I'll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If I tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because I know it’s going to make everyone laugh - and that’s the photo I'm actually looking for. 

Throughout your session, we’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. I want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together! 

Bring your images to life with

prints

I'm a big believer that images aren’t meant to solely exist in a digital space. One day, most likely, Instagram will be gone, your phone will be replaced and images that you can physically hold in your hand will be the best way to remember those precious moments we captured. 

Think about this fact: fifteen years ago, if we had delivered you digital images, they would have been on a floppy disk. With the fast updates to technology, you would have no way to access those images today. Even the online galleries we deliver will eventually fade away. 

But prints? Those last. I bet your family still has images from your grandparents (maybe even great grandparents.) And that was likely from a time period when cameras were expensive and prints were harder to come by. 

wall art

 Canvases, framed and matted prints are are the perfect way to fill your walls with memories. With a variety of frames to choose from, I'll help you select the perfect image pairings for your space.

100% color accuracy, quality-assured prints in a wide range of sizes from wallets to large formats. Easily ordered right through your digital gallery! 

Perfect for those who value legacy. These heirloom albums are a great way to house a large number of images in a beautiful way. Leave them on display as coffee table books or protect them with a legacy box.

prints 

albums

learn more about albums

learn more about wall art

learn more about prints

Thank you!

I know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your portrait session. However if there is something I missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email me. 

JACKIE@JACKIEAVERILL.COM

- Jackie