HOW TO CAPTURE YOUR FAMILY’s UNIQUENESS IN PHOTOS | Spokane Photographer

CHOOSE A MEANINGFUL LOCATION.

Location matters a ton for family pictures. I often choose locations for the families that I work with, because I know the locations that work really, really well here in Spokane. That being said, I am always open to suggestions and really I can work anywhere. When I take my own family’s photos, I choose locations that mean something to us for one reason or another- our home, a place we like to hike, or somewhere something meaningful happened, like our proposal or wedding. I am always open to my clients suggesting a location that they would love to have pictures taken at, because of the way they light up when they talk about whatever that place may be. So choose a meaningful location for meaningful pictures.

DRESS LIKE YOU.

I am a firm believer that wardrobe will make or break your photos. There are always rules to follow, and always rules to break. If you are an outdoorsy family, it’s okay to wear outdoors clothing as long as the colors work well together and within the environment. See the above photo? That’s my family and we’re wearing outdoors clothes that suit the location, the colors work with the environment. I’m happy to advise on wardrobe for any session that I do, even yours. So if you have a vision, let me know and I’ll help you ensure that it works.

I love creativity in my work and uniqueness for every family that I photograph. I send a wardrobe guide to every family that books me with general guidelines that work for every family and every location when trying to create a seamless family photography product. When in doubt, defer to my guide. If you’d like to get more creative, let me know and I’ll be there to help.

POSE LIKE YOU.

Lifestyle family photography allows for freedom of movement and uniqueness in posing, this is why I love it. I direct my clients on what I think will look good, but I also allow for freedom so that my clients can express the poses in a way that is natural to them. If your family is intense, and doesn’t like to smile, I love that, just let me know. If your family is a funny, goofy bunch, that’s great too. I may ask a husband to kiss his wife’s neck, if that’s not something they’re into, they can say so and we’ll try something else. I customize everything I do, to fit the family that I’m working with. I ask every family that works with me to give me a little description of the family, this is a great place to tell me what your family likes and what they don’t so that I can prepare for your photos. This is how we get you to pose like you.

Photos with a lot of movement are also something I really enjoy, so if your kids are on the move, just know we can go adventuring to get the pictures just right for your family.

SPOKANE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY | SPOKANE ADVENTURE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY | LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY SPOKANE

HOW TO COORDINATE OUTFITS FOR FAMILY PHOTOS In Spokane

Coordinate Don’t match.

Coordinating means choosing outfits that are all based out of the same color palette. The best way to do this is to choose one patterned outfit and then pick colors out of the pattern to dress other family members in. The photo above is a great example of this. I never recommend that a family wears all once color like navy blue, or all variations of one color like navy, royal, sky and dusty blues. Everyone should have their own color from a palette of similar tones. The whole family matching is never the way to go.

Dress in neutrals and muted colors.

Dressing in neutrals in muted colors makes it hard to go wrong. The more neutrals in the palette, the more likely the colors are to go well together. Our Spokane landscape has a ton of brown, sage and yellow tones, so earthier tones tend to look best. Keep the palette simple. Avoid, bright, vibrant colors for your family photos, because they often clash with landscapes and distract from the people (your family!) in your family photos.

Put the baby in a contrasting color.

If there’s a baby in the family, be sure that the babies outfit contrasts or stands out from the outfits of family members who may be holding the baby, the outfit should still be within the color palette, just not the same color that anyone holding the baby would be wearing. When mom and baby wear the same color, baby can blend in to moms outfit. If mom is wearing dark gray, put baby in white or something that stands out when being held.

Each kid in a different outfit.

It can be tempting to dress the kids in matching outfits, but this should be avoided so that when they stand next to each other in photos, they don’t blend together. Let each kid be unique and in their own outfits.

FAMILY PICTURES IN SPOKANE

4 Tips to look slimmer in photos: For mom | SPOKANE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

1. Wear Sleeves.

   My first tip is no matter what you choose to wear, wear sleeves. I typically recommend dresses for mom, but this tip also applies to blouses and other tops. Sleeves are a great way to conceal curves you don't want to share. You can also choose an outfit with sleeves that have a lot of visual interest in stitching and shape. Visual interest will always create a slimming effect, because it distracts the eye from the body, to the outfit.

2. Angle towards the camera.

   White your photographer is the expert, I’m giving tips that also apply to causal photos. I almost always take photos of mom from an angle, because it is slimming. Angles are everything in photography. The best way to do this is to turn just so that you are at about a 45 degree angle to the camera, bonus points if you pop your hip, because it will create more angles in your body shape, which is slimming and makes you look more relaxed.

3. Dress in neutrals.

   Now, I’m not saying to avoid all colors at all, but choosing colors that are more muted is more slimming than loud, bright colors. Try a Sienna rather than Ruby red. Dusty blue, rather than Royal Blue. Bright colors will reflect more light and create more color casts and shadows, which means curves will stand out more. Mute the colors to slim the figure.

4. Avoid bold patterns.

   Bold patterns are always a no-go in family photos, but especially when you are wishing to look slimmer. I try to keep the focus of my photos on the people and personalities more than the outfits, which helps the slimming and flattering effect. Bold patterns draw the eye to the clothes more than anything, so your best bet is to avoid them entirely.

5. Wear a dress- Avoid teacup fit.

   I always recommend dresses for mom, because they create beautiful movement and are flattering and smoothing. A dress is also much more simple than trying to pair tops and bottoms. Short dresses that are not too tight are wonderful, full length semi casual dresses are my favorite. The only dress I recommend avoiding entirely is teacup style dresses that cut off at mid-calf, they are not flattering in photos, because they create a top-heavy appearance. Pay attention to the overall visual effect of the dress you pick and ask your photographer if you’re unsure. We want you to feel so good in your outfits!

SPOKANE PHOTOGRAPHY | ADVENTURE FAMILY SESSION

I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of tired of traditional family photography. Of course there’s always a place for photos where everyone is dressed perfectly and smiling at the camera, but sometimes it’s good to have fresh ideas and have pictures taken that align with your family.

If you have a family like mine, you are outside all the time, playing in the dirt. Maybe you ruck, or mountain bike, or rock climb with your family instead of going to the movies. It’s time that someone offers photography sessions for families like ours. Families that play outside.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FAMILY PHOTOS FOR FAMILIES THAT LIVE ON THE WILD SIDE

7 tips to look slimmer in photos: For Dad

1. Wear clothes that fit comfortably.

   It’s important to be comfortable when having family photos taken. Choose clothing that fits comfortably and is not oversized or over tight. When we want to feel slim, we often choose items that are either too tight or too loose and when taking pictures, we want to avoid both of those things. Choose something that fits appropriately. Comfortable is confident.

2. Wear a collared, button up shirt.

   Here are my tips. Wear a collared, button up shirt that is either short sleeved or long sleeved with the sleeves rolled up to expose the forearms. The collar helps to elevate the look of the outfit and adds visual interest above the waist. A top with buttons down the center has a similar effect, in that it draws the eye to the center and breaks up the waistline, creating a slimming appearance. If the weather is chillier, a sweater, thermal, or quarter zip wool pullover is perfect. Thicker fabrics tend to be more flattering and concealing when done correctly and photograph very nicely.

3. Avoid plaid and stripes.

   Plaid and stripes can create visual effects known as moire to photographers which can be unflattering, to avoid this dress in solid colors or fine print patterns. Choosing items with interesting knitting or stitch patterns will add texture to make up for the lack of patterns. Bold patterns should always be avoided in photos, because they are quite distracting from the people and will accentuate curvier figures in the wrong ways.

4. Full Length Pants.

   Full length pants are much more slimming than shorts- here’s why. There is no taper to the eye when looking at shorts, they’re boxy and cut off at areas where a photographer usually wouldn’t crop a photo, which draws the eye to that area. Creating the appearance of an egg on toothpicks, as a general rule, I recommend avoiding shorts for everyone in photos.

5. No denim. Wear Khakis or Chinos.

   Styling Denim in photos can be tricky, no matter who is wearing it. The wrong wash or color of denim can reflect light in unflattering ways, so it’s best to avoid it when trying to look slimmer. Elevate your wardrobe with khakis or chinos in a brown/ tan color.

6. Wear Nice Shoes.

   I bet you weren’t expecting this one. I once was told you can tell everything you need to know about a person, based on the shoes they choose, and frankly it’s subtle, but true. Choosing nice shoes and ditching your sneakers will elevate the look of your wardrobe and create a slimming effect. The shoes don’t have to be expensive, but they do need to look nice. I personally like oxfords, they come in many shapes and colors and also many price points.

7. Wear a belt.

   The last tips I have is to wear a belt. It just adds a finishing touch to an outfit and defines the waistline. A belt gives the eye peace when looking at an outfit, because it clearly defines top and bottom.

Hopefully this helps you dress confidently for your family photos. It’s my goal to make family photoshoots enjoyable for dads. I find that most dads have more fun when they feel like they look good. Who doesn’t like a confidence boost?

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out or leave a comment :)