Preparing for our Shoot together — choosing WHAT TO WEAR & EXPECTATIONS
Creating an Experience
As photography has evolved, and this incredible industry that I call home continues to embrace creativity and not just shoot "candidly” but through a deep authenticity, it has been an absolute joy to grow alongside of that shooting style. I can say with much truth that if wedding photography and portraiture still ended at “look here, smile” I would not have lasted this long working with it. It exists now in such a spectacular blending of creativity and experimentation on my end, and encouraged experience and story-’creating’ on your end (I get to stay the storyteller, how fun!).
It is my goal to create a space where you feel your authentic self. Certainly where you look your best- but in a deeper manner, one in which you feel safe, even elevated, to lean into the experience. Much of photography is not just the technical, but the personal. You may have chosen me for my eye for landscapes, or intimacy in portraiture - those things come from the space we set and hold together, and from my similar heart for the environment before me.
I will guide and shoot you candidly, but I will similarly do my very best to set the expectations that rather than just shooting, we are sharing a blimp in time. Thank you for allowing me in!
Implementing an Activity
Whether planned or entirely spontaneous, a fun and impactful way to lean into the “experience” of it all can be done by implementing an activity. Oftentimes in my work, this already looks like “hiking” or “being outside”. If you are the adventurous type, consider things like building a fire, laying under the stars, cooking a camp meal. If you share something like reading or music, it could look like poetry or playing together. To the right, we wandered down to this lake in the Swiss Alps and found that renting these row boats only cost $7 for the hour. As the sun set, they took a spin out onto the entirely empty lake. I have had couples soak in hot springs, swim in alpine lakes, or play fetch with their dogs on the coastline. Anything that feels like a memory you’ve shared, or one you dream of sharing, is absolutely welcomed.
Identifying a subtle mood
If you don’t know where to even begin, a fun place is to identify an overall “mood”. Do you imagine these photos feeling adventurous, intimate, or playful? Consider these ideas, and use them to begin to visualize how we can integrate that into our time together.
Taking it a step further, I really enjoy the concept of “character building”, where for a specific event, trip, or season I embrace a certain energy and use that to guide how I dress, my routine, and an overall focus. A great place to begin is Pinterest!
In terms of applying that to our shoot together, an example I can offer is the image to the left. It was a couples session on the South Island of New Zealand, when curating the shoot we knew we wanted to embrace the 1960’s road movement - lean into the nostalgic vintage of it all. With that vision in mind, we chose outfits, an experience, and props that all complemented it.
Props & Additions
If implementing a big hike or spontaneous canoe paddle doesn’t quite resonate with you, or simply doesn’t seem like an inspiring way to spend your photoshoot, smaller props and accessories can elevate photographs just the same. Shooting with blankets, cameras, pets, in-home, all add an element of “storytelling narrative”.
Accessories, layers, and jewelry all are simple additions that go a long ways.
CHOOSING AN OUTFIT
I know it can be intimidating picking out clothes for a shoot, (literally I still get stressed whenever i’m supposed to be photographed) so hopefully this helps ease some of those feelings. Most importantly, I want you to look like you.
These are just suggestions based on what will photograph 'technically well', the basics of color and contrast, and above all the value of comfort and mobility. Please take all of this as loose suggestion, and show up in what you feel most beautiful in.
MOVEMENT + COMFORT
These elements are key to the entire shoot, and have the greatest impact on how the photos will turn out. Being comfortable in what you’re wearing is the most important thing to consider when you’re choosing an outfit. If you know you don’t like certain angles of the outfit, don’t feel good sitting or walking in it, are signs to go a different direction. We will most likely be moving a lot, and in a variety of climates and environments, if you can’t walk naturally in your shoes, or sit comfortably in your pants, it’s going to be hard to be candid.
I suggest trying on your outfits at home, and making sure you can comfortably sit, jump, and run (and also feel confident doing it!).
COLORS
Colors vary for every setting! Determinant on background, light, and skin tones. Typically, I suggest muted colors. This doesn't mean only neutrals! It can mean bold colors, but not highly saturated. Stay away from stark primary colors, but variations of them can be beautiful. Rusty reds, mustard yellows, forest greens are some examples of these variants. Since there is a high chance we are shooting in a natural environment, think earth tones. Don't think of it as 'color coordinating' with one another, because that generally results in matching. Try to think of it as complementing one another. If one of you is in a solid tone, try pairing that with a neutral pattern, texture, or layers.
Colors will add much more to the mood of the photos than you probably initially think. See the bold rust dress in the bottom left photo, and how it interacts with the cool blues; beautiful isn't it? Compare that to the subtleness of the forest green shirt in the bottom right, which seems to fit in perfectly with the shadowed pines in the background. Totally different interactions as one is high contrast and the other is low, but they both work and bring different types of moods to the photographs. Now imagine how different colors might present in each photo, for example, if they were switched? The photos would be entirely different.
PATTERNS & TEXTURE
Avoid loud, demanding patterns as a whole. They tend to be overly distracting and take away from the emotion of the imagery. If you do go for pattern, make sure it's only one of you, and the other is simple! Too many patterns can make the image feel hectic and overwhelming. Flannels, muted prints, earth toned floral patterns are all great examples of things that work well. They can photograph beautifully, and bring some dynamic to the photo. If you're unsure about your pattern, just ask me.
Texture is amazing. Clothing like denim, crochet, and anything distressed all bring style and natural pattern to the photo in a subtle way, without over complicating it.
CONSIDER OUR ENVIRONMENT
We are most likely shooting in an outdoor setting, which means we will be working alongside all of the elements. Consider where we will be walking, sitting, etc. Above are some great examples. Barefoot on the beach is one of my favorite looks, but barefoot in that rockfield (the BW image) would be painful and unrealistic. Temperature also matters. The glacier images you see were taken in -17 degrees, anything other than bundled would have been just silly. The image in the mountains was on a 6 mile hike, so too dressed up would have been unrealistic. Consider our adventure and how you can stylize according to it.
Visualizations & Posing
Continuing the conversation on shooting within our environment, or a subtle theme that we determined, I think the above image is a great example. Choosing an outfit with the thoughtfulness that both feels effortless in the landscape, and also allows us to pose and engage in a way that fits that narrative we are building. The drama of the Cliffs of Moher (above) gave me the feelings that I attempted to capture above through posing them to truly lay back and relax. The elements that make this image powerful are the contrast between the drama happening behind them and their snooze, the soft light illuminating them in an unlikely environment leading to a natural activity (napping) and the diversity in the overall shots we were able to create, bringing them close to the earth added an entirely new element to the gallery.
Another example of freezing temps (0 degrees at 7AM in December). Bundled can be cute, especially with layers and accessories!
What you wear will also impact how I shoot you. I saw this harsh light (which I knew would mean bright blue skies) and placed them within that (somewhat a-typical / untraditional) because I knew their whites would pop. Something I would not have done if their tones would have clashed rather than emphasized.
An overnight backpacking trip, naturally they are outfitted in hiking appropriate clothes.
In shooting the opposite direction, the background lent to blown out, softer tones, which gave a “dreamier effect” and also suited their outfits well.
Bringing along Pets
Pups are so fun to bring, (and I’m absolutely here for it). Just please consider a way that we can easily (and safely!) put them away for a good chunk of the time, since you'll probably want some photos without. They can be distracting if they’re around and tied up, or running loose, and I want you to be able to commit to full presence.
HAIR + MAKEUP
People always ask about professional hair and makeup, and my personal answer is do whatever will make you feel your absolute best. For me, that's pretty light makeup and messy hair. And yes that photographs totally fine! I don't think you necessarily need full coverage for photos, but again it's what is best for you! Just make sure you look in the mirror and feel like yourself. Be prepared for wind in your hair and probably some kind of moisture, sweat, crazy sun, or another type of element that will pop up and seem to ruin everything, but I promise it won't.
Also considering switching up your hair throughout the shoot— if you love rocking a high pony or a low bun go for it.
FINAL TIPS
Iron or have pressed your outfits ahead of time
Bring several options
Don’t overthink being “dressy”
Avoid commanding logos, unless you are intentionally choosing it
Send me pics, text me questions, FT me from your closet. I'm not saying I have great style (I don’t have any, actually) but I can tell you what I think from shooting different types of clothing and people. And remember, it's not all about the outfits and how they will look in the photos, but how you feel while you're being photographed.