If we’re being honest, the days before your photo shoot can be extra stressful (… you wouldn’t believe how many shoots get cancelled because the toddler fell and scraped up their face or the baby got sick.) Keeping everyone looking healthy and happy is an event in itself.
Add to that the pressure of figuring out how to style the whole thing and it can be totally insane.
So, how do you self-style your family shoot to look like a total pro? It’s not as hard as you think!
Start with Your Living Room
Look at your decor style in your main living areas. The end goal with photos is not that they live on your computer or phone but on your walls, shelves, and coffee tables. With that in mind you don’t want your photos to clash with your decor so plan accordingly.
Great styling for a cozy, rustic home with warm tones and lots of color
Perfect in a minimalist, Scandinavian styled space based on a white and light neutral palette
2. Think Ahead with Seasons, Clothing, and Location
Season- If your home’s color palette is centered around airy pastels, consider a spring shoot instead of late fall. The soft greens and naturally lighter colors would be a perfect match to your decor rather than the bright oranges/yellows of autumn.
Clothes- If you’ve got a funky boho style going on throughout your house, it doesn’t really make sense to go the matching black polos/khakis route.
Location- If you’re living the Joanna Gaines dream, a museum of contemporary art is probably *not* the place to go.
(same day, same shoot, different locations)
(same day, same shoot, different locations)
3. Coordinate Your Crew
Once you’ve decided what season you’re shooting in, taken a look at your home decor, and given a quick thought to where you might want to shoot, half the work is done for your wardrobing!
Head to everyone’s closets and pull out an outfit or two for each person that 1. fits the season, 2. doesn’t clash with your decor (neutrals are usually a good place to start), 3. won’t look out of place at your location- e.g. heels + beaches are not a good idea, and 4. looks nice on them.
4. Final Touches
You should be pretty close by now! If you’re looking at all the outfits together and still feel like the combination is missing something, it’s probably color or texture or both.
Layer It Up. For extra texture add scarves, hats, vests, sweaters, jackets, and other accessories.
Ana + Justin arrived wearing these great outfits.. (Ana’s sweater and shirt combo is perfect for casual maternity shoots)
They also brought their jackets to layer over everything so we could maximize the texture without a lot of hassle
Add Some Color. While you bring in texture, pull more colors into the mix. If your outfits are leaning really heavily in one color direction you’ll want a few accent colors. There’s no hard and fast rule for this. I’ve photographed lots of beautiful family photos where everyone is wearing grayscale plus 1 accent color on a couple family members. But I’ve also seen families that have a different accent color on almost every person.
Because the purple is so strong, it’s paired well with neutrals. Lots of bright colors in one grouping can sometimes be a little overpowering but this is a great example of how one strong color can make a great statement.
Change It Up. Finally, if it STILL looks a little off, your outfits may be too similar so make little changes to each person. This is especially true for families with multiple boys. Rolling one child’s sleeves, a puffer vest on another, half tucking another’s shirt, etc. However, if you have the option of changing the whole outfit, consider the entire gamut of options- overalls, dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, sweaters, t-shirts, dress shirts, sweater vests, etc.
All 3 brothers are wearing variations of a blue button up, but the subtle variations between them make all the difference
5. Ask Your Photographer
I LOVE when my clients text me pictures of outfit ideas and where they want to display photos in their house. It helps us narrow down where to shoot at and how I can personalize the shoot to them. The more I know, the more I can get the EXACT shots they need. The space over your mantle needs a big canvas print? I’ll focus on making sure we get a really stellar horizontal family photo. You want to make a black and white gallery wall over your couch of cute candids? I’m on it.
The more your photographer knows, the more they can help if you need it!
Hannah always sends me a picture of her family’s outfits before their sessions :)
Not only is it fun to see what she has planned, but it also helps me get an idea of what style she’s going for.
6. go with the flow
While aesthetics matter, the most important factor in great family photos is great attitudes. Don’t stress yourself out trying to find the right accessory or spending hours on Pinterest figuring out what to wear. Staying relaxed and upbeat makes all the difference. It’s a little cliche but happy people really are the prettiest.
It’s no secret that weddings can be expensive, but with a little creative thinking and some tried and true techniques you can have an elegant, magazine worthy wedding to fit any budget.
Simplify- Decide with your fiancé what’s important to the two of you and stick with it. Try not to let lots of other people override your priorities with their opinions. If you want to spend the majority of your budget on good food for your guests or flowers or dj or photographer then that’s your prerogative. You may even want to write out a list of most important to least important so you know where to cut when the budget gets tight. As you’re writing out the list, mark things that you could source from creative places (buying used, borrowed, etc.).
Buy Used- Don’t feel like everything has to be brand new. There are lots of facebook groups where brides buy and sell used wedding items. Items like bubbles/sparklers/biodegradable confetti for sendoffs, random ribbons, linens, even unused wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses, and veils are all great things to buy used if they aren’t a top priority for you. Go hunt at antique stores and second hand shops for things like veils and jewelry (because have you SEEN how much brand new veils cost?!) Lots of decor pieces can be bought second hand. Grab a basket for the wedding programs for $1 at goodwill and you’re set ;)
Repurpose- Go through your own house and start making a list of things you already have that could be repurposed. Vase for your bouquet at the reception? You probably already have that (or a cute pitcher for it). Ring box? Cake plate? Look around.
Buy Smart- At the end of a season, hit up your craft stores and home decor spots. I’ve found some amazing neutral serving platters after Christmas at Hobby Lobby for $0.50 when they start practically giving their Christmas stock away. Or $1 velvet ribbon at Joanns after the holiday. Just because it’s the end of fall doesn’t mean you can’t find some great ribbon in neutrals for your spring wedding. Download all the store apps and find coupons online.
Borrow- It’s okay to ask close friends if you can borrow items. My recommendation is to make a list of things you’ll need (that aren’t breakable or consumables) and send it to the people you know may have an item or two on the list. The list could look like
small basket for cutlery at buffet table
4 chalkboards for signs at dessert table
little shelf for favors
small wooden table for sweetheart table
21 mismatched neutral colored lanterns for centerpieces
cake knife and server
. . .
After getting permission from a few friends, send the list to each of them and they can respond back with the numbers they can lend you. ( e.g. “yes I have #3, #8, and I have 3 lanterns for #5”) Use little pieces of masking tape with that person’s initials hidden on each item and keep a detailed written list when you receive things so you can quickly return everything after the wedding.
Enlist Friends- Your friends are a huge asset. Don’t overburden any one of them but do utilize their strengths. If you know one friend who has exceptional handwriting, ask them if they would consider addressing your invitations and writing out escort cards as their wedding gift to you, etc. (However, don’t ask your friends who have a business in something you’re doing for the favor!) If you are not hiring a wedding planner, gather a crew of friends to help you on the day before and day of the wedding setting up and decorating. Determine exactly how you want things before you get there. Take a photo of a place setting in the way you’d like it and delegate out to a responsible friend with a creative eye. Ask more friends than you think you’ll need. Be clear on what you want, be flexible with the end product, and be thankful for all the wonderful people surrounding you.
Do Without- You don’t need everything The Knot tells you. You’ve made your list of priorities so just determine what things are superfluous. Save the dates? Favors? Limo? Guestbook? All the little things add up.
Get Creative- No one says your bridesmaids have to carry flowers. Bouquets are expensive (1 bouquet = $100 x 5 bridesmaids is $500 for bridesmaids alone). Clutches, wrist corsages, lanterns, wreaths, faux fur muffs, or nothing at all are totally valid for your bridesmaids. If you’re wondering if there are any other options for any part of your wedding just Google “wedding ______ alternative” (bouquet, dinner, favors, etc.) and there will likely be some idea that works better or sparks an idea for you. Food, venues, and getting ready locations are good places to think creatively.
Don’t Get Sucked in By Things that Seem Cheap- Brides often don’t consider alternate options or don’t do the math on things that seem cheap. A good example of this is flowers. While a table arrangement from a florist is often around $75-$100, it’s not much cheaper to get faux flowers or make your own fresh arrangement with comparable flowers. When you price them out stem by stem, that number gets pretty high for a lot more stress and a final look you may love less. Venues that seem cheap but have a lot of surcharges or make you work with their vendors are similar. Do your homework. Making your own may be more expensive than purchasing the same item.
DIY with Discretion- We’ve all seen the slippery slope that is exclusively DIY weddings. Get creative, think differently, and then ask honest friends for their opinion. Don’t get wrapped up in a project only to realize later that it’s costing you 2x more than it would have to just buy it. Enlist a creative friend to help you work on cake table setups, centerpieces, and styling escort cards. You don’t have to brave this alone!
Avoid Disasters Later by Hiring Quality Vendors- Hire the vendors that you know will do their job well within your priorities. I understand that every wedding site says “hire people just starting out and save tons of money!” but that’s a recipe for disaster. Hire the vendors that you won’t have to babysit through the process, who will be professional, who you can trust to do their job. And do without the vendors that you don’t prioritize. You are paying for professionalism, quality, and their ability to actually do the job so you don’t have to think about it.
Finally- Don’t lose sight of the people that matter. It can be easy to try and trim the budget by foregoing bridal party gifts or take for granted the help you’ve received along the way. Honor your friends and family to the best of your ability with meaningful thank you notes, thoughtful gifts, and offering your help whenever they need an extra set of hands.
So let’s cut right to the chase. I road trip A LOT often by myself for weddings, shoots, and just for kicks (this year alone I’ve made the round-trip drive to NC/SC by myself 4 times + several other long haul and short trips) so I’ve gotten into a little groove and over the past couple years I’ve had friends ask me some general road trip questions so although this has nothing to do with photography, it’s a crucial part of my job and I thought I’d share with other inquisitive minds. These are the methods that work well for me and may be helpful for your next trip.
Niagara Falls, New York 9/18
Food and Water-
My best road trip tip is to keep a case of water in your car at all times. No matter where you go or what you do, you’ll be in a pinch at some point where you need water. Mine case has it’s own basket. My favorite brand is the Aldi brand bottled water.
Don’t pack food that you don’t think you’ll actually eat. Great intentions are all well and good, but if you realistically know you won’t eat the bag of carrot sticks, don’t waste your time, food, or money.
Do bring food. Favorite snacks are grapes or cherries (you kind of have to work to eat them = built in entertainment), white cheese puffs, and a couple lollipops. Remember- you aren’t doing a dang thing all day. You are literally just sitting so it’s better to sit tight with a lollipop than stop every 4 hours for McDonalds.
Salem, North Carolina 11/18
Taking Breaks/Getting Gas-
When you’re driving alone especially, stop when you need to. Leave early enough that you don’t feel stressed getting there on time and then remember that no one says you can’t stop every hour and a half. Don’t force yourself to keep driving if you need to stop and walk around/use the restroom/get sleepy. You’ll get there when you get there.
If you see something interesting on the drive, stop and see it! Some favorite last second “that looks fun!” stops have been the Indianapolis Farmers Market and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Road trips can be a drag or they can be fun. Make them a blast.
Grayson Highlands, Virginia 10/18
Entertainment-
Like I said before- food is a common go-to for keeping busy so make it worthwhile. Cherries, grapes, lollipops, and clementines are where it’s at for me. Other favorites busy road trip foods from friends are- almonds, beef jerky, sugar snap peas, sunflower seeds, gummy bears, goldfish, etc.
Music obviously. I have Spotify premium. It’s the only subscription that I wouldn’t want to do without. Before every trip I’ll download a bunch of albums and playlists in the event I lose service at some point.
Audiobooks. I try to get 3-4 from the library for a long trip in varying genres. One or two that I know I’ll like; a sequel or a new book by a favorite author. One that I’ve been trying to read and have been putting on the back burner. And one that is out of my usual reading zone.
Podcasts. This is the heavy lifter of my road trip entertainment. I go on a download kick the day before I leave and will knock out a couple dozen episodes handily on a trip. Again, go for varying genres and try something new. Podcasts are great because they come in 20-60 minute segments so you don’t have to track for too long. Favorites are- This American Life, Serial, The Message, and Milk Street Radio
Call someone. This is an super time to catch up with all the family members you know you should talk to more often… ;)
Flip through every radio station available. Particularly in mountain states. Listening to radio commercials is a hobby I genuinely enjoy so this may not apply across the board.
Door County, Wisconsin 8/18
Clean/Tidy/Feeling Like a Human-
Baby wipes. They’re in my car at all times since they’re more effective than napkins, especially with cheese puffs and at some point in the trip you’ll probably want to wash your face and baby wipes are a close second
Real talk, you will want mouthwash with you or the little mini toothbrushes or your actual toothbrush, although I do stick to single stall bathrooms with that. There’s probably some unspoken social etiquette that I’m breaking, but 12+ hour road trips? You kinda need to.
Try to stretch before/during/after your trip. Roll your ankles and neck, touch your toes, a few plié squats, and swing your arms around you when you stop for gas.
Keep an extra outfit, shoes, socks, and deodorant super accessible. Should you majorly spill something on yourself or realize that after waking up at 3am you forgot deodorant, you don’t want to sort through your car trunk for them.. just saying
Speaking of clothes- stick with light and soft even in winter. Have a jacket handy when you get out of the car but don’t overdress. My last trip outfit in mid-winter was a long sleeve t-shirt and shorts. You will never see the gas station people again. It’s okay to look a little crazy wearing shorts in December.
Mountain Bridge, South Carolina 2/18
Basic Car Life-
Check everything before you leave. FOR REAL. Check your tire pressure, fill your washer fluid, check your spare, make sure you have all the tools you need to change a spare, make sure you know how to change a spare, check your oil, keep some emergency supplies in your trunk.
Never let your gas drop below a 1/4 tank. This is especially true when you’re alone. Do not be the person stranded in the middle of nowhere and not sure where the next stop will be. Save yourself the panic. Additionally, if you are running on near empty you may have to stop at a place you don’t feel totally comfortable at.
Plan ahead if you can. CLICK HERE - gas price heat map. I’ll often map out where I’ll stop for gas if I know the prices vary drastically by state.
Keep everything you’ll need in reach, especially if you’re alone. Your wallet, water bottles, snack stash, audiobooks, and jacket all belong in your passenger seat and not heavily packaged (take the water bottles out of their case, etc.)
Bring cash with you and keep it in a safe, accessible place. Ideally, enough cash to cover all your gas for the day. Cards can get random holds because you’re out of state, wallets can get misplaced. Don’t get stranded.
Speaking of stranded, call your bank/credit card company if you’re traveling out of state pretty far for the first time or out of the country. It only takes a minute for them to put a note on your account of what states you’ll be traveling through.
Be sure to download driving instructions and maps BEFORE you leave, especially if you’re driving out of the country. Totally forgot I don’t have cell service in Canada and it was a fun couple hours trying to make it from the border to my destination without a GPS or written instructions.
Don’t fully depend on your GPS. Pull out a map/your laptop and look at your full route start to finish. Make sure you’re familiar with what cities you’re passing through/by, even write them on a post-it note for your dash. Know the general direction you need to be going (so from Illinois to North Carolina I am going South/East/South-East) If cell service drops and nothing is downloaded, at least you’ll know what cities to look for and follow on the highways. This is more important than you think. As long as you’re going in the right direction, you won’t lose too much time if you get lost.
Louisville, Kentucky 3/18
Staying Safe-
To all the girls I know- you more safe than you probably think and it’s fairly easy to stay that way.
If something feels a little weird when you pull up to a location, go somewhere else. For real. Don’t overthink it, don’t try to talk yourself into staying, you’re making your solo-road trip rules and the 5 extra minutes it cost you to leave and find a new place is worth it. But in all likelihood, if you stick to decent places you’re okay.
If you think something’s off when you’re walking back to your car, call someone and just talk to them until you get back into your car. Keep your head up, stay alert, but there’s no need to freak out.
While it is unlikely anything will ever happen, keep an eye out behind you when you go to the restroom. There’s no need to freak out but just be sure no one is following you into the restroom that shouldn’t be.
Keep your phone well charged at all times.
Try not to stop if you don’t have cell service and are alone. Another reason why you shouldn’t let your gas get low.
Stay updated with one family member or friend. Pick one reliable person so it doesn’t get confusing. Let them know when you stop and if you have any car problems. This is important for personal safety and car accidents.
Travel with all the phone numbers you may need written out and saved in your car. Yeah you have a cell phone with everyone’s number but keep the important ones on a post-it in your glove box.
Smile, make eye contact with people. Although that’s just a good life rule, it’s a nice way to keep yourself protected. Talk to friendly people in lines paying for gas, wave at kids, make yourself a little seen so that people notice if something goes wrong.
There is no need to be paranoid but stay aware :)
FINALLY- if possible, try not to drive through Chicago unless you’re going to Chicago :) The best route through Illinois to nearly anywhere else is straight north/south between Rockford and Bloomington
Let me know if you have any more tips to add! I’m always looking to perfect my road tripping
When I was 15, I sat down at my (graphic designer) dad’s massive computer and taught myself Photoshop. I was totally hooked- tea in hand, listening to Paul Simon, squinting at a screen was and still is my favorite place to be. Within a matter of weeks, I discovered filters sold by every imaginable photographer. With just one click I could turn my photos into something to match their own portfolio (..or, y’know that’s what I thought at 15..) Editing was and continues to be one of my favorite parts of photography.
(Groomsmen 2013 + 2018)
The process of buying filters that didn’t really work went on for years. I was almost maniacal in trying to make my editing something I was proud of. At some point, I have given nearly every style on the market a whirl. All along realizing that I have to pick SOMETHING and being reminded by established artists that the key to success is consistency.
(Newborns 2012 + 2018)
I could have settled years ago on a distinct look and my work would have made more consumer sense, but I wouldn’t have been satisfied. Last year I finally understood that the key to my editing is not in matching my look to any one artist or even one single style that I create, it is suiting my editing to real life.
Every time I pull out my camera, I’m presented with unique colors, settings, and atmospheres. I’m not going to edit a spring garden party wedding the way I would a ceremony in a castle in late summer. One is all pastels and the other is deep browns. Why would I force either into one look?
Spring- Greens lightened, leaning blue, and desaturated
Late Summer- Greens darkened and saturated slightly
Early Fall- Greens darkened a touch, leaning yellow, and saturated
(Editing green 3 different ways)
So I stopped using filters made by other photographers. Now my philosophy is simply: “what is the most storybook like version of this reality?” The qualities that draw me back to favorite songs, paintings, children’s books, illustrations, novels, and every kind of art are the qualities that I want to see in my own art- the kind that make you feel like its the very best version of what you love. Home, but better.
All that said, it may still seem like my style changes from day to day. And that’s actually true, just not as drastically. Because I want to invite you to look at your world as it IS in it’s best light possible, not just the mold I’m trying to force it into. It’s a process. A post process ;)
Jordan and Amber spent their beautiful fall wedding at Klehm Arboretum in Rockford, IL, which made the perfect backdrop for a late October outdoor ceremony. Because of their close connection to their family, Jordan and Amber opted for an intimate wedding ceremony at the Klehm wedding bridge and opened up the reception to friends and family, creating a beautiful flow for the day from sweet and quiet to joyful and lively.
The Hallbergs met in high school and were longtime friends but their lives didn’t fall together until sometime later. When Jordan proposed to Amber in the Sinnissippi Gardens he told me “Amber has had my back from day one and I want her on my team for the rest of my life.”
Both Amber and Jordan jumped feet first into wedding planning after their engagement and the details showed it. They went with a retro, modern theme pulling in elements from the 1920s Art Deco era. Amber’s perfect finger waves from Versatile Hairstyles and lace + satin wedding gown were offset by contemporary details like her Vince Camuto heels. Jordan’s suit and shoes were custom made and designed by Derrick Robinson and truly set a high bar for unique grooms wear. Their autumn wedding was the perfect combination of both of their personalities and styles and couldn’t have been lovelier.
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