Dress Your Best All Year Round

Hey Humbletakes Fam!

How is your summer going so far? My little ones are definitely keeping me busy. The summer months are amazing for photos because the weather is perfect 98% of the time. Kids love being outside and it shows. There is only one July MMS date left! (No August dates this year cuz the Sages will be livin' it up in beautiful Idaho and Utah for the month!)

July 29th: BOOK HERE

One of the things I get asked most often as a photographer is, "What do I wear?". I'm coming at'cha with some awesome wardrobe tricks for your next photo session no matter what season it is! I know people love summer and autumn as the backdrop for their photos. The weather is beautiful and the colors are gorgeous! But you can have beautiful pictures ANY time of year! The grey skies of winter can be incredibly romantic, or dressing your little one in a raincoat and galoshes for spring is off the charts adorable!

I know that outfit coordination can be hard during the best times of the year, let alone the more shady ones. I am here to help simplify the task. I have some tips (and examples!) of what to wear for any photo session throughout the year!

Let's get to it!

Spring

I know here in CO springtime can be tricky. It's sometimes warm, sunny, not a cloud in the sky and then all the sudden, BAM!, afternoon thunderstorm! This complicates dressing for a photo shoot and the best advice I can give is just roll with it. I little rain at your shoot can be fun and make for awesome candid playful shots of your family! So think:

• Long sleeves but light fabric
• Cropped jeans
• Fitted jackets (I love well cut cropped jackets)
• Light scarves

Summer

Summer is so wonderful for photo shoots! Everything is green and bright and fun. This is probably the easiest season to dress for.

• Sundresses
• Flowy skirts
• Short sleeved-button up
• Classic shorts 
• Pops of color

Autumn

MY FAVORITE SEASON!! I freaking love autumn. The colors are perfect, the air is crisp but we're not into freezing temperatures yet. AAAHHH! I just love it. Ok, so the power of dressing of an autumn session is layers. Layers and layers.

• Cardigans
• Scarves
• Long sleeves and heavier fabric than spring (read: flannel, even wool)
• Well fitting, full length jeans

Winter

The trickiest season of them all. I have a love/hate relationship with winter. Winter sessions can be oh so magical or oh so miserable. There are a couple things that improve the chances that your winter photo sesh will be on the magical side.

• Don't try to pull of that adorable tank with your favorite cute short shirt and ankle boots. You'll be freezing...and your face will show it. I can't photoshop that out, y'all.  
• Wool leggings under your favorite skirt
• Sweater or cardigan
• Be wary of large coats. I know they're warm but they add bulk + lose shape = no good
• Beanies. Adorable accessory that keeps you warm. Double win!

What is your FAVORITE season?!

Shoot ya Later :)

Coordinating Outfits Stressin' You Out? Let Me Help!

Guten tag Humbletakes Fam!

How are you guys?

I find that one of the things that my clients stress out about the most (second to the weather here in unpredictable Colorado) is how to dress their families!

The thought of trying to achieve a perfect photo shoot can be overwhelming. But luckily for you, you have an expert in your pocket! I can help you figure out how to coordinate your family’s outfits without all the stress and hassle. Here are my top 5 tips for getting the exact balance of cohesion and individuality in your session.

Matching but not too matching

This is a hard balance to strike so I have added a few pictures of my clients that I feel struck it perfectly.

I love mostly neutrals and a hint of color. Using neutrals is helpful because usually all the members of your family already have an article of clothing in that color so you don't have to spend a fortune on a new wardrobe!

I love a splash of color but nothing too distracting.

Don't be afraid to accessorize

A chunky necklace, big scarf, or fun tie can be the perfect additions to any family photo shoot. Stay in your color scheme and you will be amazed at how using accessories can make your session hip and fun.

Both of these sessions were done in the fall/winter months and I LOVE the chunky necklace and the scarves (and those suspenders...get outta town!). They add color, texture, fun and warmth!

Patterns can be perfect, if used carefully

Patterns can be a very scary commitment for a family session. I understand. You have to be careful with strong graphic prints, but they can add a lot of personality to your family pictures.

With that being said...don't go crazy. Keep your pattern prints to a tasteful minimum and use them as an accent not a foundation.

The beautiful floral pattern of her dress brings brightness and color to their color scheme. The grey and white polka-dot is more understated but still adds interest and personality to this sassy girls pictures!

Keep your location in mind  

This is something that is very important but gets overlooked. If you are shooting in the middle of a wheat field your options for colors and patterns are much more open than if you choose to shoot in front of a bright wall or a building covered in graffiti.

If your location has a ton of personality then I recommend using mellow colors, skip the strong patterned prints, and go easy on the accessories.

Keeping your location in mind will help you narrow down your clothing options.

The black and pink are perfect for this nature setting. They are fun and bright and draw your attention. On the other hand, it was smart to keep the colors to a minimum when shooting in front of this awesome (and colorful) graffiti.

Finally, have fun with it!

Don't overthink it! There are millions of ways to make your photo session exude the personality of your family. While I do think it's important to consider your clothing choices I definitely do not think it's the most important aspect of a family photo session. Come and have a great time and you will love your family pictures regardless of what your mob is wearing!

What are some of your favorite accessories to make your photo session unique and personalized?!

Shoot ya Later :)

3 Tips to Photograph Your Kids Like A Pro

Hey Humbletakes Fam!

        

I'm gearing up for my last May MMS and June's MMS's that are just around the corner! Links to book below :)

May 27th: BOOK HERE

June 3rd: BOOK HERE

June 11th: BOOK HERE

June 24th: BOOK HERE

In the meantime, I thought I could help all of you moms and dads capture the ever elusive and eternally adorable smiles of your kiddos with three of my favorite tips.

Shooting kids is most often the hardest (and most amazing) part of my job. Kids have a hard time during photo sessions because, well, photo sessions are boring. Over the years I have learned some valuable lessons when it comes to shooting kiddos to get not only beautiful images but genuine expressions!. Here are my top three snippets of advice for the next time you want to capture your child's adorableness!

It's up to them!

I promise this is the best advice I can give anyone!  If your kiddos are not interested in taking pictures they will absolutely let you know. My advice? Take pictures when they're up for it. That means:

*well rested

*fed

*happy/playful

Be patient and wait for this golden time. I guarantee the best pictures always come from kids who feel good.

Let them relax! (so you can too)

In my experience, kids do the absolute best when you allow them to take time to relax. If you're constantly screaming "smile" at them, you will get a fake, plastered, school-photo-type smile. If the kid wants to:

*make a funny face...

*show you a leaf...

*tell you a funny story...

...let them

And be snapping pictures the entire time! Sometimes the greatest pictures happen when you and your kiddo weren't even trying. So relax and have fun!

Play!

My final piece of advice is to let your kids play! Let them run around, pick up things they find, or play on the swing-set.  Not only will you capture the true essence of your child at that point in time, but your pictures will have so much more personality and genuineness. It's worth the time and energy for you to poke your head out from behind the camera and tickle or chase them. Don't be afraid to stop shooting for a couple minutes to chat with them or just hang out. Your kids will love spending time with you and probably won't even mind a camera in their face!

I love the crinkled noses, closed eyes, funny faces and huge smiles.

Getting beautiful pictures of a child's genuine happiness is never easy, but I hope that with a couple hints and tricks you can relax and enjoy taking pictures of your babies!

Tell me, what are some of your favorite tips for shooting your kiddos? Happy shooting!

Shoot ya Later :)