Daria Ratliff Photography of Katy, TX | What to wear on your session

The art of beautiful portraiture relies almost entirely on preparation... oh, and a bit of goofiness too! We all know how important it is to have family portraits taken and updated at least every few years, but we all know it can be stressful leading up to the photo shoot. I want to share some tips to make it as stress free as possible!

What to wear

Try to select the outfits you would like everyone to wear a couple of weeks in advance and set them aside. Then have everyone try them on a week ahead of time. This will ensure everything still fits comfortably, and that you didn’t miss any stains or holes that you couldn’t see until they were being worn. This way if you do need to replace something, you still have time. Say hello to Amazon Prime!

Don’t forget to set aside shoes, jewelry, belts, and other accessories as well!

Family - let's get prepared!

About three to four days prior to the session, start talking with husband and kids about the session. Tell them what to expect. If you plan to use a bribe, now is a good time to set that in place. Continue to talk to your children daily to prepare them for the session, especially if they’ve never met me before.

Snacks? - packing something

 A day or two prior to the session, pack a bag of everything you will need on that day – snacks, props, bottle with formula, pacifier, toys, bribery item, etc. Then put it somewhere you won’t forget. Be sure to include wipes in case things get messy, a hairbrush, and other “emergency” items, such as bobby pins and a backup lipstick. Bring a small favorite toy if you have a baby or a toddler.

The day of your session

On the day of the session, make sure everyone is well fed, but not overfed. We don’t want sick little tummies from overeating, but we also don’t want anyone getting “hangry” either. Do not get your family dressed in their photo clothes until after they have eaten and brushed their teeth. If the child is under 3, sometimes I recommend not getting them dressed until you arrive at the session’s location. Sometimes they can  have a potty accident on the way and being pro-active will prevent their outfit from being ruined prior to pictures.

What to avoid

Avoid any colored drinks the day of the session. Stained mouths from food dyes are not easy to wipe off or edit out in post processing. If your bribery of choice during the session is candy, make sure to avoid chocolate or any other type that can make a mess while we are shooting. I favor gummy bears as a treat during a session. They are a no mess and easy to chew snack. I would also avoid any sunburns that they may get on shoulders or face. I also advice avoiding to wear too much green and yellow outfits if we will be holding our session outdoors. 

Do not overthink this. Just think that you will be having a day in the park and pack accordingly.

This is It!

Once you arrive at our session location just try to relax. Take a few deep breaths, and know I have you covered, especially when you're fully prepared. Kids tend to respond better to directions if their parents are not the ones telling them what to do all the time. I generally ask parents to follow my lead, and if I need help, I’ll definitely ask for it. If a certain pose is not working with a child, I will try other ways to get that accomplished. Trust your photographer – know that I will take care of things as best as I can, and will always try to deliver the best photos of your family.

I hope these tips will help you at your next family session. Here’s to a fun filled and stress free experience!

-Daria.

713-819-7127 | daria_rat@hotmail.com