The most frustrating and stressful thing about photography session can be picking out what to wear. I've gathered some tips and guidelines to help steer you in the right direction. 

1. Start with one outfit you really like.  I always tell people to start with mom's outfit. If mama ain't happy, ain't no one happy, right?  Once you get  your outfit figured out, start building from there. Kids tend to be easier to dress as there is so much more variety for them.                                                                 
2. Find something you LOVE and are excited to wear. You should be excited about and feel good in your clothing. If you don't feel good in what you  are  wearing, it will show.  If you can't find THE dress, but can rock a pair of skinny jeans, do it! If you can't walk in heels, get some flats or boots or wedges if you need the extra height.                                                                                                                                                                                   
3. Sometimes, we do not feel comfortable in our skin and think if we cover it with material, we are  hiding our flaws. WRONG! If your shirt is huge or billowy, it will make you look bigger than you are. Purchase clothes that fit, that show the shape of your body. I know that's the last thing you probably do for your day to day clothing, but your clothing needs to fit well.  A jacket that is too big turns curves into a box shape.  Shark bite shirts, or clothing with lots of material at the hips will add volume to your hips.  Ill-fitting polos or over-sized t shirts for men are shapeless and add weight to a body frame where there is none.                                                                                                                                                                              
4. Gone are the days in which everyone wears black or white shirts and jeans for a session.   Put color and personality into your clothing!  It doesn't have to match; it just needs to complement. I'm not talking all shades of blue either. If you are choosing for an extended family session,  you can tell everyone to pick all pastel colors,  all jewel tones, or all spring colors. If you are choosing for your immediate family, you can mix stripes with plaids and tweeds. Anything goes now!  Again, I usually start with a color that looks good on me, then build the outfits from there. Don't be afraid to let personalities show through clothing.                                                                                                                                                                            
5. Dress for the weather outside and remember that it can change. If you've bought your child a cute sundress and it happens to be 20 degrees colder   than you thought, just add layers like tights, cardigan, or scarf.  If your child is cold, he/she will not be hapy. It will show.  If it's the middle of summer, don't dress your husband in a button down, long sleeve shirt and jeans.  He will hate me. He will be cranky.  You want him to smile and be comfortable? Dress him that way.                                                                                                                                                                                    
6. Let's talk about shoes. You have the perfect outfits, everyone looks great, but you forgot about shoes for the kids. Don't go for those Paw Patrol shoes, Crocs or dirty athletic shoes  for a session. It will ruin what you worked so hard to put together!!  Toms, leather sandals, Converse, even Walmart has some cute kids shoes. Barefoot kiddos is an ADORABLE option as well. I'd much rather have bare feet in a session than the bottom of a dirty shoe.                                                                                                                                                                                                             
7. Let's face it.  We are in Texas. Big hair and big bows are our thing. I have lots of moms comes to session with these gigantic bows for their baby girls.  The bows then become the focal point instead of your sweet baby's face. I know you love your big bows, but for session, simple and dainty is better.   Plus, a simple bow won't become something she'll pull off every 30 seconds because it's heavier than her head. 

I hope these tips help. Choosing outfits can feel overwhelming. I am available to discuss and help narrow down your choices. I will be honest and upfront about what will look good and what won't. Feel free to send me a picture with the outfit on, or all the outfits together to discuss coordination. Clients have  sent me pictures of their outfits from the dressing room! Let me help. This is what I do!