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FAMILY PORTRAIT STYLE GUIDE
LISA MARIE WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
Colors, Clothes, Accessories, and more!
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Scheduling Your Session
A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE
I photograph portrait sessions the way I like to be photographed myself: outdoors, in natural light, because I love images that are clean, bright, fresh and timeless. Images that look and feel like you! That’s why I begin most of my sessions 1-2 hours before the scheduled sunset –– during the magical “golden hour” –– when the light in the sky is the softest, dreamiest and most flattering.
You can use a sunset calculator online to determine the scheduled sunset for the date and location you’d like to do your session. Then, just subtract two hours to figure out your approximate session start time.
If you’re wearing one outfit, we’ll start your session about 90 minutes before sunset. When scheduling your date, it’s important to remember that the sun sets much earlier during the colder months of the year and much later during the warmer months, so make sure to factor that in –– especially if you have small children with a specific eating or sleeping schedule, or if you (or your spouse) will need to leave work early to get ready for the session and arrive on time.
If you don’t have plans after your session, I always recommend going out for a fun date night since you’re already dressed up! My weekends fill up fast and far in advance, but my weekdays are much more flexible. So if you’d like to do your session sooner rather than later, scheduling mid-week is the way to go!
- Lisa
As you’ll see throughout this guide, most of my clients love showcasing the natural beauty of Colorado. For most of my sessions, outdoor, open-air environments are always my first choice. I love shooting in wide-open natural spaces because the light is divine, especially during golden hour. There are great options all around Telluride, so even if you've never seen me photograph in a specific place before, I’m always up for exploring a new spot together!
When it comes to choosing a location, don't be afraid to think outside the box! I encourage you to brainstorm unique places that you might have special access to that most people don’t. For example, maybe you (or someone you know) have access to an amazing location that would otherwise be off-limits, like a beautiful private estate, family ranch, exclusive country club or luxury resort. Spend a few minutes thinking about it and checking around with people in your personal and professional network. You’ll be surprised with what you come up with! If something seems out of reach, just remember: you never know until you ask! You can also consider Airbnb or other property rental sites. In the past, my clients have secured permission to shoot in some pretty incredible places! If you need some location ideas and inspiration, I have plenty! Check out my Instagram Lisa Marie Wright Photography. If there’s a certain session you really love, just let me know which one and we can go to that location!
Choosing your location
location
While I shoot most family sessions between June and late October, sessions can take place all year. Most of the families choose a season based on the location where they want to shoot.
A few things to keep in mind during each season:
Seasons
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Winter
snowfall, hot cocoa and cozy coats
If you’re planning to take your family photos during the winter, keep in mind that if your session takes place in the evening, I could begin shooting as early as 3:00pm to catch the sunset. I recommend dressing in layers so that in between photos you can warm up. Make sure you bring a little extra makeup and tissues in case your nose begins running.
Summer
hikes up in the mountains
I adore the summer in Telluride! Because of the later sunset, sessions sometimes begin as late as 6:30pm. If you’re taking your family portraits during the summer, it does occasionally get pretty toasty, so I recommend bringing extra makeup and a hand towel to make sure you stay fresh throughout your session.
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Outfits, Colors & more
Outfits
TIPS FOR LOOKING YOUR BEST
Wondering how many outfits you should plan? I’ve got you covered!
Changing outfits during a session always takes more time than my clients expect, so in order to maximize shooting time and give you the highest number of photos possible, I recommend the number of outfits (as follows) to keep stress low and the number of photos in your final gallery high:
Family Sessions - 1 Outfit
Maternity/Anniversary/Couples - 1 or 2 Outfits
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There's nothing more romantic than a long, flowy dress. Dresses and skirts tend to look most stunning on camera because they really flatter the female body. I recommend choosing dresses or skirts because they’re flattering on all body types, look amazing on camera and bring extra movement and dimension to your photos. Maxi (or floor length) skirts and dresses will add more romance to your walking photos and look especially gorgeous when juxtaposed with nature, like the mountains. Cute, shorter cocktail-length dresses or midi skirts photograph beautifully as well.
Wardrobe Tips
ACCESSORIES
HAIR & MAKEUP
men
Outfits
for the ladies
colors
shoes
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When choosing colors, I recommend selecting lighter, neutral tones and more muted shades. Bright, bold or neon colors can tend to be distracting. You can never go wrong with colors like cream, taupe, camel or light gray. The camera loves shades of soft pinks and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light- colored neutrals. That softer, more pastel-leaning color palette fits beautifully into almost all natural outdoor environments.
Color Choices
ACCESSORIES
HAIR & MAKEUP
men
Outfits
for the ladies
colors
shoes
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For shoes, keep in mind that heels elongate women’s legs and force constant tension in the calves –– which makes them look more toned. Closed-toed heels, in particular, look great on camera because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe. You can never go wrong with a pair of neutral pumps! If your toes are showing in a peep-toe heel, you might want to schedule a pedicure before your session so you don’t regret letting your toes show. If your shoes don’t show at all in the dress you’ve selected, you could always choose neutral ballet flats to make your session more comfortable. Lastly, make sure to bring a pair of flats/flip flops to wear when moving from place to place. Your feet will thank you later!
Shoes
ACCESSORIES
HAIR & MAKEUP
men
Outfits
for the ladies
colors
shoes
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Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images.
Whether it’s a necklace, belt, bracelet, earrings, hat, scarf, or jacket, bringing an accessory or two can bring great visual interest to your photos, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention when paired together.
For example, if you go with bolder earnings, you might want to choose a more humble necklace, or maybe even no necklace at all.
Accessories
ACCESSORIES
HAIR & MAKEUP
men
Outfits
for the ladies
colors
shoes
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Professional hair and makeup is on the top of most of my clients’ portrait session checklists because it looks amazing on camera and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. You’ll have these photos forever, so this is the time to pamper yourself!
Whether it’s lash extensions or blown-out hair, professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream. If you’re working with a makeup artist, have her apply your makeup in natural light (if possible) so that it looks fresh and not too heavy. Plus, that’s the type of light we’ll be shooting in, so it’ll give you the best expectation of how it will translate on camera.
Hair & Makeup
ACCESSORIES
HAIR & MAKEUP
men
Outfits
for the ladies
colors
shoes
The same way that a dress is the most flattering silhouette for the female body, a blazer, sport coat or jacket has the same flattering effect for men. You can’t go wrong with a dress shirt, slacks and a blazer.
Long sleeves are more flattering than short sleeves on men, so I’d recommend steering clear of t-shirts or polos, and instead opting for a long-sleeve button-down. The other benefit to long sleeves is we can roll the sleeves up for a slightly more casual look, which gives you two looks with one shirt. For colors, I recommend neutrals and soft. When selecting your pieces, I recommend choosing a different “weight” for the pants and coat. So for example, navy pants (darker) and a heather gray blazer (lighter). Or gray pants (darker) with a soft powder blue shirt (lighter).Solid colors will help keep the attention where it belongs, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye, so stay away from too strong of prints, avoid logos and opt for solids instead.
Men's Wardrobe
for the gents
How to mix all the colors
choosing dominant & accent colors
The goal for coordinating a family’s outfits is to visually break up the colors and shades so that you’re not all wearing the same color on top and bottom (like everyone in blue jeans with white shirts). The more you can mix it up, the better!
I encourage you to think about planning each outfit with “dominant colors” and “accent colors” in mind. A dominant color is the color that you see the most in an outfit, while an accent has a smaller piece of visual real estate. When you’re planning each family member’s outfit, if you can aim for each person to have a different dominant color, and then tie in and vary the accent colors, it’ll look great all together.
For example, if you’re wearing a blush dress, soft blue earrings and nude heels (blush being your dominant color), then your spouse could wear a navy coat with a white button-down and gray pants, paired with brown leather shoes and maybe even a blush pocket square (making navy his dominant color). Your daughter could wear a soft blue top with a white tulle skirt (making a soft blue her dominant color) while your son could wear light beige pants with navy suspenders and a white button down (making white his dominant color). Now each person has their own dominant color while still incorporating a few touches of the other colors that will pull all the looks together.
This will visually break up all the colors and highlight each person and their individual personality. Most of my moms choose their dress first, and then build the rest of the family’s outfits based on that.
Inclement Weather
what to do if it rains
During the winter, I will occasionally schedule two portrait dates. A primary date and a rain/snow date. Having two dates helps me make sure that your photos happen in a timely manner. Coordinating schedules can be tough and I’ve found that the best way to make sure you get the look you have in mind for your photos is to schedule two dates at the same time.
I’ll check in the week of your session to confirm the time & location we’re meeting and the weather. I know it takes a lot of time to get ready for your family session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain.
Let me know what works best for you - but if the weather looks like it won’t be great, I typically try to make the call at least 24 hours in advance.
When it comes to posing for your family portrait, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I’ll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If I tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because I know it’s going to look great on camera & might just make you laugh - and that’s the photo I'm actually looking for.
Throughout your session, I’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. I want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together!
"What do I do with
my hands"?
"What do I do
with my hands"?
POSING
As soon as possible after your session is complete, I’ll start working on editing your session. Unless I have a holiday closure, you can expect to receive your senior photos between 7 and 10 days after your session.
When to Expect Your Images
I know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your family portrait session! However if there is something I missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email
or call me!