sit and stay awhile: what to wear to a photo session

after booking a session, generally the first question i get is: what should we wear?!!  and until now i've always responded with: whatever you want!

in all actuality, you CAN wear whatever you want, but seriously, what kind of an answer is that? it is SUCH  cop-out and my clients deserve WAY better!!

so here are a few things to consider when picking out your photo-day wardrobe:

1. don't wear the exact same color, but stay within the same general color pallet/genre [i'm not positive that makes sense, but just go with it].

last weekend i visited william and mary for homecoming [hark!] and on sunday before everyone headed home i met up with some friends - when i saw their outfits i told them i HAD to have a picture because it was a superb example of not being too matchy-matchy, but matching perfectly:

aren't they the cutest? thank you kate and dex!!

their colors are similar, but not the same.  all of the colors incorporated have that off-white feeling to them (again, i know that probably doesn't make sense, but hang in there)  

random side note: these are comfy clothes and easy to move in, but look fabulous.

another random side note: these are college students/recent grads aka DIRT POOR - so this look is attainable without breaking the bank [kate got her shirt at marshall's for $10!!!]

2. texture/pattern variety can be good

i'm going to use kate and dex again for this one because i love that there are so many different fabrics and textures between the two of them: 

corduroy, lace, cotton, her silky scarf and pretty embroidered/embellished shirt, not to mention that he is wearing a striped shirt and she has little dots and pretty flowers...  the subtle differences in shapes/textures/patterns/fabrics is what really makes this work [i think?]

the key to all of this so far is: slight differences (i'm thinking that dressing one child in plaid, another in bold polka dots and your third in huge horizontal stripes might be abrasive to the eyes).  

3. we're going to coin a phrase: casual simplicity.  

you want your photographs to be about you, your family, the memories you made while spending that 1 hour time block with each other in front of the camera - when you look at those pictures afterwards you don't want to see just your HUGE chunky necklace or dad's awkwardly colored socks sticking out from his pants legs, you want to see your beautiful selves laughing, having fun, being goofy... your wardrobe should be understated enough to enhance your beauty but still definitively you [hopefully this is making sense...]

i found this on pintrest (originally from lina jarmond photography's site) and i LOVE how it showcases the different color pallets/textures/materials all while being very casual and simple:

aaannndddd last but not least:

4. wear what looks good on you and is comfortable

this may seem like a no-brainer, but this is one of those rules that you MUST abide by both parts, no picking and choosing here.  if you are wearing a smokin hot dress with heels and look like a million dolla dolla billz, but aren't comfortable, you better bet your butt it'll show in the pictures.  and  just because that sweater that is 3 sizes too big is the most comfortable thing you own doesn't mean that it's going to look good on your body in photographs.  

if you aren't comfortable with this season's fashion trends, don't wear them - rock your own personal style.  you being comfortable is the most important thing to remember!!!

for more inspiration on what to wear, follow my pintrest board!

hope this helps ya'll :)

breakin it down articulately [personal]

i'm extremely new to this whole 'photography/photographer/small business owner' thing.  i will be the first to tell you that i have a bajillion and one things to learn... i mean, i stalk photography blogs like it's nobody's business (the go to's = justin & mary, katelyn james, sharon elizabeth, jasmine star, abby grace, warthan farms), read anything i can get my hands on (books, blogs, how-to's, beginner's guides, instruction manuals, magazine articles) and am attending seminars to try and improve in areas i'm weakest (and let me tell you, there are A LOT of those).  i watch webinars, sign up for newsletters, use pintrest to find photography articles and facebook stalk for posing inspiration as if my life depends on it.

but i've realized that all of those things are similar in one specific way: they don't require me to step outside of my comfort zone.  i can do them all without having to talk to anyone about my photography or try and promote myself in any way.  i can do every single one of those things and rest easy at night because, until now, i've convinced myself that i have been doing everything possible to improve my business by focusing on improving my photography.

truth be told: i am terrible at promoting myself.  sure, anyone can post a link to a blogpost or facebook album online of recent pictures they took, but it takes gumption to look someone in the eyes and tell them you want to be a wedding and portrait photographer. i don't know what it is about telling people that i want to capture personal histories that terrifies me so much.  and i can't for the life of me figure out why i can't just ask folks if i could take pictures for them.

i don't even stand up for myself when someone makes comments about the type of camera i have or how anyone can be a photographer these days... yes, i have a nice camera (neither canon nor nikon), but no it is not what makes the pictures i take... i make the pictures - by shooting in full manual, seeing light, telling a story. am i the best at it? no, but i'm working on it.

uuugghhh! i just get so frustrated with myself.  and where i am with my business. and i know i'm BRAND new at this, but that's just how i am.

mama always said either hush up or do something about it - so i emailed a few local photographers today about meeting and discussing their business/life philosophy... fingers crossed that i get replies :)

caits

save the date!! [mini sessions]

happy wednesday night ya'll!! i just got back from choir practice [let me tell you, our christmas cantata is giving us a TIME. phew!] and am SOSOSOSOOOOOOO EXCITED to announce that for the first time ever caitlin elizabeth photography is offering MINI SESSIONS!  

Saturday, November 5, 2011

[rain date: Sunday, November 6, 2011]

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

30 minute sessions

individual portraits, family session (4 people max), couples, headshots, senior portraits etc.

[assorted posed and candid shots]

a few props will be available as well as a 'fall scene' for seasonal photos if desired

sessions are $150 and include:

1 8x10

2 5x7s 

10-15 final edited images uploaded to online gallery for proofing and a la carte ordering

5 facebook/web-ready watermarked images for internet sharing

where will this be you ask? here's a preview of the location:

shep won't be in your pictures unless you want him though ;)

email me at: caitlinelizabethphotography@gmail.com to get the details and reserve your spot today!  

i will leave you with these save-the-dates i made (which i am quite proud of):

can't wait to hear from you!! 

ryan *cotton picker/corn thrower/hay jumper pro

you might remember at the fair when i introduced you to ryan - he was playing in mud puddles and being adorable.  well... his mama contacted me right after i shared those pictures with her to ask me about doing fall pictures of her little boy - and that is how i found myself hanging out with this cutie and his mama on this BEAUTIFUL sunday afternoon.  we played in corn, cotton and hay, climbed on tractors, picked out pumpkins and ran all around darden farm in smithfield.  get ready to fall in love:

light! the gorgeous gorgeous light!!

ok. seriously.  can we say model? this needs to be in some sort of jeans advertisement.  children's levis maybe? i don't know.  i'd buy them.  and i don't even have children.

i just love him :) can i keep him? please?

ya'll come back now, ya hear? :)

benji *warwick senior '11

benji... where to start?  you trespassed with me on government property and were willing to wake up before dawn to do this shoot in the middle of the week THE DAY YOU LEFT FOR COLLEGE. crazy.  but i am SO glad you were willing to make the effort.  this guy is a riot and has some seriously fabulous shoes.  this shoot was a blast, mostly because benji and i talked/laughed/goofed off the entire time.  from virginia to oklahoma, best of luck benji!

benji was thrilled to be wearing his college gear

one of the better 'serious face' ones - hopefully this works out well in between your brother and sister's!

let the parade of shoes begin :)

we really weren't supposed to be on this beach...

i loved this outfit.  benji seemed most comfortable in it (it may have something to do with the fact that by this point we had been hanging out for almost an hour. but whatever.)

if you ever release your own album, this needs to be the cover:

and this was his expression when he finished telling me the story of how he decided to go to Oklahoma University:

(i think he made the right decision) 

fun fact: benji was a boy scout! (these are for mom haha)

THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE.  benji, this is the one i texted you a picture of when i was editing that night... i was JUST. THAT. EXCITEDDDD.

best of luck at OU!

summer [senior portraits]

summer is the type of girl you sit next to in class and have no idea how wonderful she is, until she decides to let you in on a few of her little secrets: that she's a sweetie, loves to laugh, and is a major catch ;)  initially summer was quiet, and when i first introduced myself she seemed sortof shy (which made me look and sound even more outlandish than usual), but by the time the rain rolled through and we had to boogie out of the open air, she was throwin around the model poses and laughing with me!  it was exciting to see her open up as the shoot progressed - being in front of a camera can be unsettling, but it didn't phase her!!

these were taken behind true value in windsor, and there was all of this random stuff around... like these wooden pallet things that i almost convinced summer to climb on top of... almost... haha

she didn't know i took this one :) she was adjusting... sitting on a little wooden pillar is much more difficult than she makes it look

adore.  she's such a natural!

that's all for now folks! you may be seeing more of her in the months to come... family portrait session is in the works!!