Right up there with "where should we have our session",
(btw, HERE is a list of location ideas)
one of the most common questions
clients have regarding their photos is, 
"what should we wear?"

As I mention in my FAQ's
The most important factor in choosing your wardrobe
is that you are comfortable and feel good.
If you feel awkward, it will show in the images. ​

Personally, I am a big fan of neutrals (white, cream, nude, peach, grey, denim).
To me, these read as "classic" as opposed to boring.
Mix in a pop of color or two, and you have yourself a color palette.
I recommend either reds, light to medium blues or gold/mustard tones.
I think layered solids are the way to go.
Layers can add interesting texture and dimension to the image.

Picture a rural setting with a pretty floral print
with layers on top,
maybe a solid cardigan and a leather jacket.
Removing a layer or two during a session
is a great way to change up the look
without having to change clothing or lose any time.
PLEASE avoid neon colors at all cost!
They cast color onto the skin and do not photograph well. 

Also, gone are the days of an entire family
sporting all white tops
with all khakis or denim bottoms.
Of course, there are still exceptions where
a solid neutral palette can be done well.
For example, in this recent summer time image . . .

Here, the palette was literally all white and cream.
And it just works in such a lovely way.

As a rule, however, do NOT attempt to perfectly match each other.
Rather aim to coordinate each subjects outfit
by tying in 3-4 complementary colors.
You will also notice how nature itself,
adds to a color palette.
I also love accessories
​like scarves, layered necklaces, stacked bracelets, etc.

Once you have made your selections,
or as a way of narrowing down choices,
I love to lay all the outfits out together
on a bed or sofa.
This allows you to get a better feel for coordination.

I have been photographing families for over ten years.
Below you will find just a few examples
of clients who pulled together cohesive
​and complimentary family outfit choices.

Some are on the warm side, some cooler tones,
some strictly neutral and some full of fun colors.
I wanted to show you a variety of palettes
and how they all can work.

A lot may depend on the time of year
your session is scheduled as well,
​but I hope these examples serve as an inspiration
for your own family.

To book your own family session,
​contact me HERE.
To see my family session pricing,
click HERE.
To view my family gallery,
click HERE.

Phew, now that I've covered the mandatory snorefest schtuff,
let's dive right in.

"Do your sessions/weddings come with a copyright release?"

I can't tell you how many times I've been asked this question.
The answer is always the same.
"No, they do not."

Yet, as the British would say
"don't get your knickers in a twist, darling."
(You read that with an accent, didn't you?)
That's because you're still getting all the rights
you probably want and need already.
The technical lingo is just a bit different.

When it comes to client galleries and ownership
there can be some common misconceptions.
One of the biggest and most frequent
is the difference between
a copyright release and a print release.

Copyright, Print Release, what's the big deal?
Aren't they basically the same thing?

Negatory!
There is, in fact, a huge difference.

A COPYRIGHT belongs solely to the person who creates the art.
Whether that's photographs, artwork, writing or music.
The moment you create something,
you alone have the right to say
​how that work is used and distributed.
In the case of images,
the photographer is the only one with the right to edit them.
And the only one who can legally sell
​or make a profit from those images.

A PRINT RELEASE is different.
It gives someone, other than the creator,
the right to reproduce the artwork for their own personal use.
​Personal use includes the UNLIMITED printing of images
and sharing with friends and family,
both tangibly and on social media platforms.
That is something most artists actually encourage!
We want you to print your images.
To share your memories!
However, a print release
does NOT allow for the adding of IG filters,
which thereby alters the creator's original work.
It does NOT allow a client to enter images into contests
to win any money or prizes for said images.
It also does NOT allow a client
to offer images for use in a commercial setting.
Such as in a magazine or for use as stock photography.
​The images are not the client's work,
​therefore they have no legal right to sell them. 

The wording may not seem like a huge deal,
but when it comes to protecting the rights of the artist
​it is a priority.

So the next time you have a photography session
be sure to ask for a print release.
And by all means, feel free to plaster the walls
with your bright, beautiful smiling faces!

​>>>   <<<

Check out my post on Aspect Ratio
​for the best ways to print your images yourself!

A frequent question I get from my clients,
especially right after they receive their prints is,
why is some of the image chopped off?

Well, there's a simple reason
and a few solutions to try and avoid it from happening to you.
It's a common misconception
that you can print any image to any size you want.

The reason this is not always possible
is due to something called
(buckle up - I'm about to sound all smart and technical)
Aspect Ratio.

What is Aspect Ratio?
While it might sound intimidating, it is a pretty easy concept.
So on old 35mm film cameras the aspect ratio was 3:2.
That meant any variable of 3:2 would print without loss.

Ugh, here we go...dreaded math time!
(I promise you, if I can understand this mumbo jumbo,
anyone can.)
So 3:2 is the same aspect ratio as 6:4.
So a 4x6 print, which is a very popular size,
would print without any issues.
As would an 8x12, a 16x24 and a 20x30.

 2 x  3
 4 x  6
  8 x 12
 16 x 24
 20 x 30
Do you see how all the numbers on the left are variables of 2
and all the numbers on the right are variables of 3.
They are all the same aspect ratio.
​
But another popular size in the print world is an 8x10.
However, an 8x10 is a different ratio than 3:2.
So you would need to lose 2" somewhere
in order to fit into the aspect ratio
the image was shot in.
Below is an example of an original image
​and the crop to fit an 8x10 print.

So that your final printed image would look something like this.

The same is true of other popular sizes like 5x7 and 11x14.

"But I don't want to lose any of the image" you say,
​stomping your foot like a frustrated toddler.
Hey, I hear ya!
As an artist I crop things in my viewfinder a specific way,
while I'm shooting.
I want my prints to look the way I shot them for a reason.
So what do I do?
Well, there are a few options.

Either only print in the sizes that coincide
with the Aspect Ratio of your camera.
Most DSLRs are 3:2, the same as 35mm film was.
(Some may be different or may even allow you to choose.)

Or for images like the example pic above,
you could add more black background prior to cropping.
Making the overall image larger,
thus maintaining more when you do crop it.
I have even done this with wedding party images
in the woods by cloning more tree line into the image.
Of course, this is not always possible
depending on the background.
And it really only works on minimal images
with solid backdrops.

Another option if you are the photographer
is to shoot a little wider.
Just take a step back or switch lenses
in order to get more framing around your subject.
Doing this with the expressed purpose
of cropping it out later.

And lastly, you have the option of just accepting the loss.
If you decide to go with this option
I do suggest that you do the cropping yourself
before sending it off to the printer.
A lot of online printers already have an option for this
pop up now during checkout.
If they do not, however, it is a very easy fix in Photoshop,
or even a free online editor like PicMonkey.

I hope you have found this helpful.
Drop me a comment below if you'd like to see
more content like this.
And feel free to share this blog post
​on your social media platforms.

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