START WITH YOUR LOCATION
In winter the weather can work against us for these outdoor photo sessions. Sometimes it’s a matter of waiting for the right day for a particular location or picking a safer option that’s sheltered from extreme winds. If you’re at the top of a hilltop location you would want to consider wearing your hair tied back and avoid anything too floaty like a dress just in case it is too windy and cold. Parks are great with children because they feel calmer/more entertained and we can shoot during the day when the sun is out (rather than waiting for sunset when it gets too cold for little ones).
STAY WARM AND BE PREPARED
Don’t be afraid to layer up with thermals and multiple layers. Put on a wool jumper or puffer vest/jacket, especially on your children so they don’t get cold and grumpy. If jumpers are too casual for your style then wool coats are a good alternative. Pants are a great option, save the dresses and skirts for summer. If you can try to wear coloured pants rather than black (for example, blue, grey, navy etc), but if you only own black jeans then that’s ok too!
ADD IN TEXTURES AND A POP OF COLOUR
Add in some textures if you are going for a matched look, sometimes too much of the one colour starts to blend together too much, but you can break this up with either a different type of fabric or a small pattern. Avoid big and bold patterns (like logos or large text), simple patterns like in the images above are ok, the reason being you don’t want your clothing to distract your attention away from your expressions. Don’t be afraid to add in a pop of colour somewhere, could be on your child's jacket or jumper! No matter what style you pick, go for a look that suits your family. If your vibe is more relaxed and comfortable then keep it authentic.
WHAT COLOURS WILL BE IN THE BACKGROUND
Think about what will the colours be in the background, from here you can start to think about clothing and how these will blend or contrast with the background. The colours could be seasonal but most importantly, try to pick colours from the same pallet or similar in tones (bright vs. earthy). The grass and trees worked perfectly with the earthy tones this family above chose to wear.
MUM PICK YOUR OUTFIT FIRST
Mums you might find it easier to start with your outfit first! I know how hard it can be to find clothes or an outfit that you love. You want to feel confident and beautiful for this shoot. You can then style your children’s and partner’s outfit around what you’re going to wear. You might think it sounds a bit selfish but you also deserve this moment to shine.
