Style Guide

Dress for the Story
You're Telling

Your clothing is the first brushstroke of your family's portrait. These are not rules — they are invitations to show up as your most grounded, beautiful, present selves.

The Soul Sacred Approach

Three Principles That Guide Everything

Before we talk colors and fabrics, let's talk intention. The families I photograph most beautifully are the ones who dressed with purpose.

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Coordinate, Don't Match

Matching outfits flatten the depth of your family's story. When everyone coordinates in the same color family — without being identical — the eye moves naturally between each soul.

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Comfort is Confidence

If you're tugging at your hem or squeezing into something too tight, your body knows it — and so does the camera. Choose pieces you can breathe, move, and laugh freely in.

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Timeless Over Trendy

Twenty years from now, you'll look at these images and feel the moment — not the year. Classic, simple, and earthy choices age like fine art. Logos, neon, and statement graphics do not.

Where to Start

The Anchor Method

Getting dressed as a family doesn't have to be overwhelming. Start here and work outward.

Dress Mom First

Choose a piece that makes you feel genuinely beautiful — a flowy dress, a soft linen set. This becomes your anchor.

Pull One Color

Pick one color from Mom's outfit — even a subtle tone — and make that the thread everyone else follows.

Dress Dad / Partner

A natural-fiber button-down or soft henley in the same color family. Keep it simple so Mom shines.

Dress the Little Ones

Coordinate, don't match. Slightly different tones of the same color family keep photos layered and alive.

Layer for Depth

A cardigan, scarf, or jacket in a slightly different texture adds visual richness without competing for attention.

Colors

Your Seasonal Soul Palette

Nature already knows which colors belong together. Here's how to borrow from her.

Earth & Warmth — Year-Round

Ivory, warm taupe, terracotta, sage green, and soft grey. This palette photographs beautifully in golden light and works for every session type.

Harvest — Fall Sessions

Warm blush, honey, burnt sienna, chestnut, and deep brown. Rich and grounding — made for golden-hour sessions among the changing leaves.

Soft Bloom — Spring & Summer

Soft white, misted green, sage, dusty rose, and warm linen. Light and airy for outdoor sessions in open fields, creeks, and wildflower meadows.

Still Water — Winter & Overcast

Cream, warm grey, dusty teal, forest, and deep slate. Moody and timeless for intimate indoor sessions or cool-weather outdoor portraits.

By Session Type

What to Wear for Your Specific Session

Each session has its own sacred rhythm — here's how to dress into it.

🤱 Newborn Session

  • Soft maxi dress or flowy top for Mom in cream, blush, or ivory
  • Easy access for feeding — wrap dresses and V-necks work beautifully
  • Dad in a simple linen button-down, rolled sleeves — neutral tones
  • Siblings in coordinating soft neutrals — no loud patterns
  • Baby in a simple white wrap, neutral sleeper, or bare skin
  • Leave your feet bare or in simple slippers — it's an in-home session
  • Comfort always wins over style in those tender first days

🌿 Belly & Me / Maternity

  • Celebrate the bump — form-fitted bodice with a flowy skirt
  • Floor-length dresses photograph with breathtaking elegance outdoors
  • Soft, muted tones: ivory, blush, sage, warm sand, dusty rose
  • Natural, flowy fabrics — chiffon, gauze, linen, organic cotton
  • Partner in soft neutral button-down or linen trousers
  • One delicate piece of jewelry — a simple necklace or bracelet
  • Bare feet or minimal sandals in outdoor settings

🌳 Family Portrait Session

  • Start with Mom's outfit and coordinate outward from there
  • Aim for 2–3 tones in the same color family across the family
  • Add layers — a linen jacket, cardigan, or scarf for visual depth
  • Children in comfortable clothes they can actually move and play in
  • Avoid stiff, formal outfits — movement and laughter are the portrait
  • Neutral shoes or bare feet — keep footwear subtle
  • No matching outfits; no family logo tees or graphic prints

🤍 Motherhood Session

  • This session is about YOU — wear what makes you feel most like yourself
  • A flowy sundress or simple linen set in a warm earth tone
  • Layer with a lightweight cardigan for movement and softness
  • Little ones in simple, coordinating neutrals that don't distract
  • Delicate jewelry that holds meaning — heirlooms, gifts, simple gold
  • Bare feet on grass or soft sand is always stunning
  • Bring a white or cream top as a backup — it's endlessly beautiful

🕯️ Birth Documentation

  • Comfort is everything — a soft hospital gown or robe is perfect
  • Labor and delivery wear: loose, breathable, nothing restrictive
  • If you want something special for skin-to-skin moments — a simple, stretchy nursing bra or wrap
  • Partner in comfortable, soft clothing in neutral tones
  • Focus is on connection and presence — not styling
  • I photograph the sacred truth of what unfolds naturally

Fabrics & Textures

What the Camera Loves

Texture adds dimension and soul to photographs. Natural fabrics photograph the way they feel — soft, grounded, and alive.

✦ Reach For These

  • Linen — earthy texture, moves beautifully in breeze
  • Chiffon & gauze — soft, flowy, catches golden light exquisitely
  • Cashmere & soft knits — warmth and visual coziness
  • Cotton & organic cotton — clean, simple, timeless
  • Lace — delicate texture adds depth without distraction
  • Chambray — structured but soft, pairs with everything
  • Wool & tweed — richly textured for cooler-season sessions

✗ Leave These at Home

  • Shiny or reflective fabrics — cause harsh light bounces
  • Stiff cotton — doesn't move or drape naturally
  • Sequins or metallic fabrics — fight with natural light
  • Materials that wrinkle easily — look disheveled quickly outdoors
  • Very thin fabrics — can be see-through in bright light
  • Synthetic fabrics — look flat and don't breathe in warm sessions

What to Leave Behind

The Gentle "Please Don't" List

These aren't rules — they're the things I've seen pull focus away from what matters most: the people in the frame.

Logos & Graphic Text

Brand names and graphics pull the eye away from faces. Twenty years from now, you want to see your family — not their favorite sports team.

Neon or Very Bright Colors

Bright neons cast color onto skin, creating an unnatural glow on faces and arms. They also overpower every other element in the frame.

Stark White or Pure Black

Stark white blows out in sunlight. Pure black absorbs all light and creates flat areas with no detail. Opt for cream, ivory, or soft charcoal instead.

Small Busy Patterns

Fine stripes and very small prints create a moiré effect on camera — a visual vibration that distracts. One bold pattern per family is the limit.

Athletic Sneakers

Chunky white athletic shoes break the earthy, organic feel of a nature session. Opt for neutral sandals, ankle boots, or bare feet.

Overly Matching Outfits

When every family member wears the exact same color and style, the image looks flat. Coordinate with intention — let each person's soul show through.

The Finishing Touches

Accessories, Shoes & Hair

The details that bring the whole story together — without stealing the scene.

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Jewelry

One or two meaningful pieces per person. Delicate gold, heirloom pieces, or simple stackable rings. Natural materials — wood, stone, hammered metal — always feel right. Less is sacred.

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Shoes

Simple and grounded. Neutral leather sandals, ankle boots, Converse in earth tones, or bare feet in nature. Avoid bright whites and athletic shoes — they break the organic feel.

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Hair & Beauty

Natural and lived-in is gorgeous. Loose waves, soft braids, or an elegant updo. For makeup — a little more than your everyday, since cameras can wash out features, but nothing theatrical.

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Layers & Extras

Bring a cardigan, light scarf, or denim jacket as an option. Wide-brimmed hats photograph beautifully in golden light and add a grounding, nature-connected energy to your images.

Ready to Be Remembered?

You've thought about the details — now let's create something sacred together.

Book Your Session