Outdoor photo shoot - what to expect

Outdoor photo shoots are fun!  They are very relaxed and last around an hour, but sometimes up to two if we need to feed the troops and have some pit stops along the way! I’ve scouted out some locations in Marlow, but I’m always open to suggestions and interested to know about new places in the local area that I haven’t come across before.

What to wear – it’s always nice for the children to feel relaxed at the session and I encourage them to run around, hide in and on trees and bushes and climb logs, so do bear this in mind when dressing them!  It’s a good idea to bring a spare outfit for those ‘just in case’ moments – for you, along with the children. 

The rule of thumb is the magic three colours, if all of the party can wear one or two out of three colours then it makes the images easy on the eye when there is some coordination. 

Which colours to go for?
Spring/Summer sessions when the colours around are generally bright green, go for colours either side of this on the colour wheel (see below), so blues/greys, green and yellows (and even some pink can look amazing!). 
Autumn - As the summer fades and the natural landscape colours progress to shades of brown, opt for 2 or 3 of the vibrant colours of mustard yellow, forest green, maroon purple, navy blue, and grey.  The deep tones on the outer part of the colour wheel really work in autumn.
Think about the colour schemes in your home - you want to make sure your clothes go with the theme of the room where the picture will be hanging.  You don't need to spend a fortune on outfits either, H&M have some lovely thick mustard yellow knits plus some maroon thick cardi's, match these with some navy tights and skirt and that's one outfit sorted!  A yellow mac and wellies always looks lovely too!

​Try to avoid white if at all possible, especially everybody wearing all black tops or all white tops.  Also avoid very patterned outfits, as these can distract the eye from the face.

Accessories can be a great way to add some colour to a picture or to just give some of the images a different look - think about a scarf, tie or hat.  

Once you've booked your session with me, start to think about what you are going to wear as soon as possible, as the last thing you would want is trying to find things to wear just before the session - stressful!  This photo will bring back memories and you want the memories to be happy, relaxed ones! 

Finally, think 'classic' - no doubt these images will hang on your wall or be presented proudly on your mantle piece for a long time, so try to keep away from clothing that may be deemed as a fad/trend and stick to more classic pieces, and clothing that you feel comfortable in!

If you're stuck for ideas Pinterest can be a great help, along with large clothing outlets which generally match outfits online or in-store.  If you're unsure about anything then don't panic, just give me a call and we can chat your ideas through.

Outdoor photo shoots can be booked from April through to around November (weather dependant) and ideally I will do the session either two hours after sunrise or two hours before sunset - it's not essential but this is generally deemed to be the best light of the day, plus the kids think it's very exciting to be going back out again after dinner again for the summer sessions!

Following the session, I will edit the images in line with my style and will then send you a password protected online gallery for you to view your images and make your selection.

I look forward to seeing you on your outdoor photo shoot and capturing memories that last a life time!