Snow-covered house in a forest with tall pine trees, bright sunlight, and a clear sky.

HOLIDAY STYLE GUIDE

Top Tips

THINGS TO DO

POCKETS: Empty your pockets! Literally. Don’t look back and see your phone or keys through your pockets.

PARKING FEE: This may not apply to your shoot but you always want to have cash on hand for parking fees.

TIMING: Allow additional travel time when life throws an unexpected curve ball or heavy traffic your way.

LIP COLOR & HAIRSPRAY: You may want to reapply lip color or adjust your hair after an outfit change.

COMFY SHOES: Fabulous shoes can be difficult to walk in, bring comfy shoes while walking between locations.

ACCESSORIES: Balloons, blankets, hats, jewelry, scarves, vehicle, instrument, or any other props you would like.

SOLID COLORS: Subtle patterns or solid colors that coordinate.

THINGS TO AVOID

Clothes that fit poorly. (Too loose or too tight).

Colors that blend in too much with the background (we don’t want you to disappear into the background).

Exact Matching outfits (this went out in the 80s). Unless this is the look you are going for.

Strong/overly bold patterns (subtle patterns are great and can pull outfits together).

Style(s) you’re not comfortable with (feeling awkward will reflect in your photos).

Shirts with large characters/logos (can be distracting).

Uncomfortable shoes (you will be walking and moving around).

Style Choices

Three children sitting on a fluffy white rug in front of a Christmas tree and fireplace, dressed in festive holiday clothes. The girl on the left wears a burgundy velvet dress and a red beret; the boy in the middle wears a plaid shirt, red suspenders, red pants, and a brown hat; the boy on the right wears a plaid shirt with a bowtie, red suspenders, and maroon pants.
Multiple rows of colored paint chips in various shades of brown, beige, and earth tones.

BOLD or NEUTRAL

CLASSIC or DRESSY

  • Button Down Shirts

  • Sweaters

  • Trousers/Khakis

  • Suits

  • Dress & Heels

  • Suspenders & Ties

TRENDY

  • Flowy dresses

  • Hats

  • Rompers

Two young girls in red holiday dresses sitting on a porch during Christmas.
Two women wearing matching red plaid pajamas with Minnie Mouse print kissing a baby on the cheeks while the baby smiles, in front of a holiday decorated setting with a large red bow.
A baby girl sitting on a red mat outdoors, smiling, with a Christmas tree and decorations in the background.

  • You don’t have to apply all of these “ingredients” to get a perfectly BRIGHT & BOLD look. These ingredients include:

    Only one wears a pattern: If one of you wears a bold pattern, it’s important that the other doesn’t. The more bold the pattern is the more important this rule is.

    Bold Backgrounds: if you are going for a bold and bright look we will help balance it with solid colored/neutral backgrounds. It’s a double win if the background coordinates with the outfits.

    Only one bold color: we recommend one wear a bright and bold colored outfit and the other wear solid / neutral to balance out the colors.

    Large Patterns: If you want to wear a bright & bold pattern larger scale is a great choice.

Family standing on front porch of a brick house during Christmas season, smiling at camera, dressed in warm clothes, with holiday decorations including wreaths and ribbons around them.
A smiling couple standing close to each other near a decorated Christmas tree with red ribbons and silver ornaments, outdoors on a porch with blurred trees in the background.
A woman and a young girl sitting on a patterned rug in front of a decorated fireplace mantel with Christmas holiday decor, including red berries and candles, in a cozy living room.

  • If you’re hoping for a more romantic style that includes “light” and “airy” colors you can make outfit choices that will lead your images to be brighter, softer and more photogenic. Here are some ingredients that result in a romantic styled images.

    Neutral Colors: blush, light pinks, light blues, light teals, creams, light grays and whites result in a light and airy look. These colors photograph softer and more romantically!

    Long, Flowing Skirts/Dresses: dresses and skirts with feminine ruffles, multiple layers of fabric and the ability to flow and move in the wind photograph beautifully! You will be in awe at how impactful moving fabric softens an image.

    Khakis vs Jeans: If you want your images to be as bright as possible, consider having the gentlemen where lighter pants instead of dark dress pants or dark jeans.

A family of three stands on their front porch decorated with Christmas wreaths, red ribbons, and ornaments. The father holds their young daughter, and both parents are smiling. The daughter is dressed in a green holiday dress with red shoes. The porch has brick walls and a festive wreath on the door.
A family of four, including two children and their parents, standing on a red welcome mat in front of their house decorated for Christmas with red ribbons, green shrubs, and holiday ornaments. The dog, dressed in a black outfit with pink ears, is sitting in front.
A family of four posing together on a decorated porch next to a Christmas tree with red ribbons, ornaments, and Santa figures, celebrating Christmas.

  • Classic recipe’s are great for a more traditional look and coordinating outfits. Sweaters, blouses, button down shirts are a great choice for classic and works for both male and female members.

    Classic works great also when you want to feel comfortable and still look really nice. Polos and sun dresses are other fantastic choices because they allow kids to move more comfortably and are a step up from their daily attire.

    When considering classic styles we ask you to still keep in mind coordination is key to tie your party together. Pick a general color theme for this style and try to have each member compliment these colors with various accent pieces.

Family of five dressed in formal and holiday-themed attire posing indoors with a decorated mirror and greenery.
A woman in a shiny black evening gown and three children in formal black attire posing against a dark gray background.
A woman sitting on a stool, surrounded by three young girls, all dressed in elegant, formal attire against a dark background.

  • Who said the red carpet was for celebrities? Dressy style images stand out because they are not done very often. For this style you want the best of the best. Suits, dresses, ties, button ups and the shoes to match. Think of dressy as a night out on the town or a school dance.

    Now, before we continue, dressy styles are harder to pull off. Not everyone dresses in suits or these style of dresses. If this is not something you would normally wear or if it does not fit your personality, don’t force yourself into this theme.

    One piece of advice with dressy style is to consider a second style to compliment. Sessions pair really well when you have a dressy and casual styling. This gives your entire album an unique look as the day goes on. We suggest starting your session with your casual style and ending in the dressy style.

    Dressy styles are a fantastic choice to give your session a high end feel and one you will be proud of for years to come. With all styles, stick to a couple colors and use your color pops as an accent to compliment the rest of the outfit.

A young child sitting on the floor in front of a decorated Christmas tree, with two women in matching plaid pajamas hugging in the background, all celebrating Christmas.
Family sitting on front porch during Christmas, dressed in festive pajamas with red and white patterns, and Santa hat, smiling and holding a baby.
Three young women standing on porch stairs decorated with holiday greenery, smiling for a photo during Christmas. One wears reindeer antler headbands, all are in pajamas, with Christmas wreaths and decorations visible.

  • Trendy styles are always a favorite because, when done right these the final images have a unique look. How do you explain trendy? Well one way is styles that are bringing a comeback from years ago. Bell bottoms, flares, wide brimmed hats, high tops or name brand clothing all make great choices when considering a trendy style

    Trendy styles utilize accessories to go along with the rest of the outfit. Hats, necklaces, scarves, boots, jackets pair well with the trendy look. Another great advantage to trendy styles is the ability to mix and match amongst family members and couples.

    Because trendy looks come and go, but even the most trendy of styles can last a lifetime. Coloring for trendy is also more flexible. If you chose Trendy as your style, have fun with it! Get bold, get confident and let’s create some beautiful images.