As a family photographer, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is, "what should we wear for our family photo shoot?" Deciding what to wear for a family portrait can be daunting and stressful especially if you don't know where to start! I thought I'd write a quick blog post on on how you can plan your outfit as a family, and you can use this as a reference guide for your upcoming sessions. Scroll down to learn about my 5 tips to coordinating the perfect family outfit for your photo shoot!

1. Know your style!

Consider what you normally wear and what style best represents YOU! Do you like a clean and classic look, or are you more preppy and edgy? Or perhaps you like more of a vintage and bohemian look? Also, keep in mind when it comes to lifestyle photography, the idea is to be genuine and authentic. If you are normally a jeans-and-t-shirt type of family, then by all means go for a casual look! In a nutshell, dress in a style that BEST showcases who you are as a family. You'll look and feel more confident during your shoot!

2. Choose a color scheme.

Choose 2-3 main colors and dress within that color palette. For spring and summer sessions, it can get hot and humid, so I suggest wearing light neutral colors (e.g., creams, grays, whites) paired with earth tones to stay cool. This palette tends to complement well with any background! For fall and winter, warm colors (like burgundy, burnt orange, or navy) and neutrals (like creams and grays) are flattering to wear during cooler weather.

3. Wear solids and limit patterns.

Wearing solids tend to look excellent on camera. Incorporating some patterns and prints can look great, too, but make sure it complements the overall look! The key is to strive for a balanced look when wearing patterns or prints; otherwise, things can get too "busy" or distracting. I recommend wearing 75% solids and 25% patterns for a balanced look!

4. Layer your outfit.

Layering is a practical and easy way to build texture and interest in your photos. For example, during the fall and winter, I recommend adding a scarf, vest, cardigan, or jacket. These layers can help you and your kids stay warm during the shoot, and it makes it easy to remove them if you start to get too warm!

5. Consider adding jewelry and accessories to your outfit.

Wearing jewelry and accessories truly adds the finishing touch to your outfits! For example, a dainty necklace or earrings, or a pretty straw hat would be chic to wear and can help complete your overall look. Please note if you have young children, I would recommend wearing stud earrings versus dangly earrings to prevent your child from pulling your earrings :)

Still stuck? Checkout my Pinterest board!

I recommend going to Pinterest for more inspiration and ideas! You can also checkout my Spring and Summer Wardrobe Guide and my Fall and Winter Wardrobe Guide. Pinterest is a great place to help you get a feel for colors and patterns you love as well as trends you like!

Lastly, please don't be shy to ask me for help! As your family photographer, you are always welcome to bounce ideas with me :) Have fun, and I hope this helps you feel prepared, confident, and excited for your session!

-Genevieve

Photographing surprise proposals are one of the sweetest things to capture! I'm always blown away by the creativity and the careful planning, and how each proposal tells a STORY of who the couple is. As a photographer, it's truly an honor to capture these special moments because you get to be part of documenting the couple's unique love story!

Earlier this month, Parley contacted me regarding his upcoming proposal. We had a wonderful conversation getting to know each other, and I learned he was MOVING to his apartment the same week he was planning to propose! His girlfriend (and now fiance) also got sick on the date he was thinking of proposing, and so we moved the date a few days later. Parley was incredible through it all, and when the day came, he gave a sweet, touching, and memorable proposal!

Parley made 1,000 paper cranes to use for the surprise proposal, and the concept of 1,000 paper cranes is based on a Japanese legend. Basically, if a person folds a thousand paper cranes he will be granted a wish. In this case, Parley completed 999 cranes and had ONE crane left to finish folding. When Darian came into the room, he asked her to complete his wish by finishing the last fold of the crane: she was to fold down the nose of the crane to make his wish come true! Can you guess what his wish was? ;)

As you can see in the photos below, she was more than thrilled to fold the last crane and fulfill his "wish!" He then promptly got down on one knee to ask the big question, "will you be my wife?" And of course, she said "YES!"

Afterwards we went outside to take some more gorgeous portraits of Parley and Darian! Congrats you two!

Are you in need of an experienced Raleigh Engagement Photographer?

I'd love to work with you and capture your special moment! You can get in touch with me by sending me an inquiry here, or by emailing me at genevieve@glinphotography.com or calling me at 919-907-1280. I can't wait to hear from you!

Hey friends! I wanted to write something more personal today and share my story on why I started my photography business.

First a little background...I've always gravitated towards the arts. I was definitely not the athlete kid or had any kind of interest in sports. Whether it was music (I know how to play four instruments!), drawing, or creating videos, I've always had the deep desire and passion to create. And not just to create, but to make whatever I'm creating beautiful, and to evoke emotion.

With that being said, I got into photography when I got my first digital point and shoot camera back in 2006 as a gift. It was a Panasonic DMC-LZ3! Here are some of the first shots I got (yup, I was really into black and white photos, as well as patterns and lines!):

"H" | By G. Lin Photography

"Crossing Over" | By G. Lin Photography

"Three Amigos" | By G. Lin Photography

Simply put, photography became a newfound love of mine! Being able to capture the moment and create art was addicting and FUN. There's nothing like seeing your photos and feeling satisfied with your artwork (those who are artists know what I mean!).

Ever since then, I've been honing my photography skills through the years and have always dreamt of the idea of starting my own business. Why? Because helping and serving other people truly gives me great joy. Seriously, every personality test I've taken identifies me as the "Helper" and it really does describe me!

The stars aligned in 2016 and it was the perfect time to start my business. I remember the day I registered as an LLC, I felt so nervous (like I had cold feet!) because my business--my dream--was going to be OFFICIAL! But I knew if I didn't launch it, I would TOTALLY regret it. Thus, I officially launched my business here in the Raleigh-Durham area in the fall of 2016!

The best part of being a photographer is the opportunity to capture life's most precious moments with other people. To experience those vulnerable moments (like a proposal!) or intimate, sweet moments (like a lifestyle newborn shoot) always bring a tear to my eye! It's really about getting to know people and telling their story that inspires me every day. It's tender moments like THIS that I want people to remember...

"Tender Love" | By G. Lin Photography

Today I have the honor to be a photographer, and I can't believe I get to call it my "job." It really doesn't feel like a job because I truly LOVE what I get to do, and the people I get to meet! By the end of a shoot, my clients become friends and I feel like I'm part of their family!

Hope y'all enjoyed this blog! If you'd like to get to know me more, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest! Or, get in touch with me here and we can grab some coffee together (chatting in person is my favorite way to connect). I'd love to meet you!

- Genevieve

Want to start your own photography business?

I highly recommend reading this super helpful article, "How to Start a Photography Business" by ShootDotEdit. They are a reputable and trusted resource and I've always found their articles to be informative, and think you'll find this article helpful, too!