I am Jenn, the photographer behind the lens!
Specializing in elegant, simple & rustic themed weddings is my niche!! A wedding day is all about the little moments that happen throughout the day..popping some bubbly with your tribe, laughing with your fave people, wiping away tears during speeches or breaking out the dance moves during the reception!! These are all moments that I want my clients to cherish, with their family for years to come!
Part of my job is to make your day as memorable as possible, that isn’t always through the photos.. it is also holding your dress, fixing your hair, wrangling your bridal party, getting sprayed with champagne, making sure the boutonnieres are on the groomsmen, climbing into a prickly bush or snowbank to get “the shot” or being the first one to congratulate you after tying the knot…I will be there for all the moments with you!!
Of course, the first thing that naturally pops into your mind now is….”What do I wear?” Funny, that is the first question everyone always asks, regardless of the session type!! Worry no more, I am here to help….well, me & Pinterest!!
Before we get started into clothing tips, I like to start on tips for choosing your location for the session! It’s the perfect place to start, as your location determines what clothing options to consider. I encourage clients to choose a location that reflects who you both are together & a place where you are both comfortable during our session! Not a fan of public displays of affection? Then choosing a downtown session location might not be ideal for you, you might be more comfortable with a in home session or a more secluded outdoor area. Similarly, if your not an outdoors person, a session fishing might not be your best option!
If you are interested in having a theme to your session, choose an activity that you both enjoy doing together! Both are coffee lovers?? Having your session at either your home or favourite coffee shop while enjoying your favourite brew together might an ideal location!! Hikers?! I am more than game to take a hike with you both!! Campfire enthusiasts?! Get cosy by the fire with s’mores & wine…thinking of an activity you enjoy together will help you choosing a location & will give you something to do during our session!!
Session locations can be just about anywhere, your local park, own backyard, downtown, riverside property, neighbours field, hiking trail, your family cottage or even inside your own home! Don’t worry too much about the background, as I can photograph a session near a sand hill, garbage cans or even at a parking lot…the most important is the light!!
Speaking of light, if you have dreams of images with a field lit with a glowing light…that is sunset & your images will look completely different with harsh light at 2pm! Generally, if clients would like outdoor images we schedule the session for either early morning or before sunset! Depending on the season, that can range anywhere from 7am-10am or 4pm-7pm
Last tip for locations, if you are totally stumped on ideas…my husband’s family owns a dairy farm & there are TONS of location options available at our home property! Many clients chose this options, as they love the resulting images from previous sessions! Like to know what that looks like?? Let me know & I will direct you to some blog features for you to check out!
I am often asked by clients, if they are able to incorporate their furry family members into their session…the answer is always a resounding YES!!!
By nature, I am an animal lover…expect for snakes…nope, don’t bring one of those to your session!!! But otherwise, it’s always a yes!! Prior to being a photographer, I attended college for Equine Studies & I have plenty of experience with large animals!! Even during childhood, we always had dogs & even smaller pets such as hamsters…I would venture to say I am comfortable with any size of pet!
When including your pets, whether it’s your dog or larger animals there are a few things to keep in mind or to prepare for. Make sure the location you chose suits them, if your animal tends to get nervous in new spaces keep your session in an area they are comfortable in. With dogs, make sure to keep them on a leash, even the most well behaved dog can ignore your commands in a new space! Make sure to either clean any tack (for horses or even cattle) & try to keep to leather or dark coloured items. Same with your pooch, bright coloured items such as collars & leashes will distract attention from the image!
Considering that most animals have short attention spans, their involvement with the session will be brief..usually the first 30 minutes of our session. Plan to either have a helper (a friend or family member) that can take your pet, know that your dog will be fine with sitting in your vehicle while we finish or if at home, we can safely put them away. Always make sure to bring some water for them, as being a model is hard work!!!
Now that we chatted about location options & adding in your furry family members, it’s time to start chatting about what to wear!!
Clothing can play an important role in your session, it helps to set the tone & feel of your portraits! With clothing you can set a relaxed, timeless & natural feel to your images…which are right up my alley!! As you read through this guide, please keep in mind these are just “tips”…not rules!! Each clients session will be different & I love how each couple shows their personality in their session!!
The most important factor in what to wear is colour!! There are so many colour choices out there, but I generally recommend sticking to your neutrals, earthy tones or muted tones these colours look best in a variety of locations! Neutrals don’t mean just greys & browns, there are neutral options for every colour (mustard yellow, forest green, navy blue, etc) plus there is always the staple white or beige! Stay away from super bright, fluorescent colours that can be distracting & cast a weird haze to your images! If your a lover of the brighter tones, consider muted coloured options…for example lavender instead of bright purple.
Solid colours as your main clothing is awesome, but be sure to chose clothing that has as little logo’s or characters as possible!! Patterns can be a great addition to your outfits but it’s highly recommended to avoid loud, chunky or crazy patterns! The smaller or more subtle the pattern, the better..flannel, small checkered or florals are fantastic ways to add in patterns. When incorporating patterns, best to keep them to one person max…too many patterns makes your images feel a little hectic & distracting for the viewer. For example…if your fiancé loves a certain checkered shirt, pair that with a solid coloured pants or jeans & then draw a colour from the shirt to have as your outfits main colour.
Here is where you can get creative & add in your personality with accessories!!! The bonus of wearing solid neutrals colours in your clothing is, you can add in your bright colours with your accessories!!! Necklaces, earrings, rings, scarves, bracelets, hats, sunglasses & your footwear…can all add in your love of a favourite colour in fun ways!! Just continue to make sure these accessories complement your outfits & each other!!
Speaking of footwear, for some clients this is the most important part of their outfit!! Some of us ladies tend to get really excited about shoes….while others, like myself tend to put so much thought into the outfits that footwear gets forgotten! Shoes are like a cherry on top of a sundae, they really finish off the look…but the wrong footwear can become distracting! Boots, flats, coloured Converse, cowboy boots, wedges or sandals are some great shoe choices!!
Keep in mind your session location when choosing footwear. If you have your heart set on an open field for your session, you may want to skip heels!! Sticking to thick heeled boots, ankle boots or wedges will still give you the look you want but skipping on the twisted ankle!! Try to stay away from bright coloured running shoes, go for neutral coloured boat shoes or even bare feet if that is your vibe!!
After all this guidance, the main point that I want to stress is….make sure your comfortable!! That is the number one point I would like to highlight STAY COMFORTABLE!!! If you feel comfortable in your clothing, then you will look comfortable during your session. There is nothin worse than wearing an outfit you don’t feel comfy in…itchy sweaters, a top that is too tight or pants that are too big that will make you feel uncomfortable.
Have questions?!
That is completely normal, send me a quick message & let’s chat!!