The Nel Family - Canberra Family Photographer

I love autumn time in Canberra. The wonderful colours that you experience with the leaves changing colour and the beautiful afternoon light. When you combine that with an awesome family you know that you are going to have an EPIC photo session.

I loved so much about this family, there was Ninke, a six year old with so much energy and get up and go. She was equally matched by her sweet little sister Ariane, who was only three years old almost turning four. Both went along with any of my crazy suggestions and ideas to make it a memorable photo session.

For an autumn day at the Arboretum, it certainly felt more like an early winter’s day as the wind was so fresh and cool. But we did not let that get in the way of an awesome photo shoot. The Arboretum was full of people making use of the sunny yet cool weather, There was even a bride and groom getting their photos taken at the same time. We kept away from them and headed for the location that overlooks the lake and Woden. With the cloudy blue sky, it simply looked stunning.

The girls looked absolutely stunning with their red sparkly dressed that shimmed and shined in the sunlight. We had lots of fun as we struggled with the sun passing behind the clouds. But the kids wanted Mum and Dad to join in with the fun and games that we were playing.

After a little while we moved into the forest of cedars from some more photographs. We were wishing hard for the sun to come out capture the girls and the family in the beautiful golden sunlight. We had a beautiful wander through the sunlits trees before heading up to the Wide Brown Land Sculpture.

When we got up to the sculpture, it gave us a chance to reflect on the EPIC photo session that we had. We captured some stunning photos from the sessions. We did not let the cool wind that was blowing the girls had everywhere to interfere with our fun.

Ideas on what to wear to your family portrait session

The excitement of a family portrait session can quickly shift to anxiousness as the big day approaches. 

More than any other question, I am often asked by families what they should wear to the photo shoot.  I am no fashion designer or fashionista, but I have come across some oddities, so I thought it was time to put out a little guide. 

The careful selection of clothes can have an impact on the images that are created. 

In fact, photos are not something we normally have done regularly by a professional …so a little planning a couple of weeks out will help ensure the event goes ahead smoothly.  Not happy with your wardrobe? Why not treat yourself and your kids and buy a new outfit or do some extra styling with your child’s hair.

The first advice I give to anxious mothers is to bring a spare set of clothes for the kids.  You may not need them, but they will come in handy in case of an accident with the little one. 

Now for my styling tips….  

For a photo that stands the test of time, opt for clothes that are classic rather than super trendy as will make you want to keep that family portrait up for years to come. Try to avoid trendy patterns and styles that might be outdated in a year.  Definitely no t-shirts with large slogans, characters, or graphics plastered across the front of them.  Nike is not paying you so why advertise their product!! 

Try to discourage going for matching uniforms between partners. Coordinate your wardrobe, but not too much. There is a fine line between coordinating and too matchy.

Focus on wearing colours in a complementary colour palette, such as pastels and neutrals with soft, flowing fabrics…. think creams, very soft pastels, oatmeal, light browns, tans, greys, and slate blues.

Use the season to help select colour schemes for your outfits. Each season is associated with different colours, weather, and landscapes which will be an important item to consider when picking out what everyone will be wearing.  During autumn incorporate seasonal earth tones like rich maroons or burnt oranges while at springtime pastel colours are more prominent, along with white and blue hues.

Where possible, when picking out your clothes for the session you should be looking to wear something comfortable and light. If your dress gets suddenly too short when you bend over, or your pants are too tight to sit down in, maybe opt for more breathable pieces. Males may be more comfortable wearing jeans or chinos. 

Avoid busy patterns and skinny stripes where possible as they create digital noise and artifacting in images. 

This brings us to accessories.  Pick out accessories to add texture to your photos. Accessories are great style pieces that add to your individual outfits and can even tie family members’ outfits together. Accessories will also give your photos variation.  In Canberra, during autumn and winter grab a scarf, a hat, or gloves.  Even a beanie on kids can look fashionable in the depths of winter.

While you are preparing your outfits for the family, why not lay each family member’s outfit together.  This way you’ll have a good idea about how the pieces will look next to each other and whether do or do not work.  Plus, this way, you can make sure that you’re not missing any essential clothing items or accessory.

Lastly. wear comfortable shoes especially as some of the good locations around Canberra is known for uneven surfaces or have no paths.

Family photography is about capturing beautiful timeless art pieces that will sit on your wall for years to come.  Why not spend a few hours to pre-prepare for your portrait session to make it a memorable day.