What to Wear

Fall mini sessions are designed to feel light, artistic, and authentically you. These sessions are carefully organized and planned in advance (location, flow, timing) so that every family walks away with beautiful images without ever feeling rushed. During your 20 minutes, we'll capture posed and candid photos of the whole family, plus individual portraits of the kids.

Because our time together is efficient by design, it's important to arrive ready to go - hair, outfits, and little ones prepped beforehand - so we can spend our full session creating, not getting organized.

Fall Wardrobe
Outdoor wardrobe tends to look best when it reflects the season - and fall is full of rich, warm color to play with! Colors that tend to work well with our shooting style are:

• Blue tones that are richer (jewel tones)

• Cream or tan colors

• Burnt orange

• Deep olive

• Mustard

• Warm browns

• Burgundy

Keep the palette cohesive across your group rather than mixing several unrelated colors.

Since our mini session location may include some natural, unpaved areas, wear shoes you don't mind getting a little dirty.

Avoid: loud prints or neon colors

Lean Into Creative Layering
We love:

• Linen textures

• Chunky knits

• Soft cardigans

• Relaxed button-downs

• Oversized sweaters

• Simple dresses with movement

Layering adds dimension and gives your mini session that cozy, editorial feel — without looking overdone.

Coordinate your outfits with the other members of your group to ensure a cohesive look. We suggest wearing solid colors that flatter your skin tone. Avoid logos and busy patterns that may be distracting.

PLEASE AVOID VERY SHORT SKIRTS. We move a lot during sessions. Sitting. Standing. Kneeling. Cuddling. Very short skirts make posing extremely difficult. Please choose skirts that are mid-thigh or longer. This allows you to move comfortably and keeps everything flattering and effortless. For younger girls wearing dresses or skirts, please make sure they are wearing leggings or tights underneath, as they will be moving around a lot. For babies in dresses, pack a diaper cover that doesn't read as an obvious diaper (avoid white) — dresses tend to ride up when babies are being held, so this keeps things looking polished if that happens.

Dress Confidently

If you don't love it, don't wear it. Choosing clothing that makes you feel comfortable and confident plays a huge role in how much you love your final images.

If you don't love your arms, opt for sleeves. If you don't love your legs, choose longer skirts, dresses, or pants. Thoughtfully dressing in a way that downplays the areas you're not feeling great about right now (we all have them) helps ensure you feel your best in photos.

Simply put, highlight the parts of yourself you love and let your clothing gently disguise the rest.

Hair & Makeup

Please arrive fully ready for your session. That means:

• Hair styled

• Makeup complete

• Everyone dressed

Pro tip: If it normally takes you 30 minutes to get ready, give yourself an extra 15 to 30 minutes. Rushing is when things feel stressful. Planning extra time keeps the morning calm and smooth.

Nails

We often see hands! Fresh, clean nails make a big difference. Make sure everyone's nails (hands and toes, if you will be barefoot) are manicured. Neutral or soft tones photograph beautifully for women. Men should also make sure nails are clean and trimmed.

Plan Ahead

Planning your outfits in advance helps ensure nothing gets missed on session day and saves you from running around the house searching for that one last missing piece. We've all been there.

We recommend choosing everyone's outfits, head to toe, at least a few days before your session. Be sure to allow time to order anything additional you may need. Once everything is selected, hang each complete outfit together and place shoes and accessories in a bag looped around the hanger. Set everything aside on one side of your closet. Do this for every family member.

It may sound simple, but trust us, this makes a huge difference in your stress levels on session day.

Then when the day arrives, all you have to do is grab your outfits, get ready, and head out the door. Easy.

For Those Who Wear Glasses

Glasses that have anti-glare coating and are not light sensitive are the best for photos. If we see a heavy glare on your glasses or they are transition changing with the light, we may ask you to remove your glasses so we can clearly see your eyes. If you think your glasses will be problematic, consider an alternate pair without these issues, or a pair of glasses with the lenses popped out (we will not be able to see the lenses are popped out in the photos). Please communicate with any family members who wear glasses that they need to make sure their glasses are not light-transitional, especially if your session will be outdoors. Light-transitional glasses WILL appear dark and we will not be able to see your eyes well, even when shooting in shaded areas!!!!! We can't stress this enough.

Best case:

• Anti-glare coating (most glasses are these days)

• Non-light-sensitive lenses

If we can't see your eyes, we may ask you to remove your glasses so we can clearly see your eyes.

Smart Watches

Smart watches of any kind do not photograph well. The big black rectangle plate is never attractive in a photo (no matter how fancy it is).

Please remove all smart watches and phones from your pockets before arriving.

Weather Concerns - Outdoor Sessions

Ticks and mosquitoes ARE nasty in the summer. We recommend spraying deet from your waist-down and natural bug repellant from your waist-up (kids included).

Unfortunately, often where the photos are the prettiest, is where there tends to be more mosquitoes and possibly ticks! I do try my absolute best to make sure everyone stays on man-made paths (to avoid ticks), but the mosquitoes often still will bite! I HIGHLY encourage coming prepared with bug spray.

If it’s raining…

We will connect with you to reschedule your session.

Working with Kids

WE SUPPORT BRIBERY + TALK UP THE SESSION

We also find that how you talk about the session ahead of time makes a big difference in how cooperative kids are. Instead of presenting it as something they have to do, frame it as something fun! Tell them you are going to play and cuddle and take beautiful family photos to print and hang in your home. Let them know they are going to meet a fun photographer named Kat. You can even tell them my name is like the animal. Kids love that! It may sound small, but it truly helps set the tone and makes the whole experience smoother for everyone.

MAKE SURE THEY ARE WELL FED AND WELL RESTED

Hungry and tired kids are angry kids. Bring water and small snacks for young kids, if needed. Snack pouches are a good quick-fix for photo sessions as well as small candies that don’t stain their teeth or mouth (smarties, white chocolate baking morsels). Whatever works best for your child, we fully support you. Bribery and all!

DRESS THEM APPROPRIATELY

For outdoor sessions - please please please, DRESS YOUR KIDS APPROPRIATE FOR THE WEATHER!!! Adults can smile through the cold, kids can not. If your kids are cold or hot, it will show on their faces and they will look miserable through the photos.

CLIP HAIR BACK

There is nothing worse than having the perfect shot and hair is falling in your kids face. Use little clips to secure any hair that could potentially fall into their faces. Opt for hairstyles that keep hair away from the face.

CHECK YOUR OWN ENERGY

No grumpy dads or stressed out moms! Your kids will feed off your energy, so whatever is bothering you, try to let it go before your session and enjoy the ride! We will be here to root you on the whole way!

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY KID NEEDS A LITTLE EXTRA TIME TO GET COMFORTABLE?

Most kids need a few minutes to feel comfortable for photos. We intentionally build a 10 minute buffer between each session so there’s breathing room if your little one needs extra time. We move quickly, but never in a rushed or stressful way. Mini sessions are designed to be efficient and focused. Our goal is calm, natural connection, not forced smiles. We focus on intentional, beautiful combinations rather than trying to do everything.

Prepare Your Mind

Prepare your mind before you arrive. Let go of expectations. This is not about perfect hair, perfect outfits, or posing the perfect way. It is about capturing this season of your life exactly as it is. If you are worried about your clothes or focused on getting everything just right, that tension will show. Remember, heirloom photos are not just for you. They are also for all the loved ones in your life.

Also, leave any arguments in the car or at home. We have seen how quickly stress or picking at each other can shift the energy of a session. It makes the experience uncomfortable for everyone. As best you can, release the stress of the day and lean into the creativity of the moment. When you relax and allow the experience to unfold naturally, that is when the real magic happens.

Feeling Stuck?

If you feel stuck with your wardrobe or need additional suggestions, please feel free to reach out to us anytime. We welcome our clients to send over photos of what outfits they are thinking about ahead of time. We are here to help!

Email: BKRoseStudio (at) gmail.com