The Style Guide

We begin most sessions about two hours before sunset, during golden hour, when the light along the coast is at its softest and most flattering. Because the sun sets much earlier in the colder months and much later in the warmer ones, the exact start time shifts with your date, so keep that in mind when you're planning around work or evening plans.

Give yourself a little buffer while getting ready so you can arrive a few minutes early and begin right on time. We work entirely with natural light, which means every minute of that golden window counts. And if you're bringing two outfits, save your favorite for the second half of the session.

Quick Tip: Our fall dates and weekends fill far in advance. A weekday, or a spring or summer session, gives you the best time slots, weather, scenery, and turnaround times.

When we shoot, and why it matters

The location is yours to choose, and the best ones tend to be open, outdoor spaces where the light can move freely. Most of our Orange County families gravitate toward the natural beauty close to home: the coastline, the bluffs, open fields, and quiet stretches of beach. Wide, unobstructed settings let golden hour do what it does best.

There are beautiful options all across the region, and we're always glad to explore a new spot with you, even one we've never photographed before. If a place matters to your story, it belongs in your photos.

Choosing the right location

Quick Tip: Have access to a private location that means something to you? Tell us. We'd love to shoot there.

For a portrait session, dresses and skirts tend to be the most flattering choice on camera because they move with you and read beautifully against natural settings. Long, full-length, flowing pieces bring a sense of motion that stands out against the beach, the fields, or the bluffs. Softer fabrics like chiffon, tulle, and fine knits catch the light and the breeze in a way that feels effortless.

Jeans and tailored pants work well too, for a more relaxed look, so much of it comes down to the mood you want. If little ones will be in the frame, we'll likely have you sitting or crouching to be close to them, so a jumpsuit, a wide-leg trouser, or a floor-length dress will keep you comfortable and looking composed. And if you're expecting, floor-length gowns and maxi dresses create the most graceful silhouette and beautifully highlight your bump.

Quick Tip: There's no such thing as too dressed up

Dress it up

In our experience, nearly everyone has one area they feel less sure about, so it helps to know yours before you shop. Three-quarter or longer sleeves are quietly slimming on camera, so a piece with more sleeve, or a jacket, blazer, or cardigan to layer, is a reliable choice. Strapless or thin-strapped silhouettes tend to do the opposite on camera, so we suggest those with a little more coverage when arms are a concern. Small choices like these make a real difference.

Quick Tip: Bring a pair of easy-to-slip-off flats to wear between setups. Your feet will thank you.

Flatter your features

Professional hair and makeup sit near the top of most of our clients' lists, and for good reason. It photographs beautifully, removes the pressure of getting ready on your own, and gives you a genuine boost of confidence in front of the camera. A skilled artist knows exactly how to prepare a look that reads well through the lens, and our clients consistently love the result.



If you'd like a recommendation, we point people to Crystal at Golden Glow Beauty. She is talented, thoroughly professional, and lovely to spend a morning with. You'll be in wonderful hands.

Go pro with hair & makeup

It may feel counterintuitive, but we recommend skipping a spray tan before your session, even a subtle one applied a few days ahead. Spray tans tend to photograph orange under natural light, and the difference becomes especially noticeable standing beside your partner or your family, whose skin is at its natural tone. Your own skin will always photograph the most beautifully and true to life.

Skip the spray tan

For a portrait session, the most flattering look for men is long, well-fitted pants with a clean pair of shoes. That combination draws the eye upward, away from the legs and feet, and toward your face, which is where it should be. We suggest leaving shorts, sneakers, and sandals at home, along with anything loose or baggy. Fitted chinos or a well-cut pair of jeans photograph best. Solid shades of gray, brown, deep green, and navy complement most women's outfits, and a good khaki never goes out of style.

Quick Tip: Steer clear of graphics and logos. They date your images and pull focus.

Find a good fit

Layers are one of the easiest ways to elevate a man's look on camera. Walk past a well-styled shop window and you'll notice the models are almost always wearing two or three pieces at once. Even in warm weather, an added layer brings depth and quiet sophistication that a single shirt can't. An overshirt or chore coat, a fine knit, a blazer, or an open button-up over a tee all lend structure and interest. Don't be afraid to build a look in layers.

Quick Tip: Pair a blazer or sport coat with a different pant color. It adds visual interest and breaks up the tones.

Layering looks

A good pair of shoes carries a look. Leather dress shoes, boots, or a clean, considered pair of sneakers all work well. A leather belt and a simple watch are sharp finishing touches, and because these details often appear when you put your arms around one another, they're an easy way to set your photos apart.

Quick Tip: Rolled sleeves bring life to a stiff button-up, and a cuffed trouser adds an easy, considered touch to a more formal pant.

It's in the details

Most men aren't especially eager for an hour in front of a camera, usually because they don't yet know what to expect or why it matters so much to you. A few minutes of preparation changes everything. Tell him why you chose us and this style of photography. Show him a session or two you love and explain what draws you to it. When he understands how much it means to you, he shows up for you.

The most common thing we hear from men beforehand is that they feel a little awkward, or worry they won't be good at it. By the time we're finished, nearly every one of them is surprised by how quickly it went and how much they enjoyed it.

Quick Tip: Take a minute to show him our work and share why these photos matter to you.

A little preparation for him

You don't need to spend a great deal to look wonderful. Uniqlo, Old Navy, Target, and H&M all offer strong, affordable pieces. For a step up in quality, J.Crew, Bonobos, Abercrombie, and Everlane are dependable. And for premium staples worth keeping for years, Taylor Stitch and Buck Mason make beautifully built pieces in materials that hold up for the long haul.

Quick Tip: When you can, buy something new for your session. Fresh clothes photograph well, and there's a real confidence that comes with a look you feel good in.

Our favorite shops for him

As you plan outfits together, aim for a family that coordinates rather than matches. Your images look most cohesive when the palette and the pieces belong together without being identical. In fact, it helps to set the word "matching" aside entirely and think instead about what fits together. That approach brings more visual interest and lets each person's personality come through.

Coordinate the crew

The goal is to break up the colors gently, so you're not all wearing the same shade on top and bottom. It helps to plan each outfit around a dominant color and an accent color. The dominant color is the one you see most; the accent takes up a smaller share of the look. If each family member has a different dominant color, with accents that echo and vary across the group, everything comes together beautifully. Feel free to play with different shades within the same family, too.

How to mix your colors

With more than one child, there's no need to dress everyone the same way. One daughter might wear a dress and flats while another wears a skirt and boots. One son might wear a button-up while another wears a knit or a jacket. Varying the pieces this way takes a family look from predictable to considered, and gives each child room to be themselves.

Mix up the pieces

A little preparation goes a long way with young children. Pack a bag with snacks, water, and a few small items, a favorite toy or a lollipop, that can help us catch their attention when it's time to look at the camera. If they're old enough to understand, talk them through what's coming and let them know how much the photos mean to you.

Many families choose a small treat to look forward to afterward, a cupcake or a stop for ice cream, as a gentle incentive. Full bellies and good rest beforehand help enormously. And once you've prepared them, give them, and yourself, plenty of grace. They're little, and days rarely go exactly to plan. We've seen it all, and we'll make sure you leave with beautiful photos regardless of the moods of the moment.

For more on preparing your family, have a look at our companion guide.

Preparing your little ones

We know we've given you a great deal to think about. We wrote this guide to make your session something you'll look back on fondly for years to come. But at the end of the day, the location you choose and the outfits you select matter far less than the memories you make while you're together. Those memories are what we care about most. Come as yourselves, be present with one another, laugh often, and leave the rest to us.

One last thing