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Choosing your family photo session outfits is as easy as 1,2,3!

One of the biggest things I hear from families when it comes to booking a session is, “we don’t have outfits” or “we don’t know what to wear.” And honestly… I get it. Styling a whole family can feel overwhelming — colors, textures, trends, making sure everything “goes” without looking too matchy. It’s a real thing, and if you’ve felt stuck in that cycle before, you’re definitely not alone. I’ve seen it with my own friends, and I even feel it myself when I’m the one in front of the camera.

Here’s the truth though — simple always wins. You probably already have at least one piece in your closet that can anchor your entire look. I always suggest starting with mom’s outfit first, then building around it for dad and the kids. Think cohesive, not identical. Choose a soft, complementary color palette (neutrals, pastels, creams, soft blues, warm browns depending on the season), and don’t be afraid to mix in a little texture or a subtle pattern. One statement piece is perfect — it doesn’t need to be loud to stand out.

The only real “rules” I stand by come down to how colors photograph with skin tones. Bright reds, hot pinks, and greens can reflect onto the skin in harsh ways, especially in natural light, which makes editing tricky and can throw off those creamy, natural tones we’re going for. Beyond that, I’m not here to box you in. Wear what makes you feel confident. If you love black — wear it. I will always support a timeless, powerful black look.

At the end of the day, this should feel easy and fun. You should be comfortable moving, playing, and just being with your family — not adjusting your outfit every five seconds. And when you book with me, you’re not doing this alone. I’ll help you with styling, ideas, outfit direction — all of it. No stress, no overthinking. We’ve got this.

cream, pink, brown, neutrals

green, tan, browns, floral

NORDSTROM FAMILY PHOTO OUTFIT

shades of blue, floral print, stripe print

I hope to see you soon!

xo,

ams

family photography Antonia Steinmiller family photography Antonia Steinmiller

Choosing the BEST time for your photo session!

When is the BEST time for your photo session?

I want to share some perspective with you as a new client or as a family i’ve grown fond of over the last several years.

I have been asked time and time again, “when is the best time for our photo session?” The answer depends on a few different variables, so let’s get into it. 

The first question I’ll ask you is what kind of session are you looking to book? 

If you’re booking a family session and have children under the age of five, I would highly recommend one of my glowy morning sessions. This year, I have seen more families with littles in the morning and they are just so much happier and willing to participate the way you’d want them to! We all know that bribes help, but I’m talking about genuine happiness!  I’m sure this tip will vary for every family, but if you haven’t tried a morning session yet, please consider booking one next year! The sun is beautiful in the morning with the softest glow.  If you have a little bit older mini humans like, say, ages five and up, evening sessions are just fine! You can enjoy that nice sunset session!

Ok, so you have a baby-on-the-way and you’re starting to look into maternity or lifestyle newborn pictures. I always suggest mama’s have their photos taken between 30 and 34 weeks. Booking anything after 36 weeks can get dicey with your due date so we don’t want to push it. See what I did there? Also, I’ve heard those last few weeks of pregnancy can be uncomfortable and I want you to feel beautiful and awesome during your session! Plus, we might be walking a bit and we definitely do not want those “dogs to bark!”

Lifestyle newborns are a little more flexible than your typical studio newborn with all the props and poses. Those very intricate sessions are usually completed within the baby’s first 12 days of life. Some photographers extended it to 14 days, but it will just vary.

With an in-home lifestyle session, I do like to be in that 12-14 day window, however, if you wanted to wait 3-4 weeks we could do that too. The baby is just more apt to being awake and/or more alert during that time. Which could also mean more tears and crankiness. this little guy below was 18 days old and a perfect, sweet baby angel. he was warm, fed, and comfortable and that’s what we’ll strive for!

Senior sessions can be booked year round, however, since I shoot mostly outdoors, clothing and outfits are of the utmost importance! Spring senior sessions typically start around May 1 for me. I’ll continue to shoot seniors through the end of November. However, a few years back, I shot a senior session in the snow (in January!) and it was simply AMAZING! But, those are few and far between. It really depends on the vibe of your senior and what style of clothing they want to wear. I do most of my senior sessions in the summer which will offer the most flexibility with scheduling (sunset sessions, hello!) and wardrobe selections for the ladies.  

FALL SENIOR SESSIONS ARE GORGEOUS TOO AND DEFINITELY A VIBE IF YOUR TEEN IS INTO MORE CASUAL CLOTHING OPTIONS.

Once you’re ready to book your next session, send me a message and let’s chat about the best time to book your session. I can’t wait to see you in 2025!

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