There’s no doubt about it – when your kids are comfortable in the clothes they’re wearing, they’re more likely to show you some big, genuine smiles. Everyone is more relaxed, and the shoot gets to start on a good foot. Now I ask you, is there anything that says “relaxed” more than pajamas?

In this week’s post, Shannon shows us some cute pajama options from a store I wasn’t familiar with (you’ll have to read below to see who) – AND – we get to see some pictures of her crazy adorable kids. Enjoy!

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Is there anything better than your child all clean and dressed in their cozy pajamas? Well…okay maybe a few things. But for me, this ranks way up there! I’ve always thought it would be fun to do a PJ session with some kids in bed. I’ve done plenty of sessions and none of them have been in PJs. I decided it was time, so I dressed my kids in their new Christmas PJs and shot away! They had so much fun jumping on the bed, laughing and rolling around. AND the images are so cozy and natural. I simply LOVE IT.

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Recently, I’ve discovered Hanna Andersson. They carry such cute and colorful things for children and adults. They have a huge variety and often run great sales. The best part? Their clothing is WELL MADE. To me, this is a mega BONUS. This past summer, I bought my kids some PJs from their organic cotton line (these PJs are fitted and NOT flame retardant which was important to me). They are soft, comfortable, warm, and best of all, they REALLY hold up after many washes! SUPER durable. I bought them 2 sizes too big so my kids will have them for another year or so (you can just roll up the cuffs on the arms and legs).

Check out the cute variety of pajamas they carry. Adult pajamas to baby pajamas! They even have family looks so you can coordinate or match with the entire family. Don’t forget the details! Hanna Andersson carrie adorable plush animals, blankets, sleep sacks, and other bedtime related items. Their slippers are to die for!  Remember all of the details that make your custom photos special!

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SHOPPING GUIDE

**all items are from Hanna Andersson

NOTE: they are having a huge sale right now so some items may not be available at this time!

Organic Cotton Long Johns

Striposaurus

$28.00

Fleecy Friends Slipper Boots

$28.00

Dreamy Nightgowns

White/Red Snowflakes Print

$20.00

Short Johns in Organic Cotton

Navy/Heather Gray

$26.00

Night Night Baby Sleepers in Pure Organic Cotton

Life on the Farm Print

$25.00

Crossover Long Johns in Organic Cotton

Pink Multi

$28.00

Slipper Booties

Pink Garden (appear to be sold out…also come in brown)

$15.00

Jellycat Cordy Roy Cat

$22.00

Truffle Sheep

$22.00

Well, in my WW post last week I talked about outerwear options for your entire family. This week, Rebecca is narrowing the focus to just us ladies, and showing us how to pick the best jacket for our individual body types. Do you know what shape you are?

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In the spirit of the wintry cold and snowy weather season upon us, we thought it would be a great idea to continue our outerwear theme from last week and take it one step farther, just for us girls.  You see, when dressing for your outdoor portrait session, outerwear is essential.  Think of it as an extension of your outfit, not as an afterthought!  To do this successfully, we must consider the same rules for dressing our individual body type, about which Kelly has been educating us with her exciting and insightful series of posts!  Keeping these rules in mind will not only help you find the perfect outerwear for your session, it will make you look FAB!  And really, isn’t that why we’re here?  🙂

Pear

Pear Shaped

1. Define your shoulders!

2. Draw attention to the upper body with cute neckline detailing.

3. Belted styles help define waist.

4. Hemline just above the knee.

Hourglass

Hourglass Shaped

1. Fitted or tailored styles are best.

2. Cinched waists to show off those curves!

3. Wrap jackets or deeper v-necks for full busts.

4. Hemline just above or just below the rear.

Apple_rectangle

Apple Shaped

1. Look for single breasted, structured jackets.

2. Belted styles help define waist.

3. Wear outerwear open to “lengthen” your body.

4. Hemline should be mid-thigh.

Rectangle Shaped

1. All about creating the illusion of curves!

2. Wear outerwear with cinched waists that flare out to the hip.

3. Avoid straight cut, boxy styles with no shape.

4. Hemline: have fun!  You can wear most any length.

Maternity

Show off that cute baby bump with these adorable maternity styles!

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Shopping:

Pear:

Macy’s $380

Burlington $49

Victoria’s Secret $129

Hourglass:

Coldwater Creek $299

Victoria’s Secret $129

Burlington $99

Lord & Taylor $476

Apple:

Lane Bryant $133

Avenue $85

Rectangle:

Victoria’s Secret $109

Victoria’s Secret $79

Maternity:

Gap $70

Motherhood $30

Isabella Oliver $359

Pea In The Pod $199

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  • December 22, 2010 - 6:12 am

    high visibility jacket - It is hard to beat a jacket made from leather when it comes to warmth and style, not to mention that it will last almost forever if you spend the money to buy a good quality jacket and take the proper care of it.
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So I’m sitting here in my office, looking at a fresh 20 inches of snow, and wondering what my client will wear to our outdoor photo shoot this Friday. I’m thinking it will definitely involve a jacket. Probably some gloves. Likely a scarf. Boots for sure. Maybe a hat…

When an outdoor shoot is scheduled for cold weather, often this happens: You arrive wearing a random coat over your favorite I’m-wearing-this-no-matter-what outfit – throw off the jacket for pics – freeze to death – throw back on the jacket to warm up – take it off and try again – shiver and try to smile – rinse, repeat. Sounds like fun, right?

And then there are those who don’t want to deal with the cold at all, and opt to wait until the weather warms up – which here, might mean April or May.

I’m not a fan of either scenario, and there’s really an easy solution – bundle up, while also looking great!

Now I know some of you are lucky enough to live in a place where a snowplow contract isn’t the best investment you make each year, but that doesn’t mean a little cold-weather outerwear isn’t necessary. And we need to blow up this notion that by bundling up, you can’t look absolutely outstanding.

But what to choose? Those tips we’ve been sharing with you – layers, color, accessories – are still key ingredients when it comes to putting together stylish outerwear for photos. And here’s more:

  • I suggest staying away from straight white or black and opt instead for greys, browns, beige and color, color, color! I absolutely love bright yellows, pinks, greens and blues – the more vivid the better.
  • Since jackets can be expensive, don’t feel like you need to go and buy a trendy colorful coat that you’ll only wear once – especially for kids that will grow out of it in by next year. If what you already own fits you well (not some oversized thing you wear because it “goes over everything”), then keep it – and accessorize! Adding a hat, scarf or gloves can really make a huge difference.
  • If you warm up because everyone is hiking to reach that perfect photo spot, you may want to unbutton your jacket, so make sure the outfit beneath the jacket is photo-ready by looking over some past WW posts.
  • Vests look great over chunky sweaters or hoodies, and often come in a million different colors at a decent price (think Old Navy).
  • Leggings are another way to add fun color, and look great with boots over them. They also help you extend your fall wardrobe because you can wear them under skirts or dresses.
  • You can’t go wrong with jeans, so consider dark denim a winter wardrobe staple. Consider wearing them a little different by tucking them into your boots or rolling them up to meet the top of the shoes (especially cute for younger boys).
  • Still not warm enough? Throw on some long underwear, a thermal top, and an extra pair of socks! Pretend you’re dressing to go play out in the snow – just with style 🙂

Below, I’ve put together outerwear ideas for a family of six. I only included one accessory for each person, but you can definitely add more. For women, I love chunky earrings peeking under hats, or a necklace you might only see if the jacket is worn open.

Bottom line: This is a wonderful time of year for outdoor photos! It doesn’t take much to turn a drab day into a thrilling memory.

FamilyOutfits

Outfit Guide


Mom:

Double-Cloth Colletta Coat – $208 (on sale) – J.Crew

Sequinned Jersey Scarf – $28 (on sale) – Boden

Dad:

Down Shirt Jacket – $99 – Eddie Bauer

Men’s Ribbed Scarf – $34.50 – Lands End Canvas

Young Girl:

Cosy Textured Coat – $35 (on sale) – miniBoden

Olive Green Beanie Hat – $9.00 – Etsy

Young Boy:

Detachable Hood Puffer Vest – $18.99 (on sale) – Crazy 8

Avocado, Cream, Mustard & Coffee Children’s Hat – $24.00 – Etsy

Baby Girl:

Faux-Fur Trim Hooded Jacket for Baby – $17.00 (on sale) – Old Navy

Gingerbread Earflap Hat – $5.99 (on sale) – Crazy 8

Baby Boy:

Jersey Duffle Jacket – $21 (on sale) – miniBoden

Stocking Hat – $28 – Etsy


Well, I found a new spot for photos thanks to awesome mom Rachel! I hadn’t been to this orchard before, so Rachel took the time to scout it beforehand. She even sent me a few test shots so I could get an idea of the different areas we could use. THANK YOU, Rachel!

When we met up it was a cold and windy day – but you would never know it by looking at Finn. This little guy was SUCH a trooper. Nothin’ but smiles 🙂 And how cute is he with that little hat!

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  • December 2, 2010 - 10:37 pm

    Shannon Dodge - LOVE these baby images, Morgan! That first one is TO DIE FOR! What a gorgeous little guy, and you can just tell how smitten the parents are in these images. AWESOME job!
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  • December 3, 2010 - 7:57 pm

    Theresa - I am absolutely stunned! Those are unbelievably beautiful photos!
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Hearing the snow plow pass by the house for the first time makes it a little hard to hear a Texan talk about cold weather, but I won’t hold it against her 🙂 Lindsay has once again picked out some killer outfits, and her advice on layering and making small wardrobe changes for different looks is spot on. Don’t worry, to balance things out for you northerners, I’m working on my own Wardrobe Wednesday post for next week – outfit ideas for people who already have their snow shovels out!

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Since I have a bunch of senior girls on my winter schedule this year, I thought I would offer some tips on how to make the most of your winter wardrobe using two of your best friends – layers and accessories!  Winter portraits are the perfect opportunity to layer, layer, and layer again.  For Outfit #1 I paired a feminine ruffled cami with skinny jeans as a base.  Then add in some gorgeous boots, a belted vest, and scarf for an awesome mix of textures.  Now down here in Texas there are some winter days where you could get away with just that, but when you need to stay warm, you can pair this ensemble with a cute cardigan or pea coat jacket, and add a beret for a little something extra!  The nice thing about all of those layers is that you can have several looks within one outfit.  I always encourage my seniors to switch out things like accessories and jackets to give a fresh look to the same basic outfit.  It’s amazing the difference it can make.  Wear the scarf for a few shots and then ditch it in favor of a beautiful charm necklace.  Tie back your hair in a low loose ponytail and add the beret for a completely different vibe.  The possibilities are endless!

I always recommend bringing at least one casual and one dressier outfit for your senior session.  I’m getting cold just thinking about wearing a dress outside in the winter, so I’m offering you another option in Outfit #2.  Pair a sweet lacy floral tank with black skinny jeans or leggings and gorgeous black boots for a more glamorous look.  Add a black blazer or even a black leather jacket for a little extra flash.  What you have now is a killer dressy outfit that will help keep you warm too!

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An AMAZING resource that I used to put together Outfit #1 is Wet Seal’s “Runway”.  As you browse their clothes, you can add your choices to your Closet, then go to My Boutique to put together actual outfits.  It’s a really great way to see how things look as part of an ensemble.  I used the outfit-maker (not Photoshop) to create the base look in Outfit #1.  Even if you don’t plan on shopping at Wet Seal, it’s a great way to find inspiration and have a little fun.  Enjoy!

Shopping Tip:  Is Nordstrom’s a little pricey for your budget?  Check and see if you have a Nordstrom Rack in your area!  It’s a discount/overstock chain of Nordstrom stores and you will be absolutely floored by the amazing clothes AND prices you can find there.  It’s one of the first places I look when putting together my own family portraits.

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Shopping List: Everything can be found at either Wet Seal or Nordstrom.

Outfit #1

Lace Ruffle Cami (Wet Seal) – $22.50

Skinny Jeans (Wet Seal) – $29.80

Faux Leather Scrunch Boots (Wet Seal) – $29.50

Bow Belted Vest (Wet Seal) – $20.50

Double Layer Knit Scarf (Wet Seal) – $12.50

Beret (Nordstrom) – $24.50

Taupe Cardigan Sweater (Nordstrom) – $39.00

Olive Coat (Nordstrom) – $42.90 (sale)

Crystal Heart Necklace (Wet Seal) – $9.00

Layered Flower Earring (Wet Seal) – $6.00

Outfit #2

Black Skinny Jeans (Nordstrom) – $34.00

Floral Tank (Nordstrom) – $34.00

Black Boots (Wet Seal) – $34.50

Black Blazer (Nordstrom) – $44.00

Black Leather Jacket (Wet Seal) – $29.50

Multi Facets Charm Necklace (Wet Seal) – $8.50

Multi Bead Chandelier Earring (Wet Seal) – $6.00

Why I loved this shoot:

  • Two adorable kids with killer smiles
  • Two totally cool (feels-like-I’ve-know-them-forever) parents
  • Dry grass and sunny skies
  • Trees with golden leaves still clinging to their limbs
  • Perfectly coordinated (and Wardrobe Wednesday inspired – yay!) outfits

Seriously, what more could I ask for!

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  • November 23, 2010 - 4:55 pm

    Denise Hershey - LOOOOOVVE THESE! Can’t wait to see them all. Thanks, Morgan. They’re so beautiful and totally capture our family.
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Perseverance pays off…usually.

Any Upstate New Yorker knows that the weather can change in an instant. You look at the 10 days forecast (eh, forget that) – or even the hourly forecast – and it’s still usually a roll of the dice (especially in late fall).

After rescheduling our shoot twice due to rain, we decided to chance it on an early Saturday morning. While the temperatures were relatively mild (for November), the grass was damp and very cold. Julianne and Elizabeth (10 months old) were real troopers, but we could all tell they were chilly and not totally on their game. It didn’t stop me from falling in love with them. These are two of the sweetest, most cuddliest girls I’ve ever met. During some one-on-one time, I quietly whispered in their ears, “Shhh… Don’t tell your parents, but once we’re done, you’re going to go home with me.”

It didn’t work.

About a week later we were all blessed with a string of shockingly warm days (yay!) and decided to give this one more try. We opted for an afternoon, and boy did we luck out. The sun was setting – the grass was dry – and the girls were just as cute as ever. Once again, I whispered in their ears, “You want to come home with me, right?” The smiled politely, and then shook their head to say no.

I had to try.

Christine and Jon — I hope these were worth the wait. And if you ever need a babysitter, just let me know!

…babies drink wine, right?

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  • November 18, 2010 - 1:16 pm

    Erin Morris - OH. MY. WORD! These are stunning. I would definitely say it was worth the wait. These are fabulous!
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