This post demonstrates that you don’t need to spend a fortune to look great (not good, not nice, but great!) in your family photos. Jennifer, from Minor Impressions Photography, succeeded in buying an entire outfit (head to toe) for a family of six for only $276.67. Still too much? Wearing your own pants and shoes brings the total down to $110.77. Are you kidding me?!? Great job, Jenn!

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I have to admit, every time I do my post for Wardrobe Wednesday, I go to different stores looking for the cute outfits and accessories with hardly a care about looking at the price tag on each item. It sure is fun (and easy) to “cyber shop” when you know that bill really isn’t going to hit your pocket book.  But, let’s be reasonable here, good custom photography doesn’t come cheap and times are tough for many of us lately especially if we have kids. So, I was given a challenge to find a great ensemble for family portraits that comes only from the most-known discount store, Wal-Mart.

While conducting my search, I found that one of the best things about Wal-Mart apparel is that many times they come in sets or with coordinating accessories. For example, check out the Toddler Girl’s top. Not only does it come with the shirt, but it also has a blazer and scarf to match. All of this for only $10. YES, I said $10. Ok, I’ll admit, this is on clearance, but when this was regular price, it was only $12; it doesn’t get much better than that! I even found hair accessories that had multiple pieces so not only could the toddler girl use the bow, but the teenage girl could use the clips as well!

I’ve listed a few important points below to help you save money on your fabulous wardrobe so your budget can be put more toward purchasing those fabulous portraits!!

  1. Plan ahead. Pick out the one item you really want everything else to coordinate with and watch your Sunday ads. Go to your stores to check out items and watch for them to go on sale.
  2. Purchase items that have a coordinating accessory. Many times this can save you at least $10 for an outfit.
  3. Don’t worry about purchasing new jeans. If they don’t have spots and look good, why spend $15-$30 for a new pair?
  4. Use accessories you already have at home. I know it’s fun to go out and splurge for a new wardrobe for pictures, and if you have the money for it, great, but if you are having to be a little more conscious about where your pennies are going, then it doesn’t hurt to reuse some of “last year’s” accessories.
  5. Check out your local thrift stores. Often times, you can find some funky clothes, a great hat, scarf, and especially cool jewelry.
  6. Borrow from a friend. There’s no shame in asking a friend to borrow their fun jacket, fancy boots, or that perfect set of earrings. Besides, it’s an awesome compliment that you would want them in your special pictures.

You can find all of these awesome items at http://www.walmart.com!

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Kelly is back with another fantastic post about how to dress for your shape. And don’t worry, if you missed her first entry she’s included a link to it. Now, what shape are you…?

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The last time it was my turn for a Wardrobe Wednesday post, I promised to highlight each one of the four female body shapes – pear, apple, hourglass and rectangle — and discuss what to look for when shopping, as well as what to stay away from. Because, lets face it: We’d all like to accentuate our best features and subtly hide the ones we’re not so fond of — especially when it comes to picking clothes for a portrait session.

I’ve already featured the pear shape, which you can find here. Next up? Apples!

APPLE SHAPE

Typically apple-shaped women have:

  • A fuller face and neck
  • Broader shoulders
  • Fuller breasts
  • A fuller, undefined waist
  • Narrow hips
  • A flat rear end
  • Shapley legs

It’s all about balance

The goal is to lengthen and elongate your torso in effort to slim the appearance of your shoulders and waist.  Ideally, you want to draw attention away from the tummy area and draw attention to your best attributes which include your breasts and legs.  Focusing on your assets and emphasizing your positives will make you look slimmer.

There are certainly going to be lots of options at almost every women’s clothing store, but when it comes to apple shapes, simple is best. I searched a variety of retailers to compile the following suggestions just to give you a visual idea of what to look for when shopping:

Tops

For apple-shaped women, start with the right bra. Your breasts are one of your best features, so make sure you have the support you need. You have lots of options when it comes to tops. Look for V necklines, which will pull the eye away from your shoulders. Wrap-around tops are also an excellent choice. Look for shirts that have a cinched waist. And this year’s big belt trend is perfect for you! Belts slim down your tummy and give the illusion of a smaller waist. Concentrate on choosing tops with darker solid colors. If you want a little pattern, find something that is darker around the midsection with a pattern at the top, bringing the eye up toward your chest and face and diverting attention from your middle.

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Pants

You want to choose  jeans that have a flat front and a rise that is lower than your natural waist. (Basically opt for low-rise jeans without pleats or crazy front pockets.) On the flip side, look for jeans that have back pockets with flaps. This will help give some curve to a flatter rear. Jeans with subtle fading will add shape to your thighs. Boot-cut and flared legs will give you a longer, leaner look. When in doubt, apples look best in simple designs, rather than overly excessive details.

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Skirts and dresses
Play up those nice legs with shorter skirts! About 1 to 5 inches above the knee is perfect. Skirts should be fitted at the waist and flare toward the hem line. This will balance out your top and bottom by giving you more of an hourglass figure. Dresses should have gathers under the breast to direct all eyes to your waist. Textures like chiffon and silk are great options for your skirts. Here’s where you can get a little crazy with bolder colors and patterns — just keep them on your lower half.

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Shoes

You can wear a chunkier heel. This will actually help balance you upper body. Wedges are a perfect shoe for you. If you are shorter, pointy-toed shoes will give the appearance of a longer leaner look. Avoid stiletto heels because they will make you look out of proportion. Sleek shoes with a thicker heel will work better visually.

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What to avoid

Stay away from tops that are too baggy and have puffy or full sleeves. They will only make your shoulders and arms look bigger. Avoid bold patterns above your waist. A wild print will make you look big and wide on top, which is the opposite of what you should strive for. Never wear bottoms that are too tight because this will also make you look bigger on top. Never wear pants that have a pleated front and avoid high-waisted pants entirely. Stay away from jeans with very dark washes as it will only make your hips appear smaller. And, finally, stay away from tapered legs. You’ll only make your top half appear bigger than it is. Oh, and not like this is an issue, but NO SHOULDER PADS. One word: Linebacker.

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I never had a sister, and when I spend time with young girls, it makes me wish I had. There is such a fascinating dynamic. The Kogler sisters capture that perfectly.

As you’ll see in the images, these girls have a great sense of fashion and fun. Like any sisters, they have moments of playfulness, moments of joy, and even moments of seriousness that make them look wise beyond their years.

I hope I’ve captured each of their distinctive personalities separately – and together! Thanks, girls!

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  • November 6, 2010 - 3:28 pm

    Erin Morris - OH. MY. GOODNESS! I absolutely LOVE these! I know Dakota from being in the same grade as Jack and think that these pics of her capture her sweet personality to a T!!!! They are gorgeous. Great work, as usual Morgan! 🙂
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I’ll admit that I was not familiar with Chasing Fireflies before Shannon mentioned them, but oh my gosh are they awesome! Not only do they have clothing and accessories for kids of all ages, but you can shop by categories like “Dinosaur”, “Tooth Fairy” and “Sock Monkey”. How adorable is that 🙂 Enjoy!

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Raise your hand if you enjoy styles that are fun, whimsical…maybe a bit different?!?!? I know I do! Especially when it comes to my children. I have been checking out…visiting…ok ok, stalking Chasing Fireflies website for quite some time now. I finally caved in and got THE cutest summer outfit for my daughter (that’s her crazy self on the left!).

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We coordinated a dress for her BFF and I shot an adorable shoot with them just being silly together. Since then, I’ve been stalking their site for new items.

When I realized I was up for the Wardrobe Wednesday {where fashion meets photography} post, I HAD to spotlight some of their cute stuff! I put together four different “looks” from their site.

Looks #1 and #2 are color coordinated, as are looks #3 and #4. The thing I love MOST about Chasing Fireflies is that you can find EVERYTHING you need there. You need coordinating tights? They have them! Hair accessories? Yup! Shoes? YES!  If you have time to shop around, more power to ya, otherwise, you can experience one stop shopping at Chasing Fireflies! Take a look for yourself and see if you can resist the cuteness! Happy browsing…shopping…buying!

11_3_10bSHOPPING GUIDE–all items can be found online at Chasing Fireflies!

LOOK #1

$58. pocket vest

$20. oxford cloth shirt

$28. little levi’s

$30. low top chuck taylors

LOOK #2

$78. floral ruffle dress

$24. lace-trim leggings

$28. glitter flower plum cloche

$110. button ugg boots

LOOK #3

$78. dots of fun dress

$28. squiggly embroidered tights

$68. brown suede mary janes

$28. velvet flower headwrap

LOOK #4

$58. reversible 99 vest

$34. rugged henley

$30. low top chuck taylors

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  • November 6, 2010 - 2:58 pm

    Anna Cuykendall - I LOVE Chasing Fireflies! I bought the girls some dresses from there and Gabby got the “tutu cute” bathing suit. I love funky an different styles too!
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This shoot is a wonderful example of what can happen with the right kind of props and some planning. I’m trying not to gush too much, but… wow.

Props are tricky. At Wardrobe Wednesday (which you can follow on Facebook right here!), we often talk about bringing the right kind of props to a photo session. The wrong kind of prop will make a child feel awkward, or make a scene feel forced and unnatural. The right kind of prop will let the child’s true personality and passion emerge.

And that brings us to James. He loves to paint, and his mom, Robyn, worked hard to come up with an idea that would allow for a fun setting – and one that was comfortable for James. In this case, the fall colors play gorgeously with the paints and surroundings, and you can see how comfortable James felt. Add the almost unreal sunlight and cloud interaction and, well, it was pretty magical.

James is only three years old, but in this shoot he’s like a little man. He has so much personality and so much love for his mother, and it’s wonderful to work with them.

Robyn, I hope you enjoy, and thanks for setting such a profound example of what can happen with the right props and right setting!

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  • October 29, 2010 - 8:03 pm

    Robyn Bridson - <3 <3 <3
    Morgan...I can't even really find the words right now. Thank you so much!! These photos are priceless!!!
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  • October 30, 2010 - 9:02 am

    Courtney toomey - These are gorgeous Morgan!!!! I love the scenery!
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Every few weeks we invite a fellow photographer to be a guest contributor. I’ve been following Jessica Paxson’s work for some time now, and immediately thought she would be a fun addition to our lineup. What makes her unique is the attention to detail she puts into her shoots. Sessions often have a theme, and she isn’t afraid to think outside the box. What I personally find difficult is striking a balance between doing too little – and doing too much when it comes to styling a shoot. You want to convey a theme or feeling, but avoid looking hokey or tacky. While the easy thing to do is play it safe, a well thought-out look can really take your photos to the next level.

This session from Jessica helped inspire a recent shoot of my own. The mother wanted to take some photos of her son in a relaxed setting. Knowing how much he loves to paint, we decided to make that our theme. We talked about the shoot for weeks, gathered materials, and asked friends and family if we could borrow props. On the day of the shoot we met each other with two cars full of options – it was great! What resulted was a totally unique session and a photo neither of us will forget. Bottom line – the more effort you put into your shoot – be it wardrobe or props – the more personal and rewarding the final image will be.

Before I let Jessica introduce herself, I’ll show you the image that inspired her this week. Rock on!

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Hello, hello everyone! My name is Jessica Paxson of Jessica Paxson Photography 🙂 First off I have to thank all the ladies at Wardrobe Wednesday for asking me to do a guest spot! I’m really excited and I hope you enjoy the looks I put together for you.

I chose to do a family look because those are the type of sessions I enjoy most. There is just something about capturing the love a family has for each other that really makes me love this job — probably because I am a mother myself of three amazing little boys, and there is nothing I love more than when I get a shot of the boys just being their crazy, fun loving, sweet, silly, ornery selves, and being able to capture that moment and keep it forever!

For today’s looks I’m sharing with you a little bit of a rock & roll theme, because let’s all face it, who wouldn’t love to be a rock star for a day? The looks I’ve chose can all be found at Gap and Piperlime. Enjoy 🙂

JessicaPaxson Outfit Guide:

Mom
Center Seam Dolman Sweater $49.50
Boyfriend Jean $69.50
Lightwash Lip Scarf $29.50
Black Denim Lip Tote $39.50
Naughty Monkey (Rugged Racy) Shoes $89.00
Hive & Honey Antique Button Ring $22.00
Hive & Honey Stud Stretch Bracelet $32.00
Hive and Honey Leather Wrap Bracelet $24.00

Dad
Jefferson Cord Blazer $88.00
Merino Hoodie $69.50
The New Crewneck “T” $16.50
Authentic Fit Jeans (deconstructed vintage) $49.99
Slub Knit Beanie $16.50
Converse Check taylor (specialty ox) $50

Young Boy
Skull Sweater $39.50
Heather Plaid Flannel $26.50
Slub knit beanie $16.50
Creative Recreation (Cesario XVI) Shoes $35.99

Young Girl
Admirals Jacket $42.50
Ruched turtleneck $16.50
Solid Tights $10.50
Charcoal Bloomers $29.50
Headband $7.50
Jessica Simpson (lilana) Boots $55.00

Baby Boy
Wool Moto Jacket $44.50
Mini Skinny Jeans (black wash) $29.50
Mohawk Fleece Hat $12.50
Skull Scarf $24.50
Sriped Sweater $24.50
Creative Reaction (testa toddler) Shoes $43.99

Baby Girl
Moto Jacket $29.50
Tiered Ruffle Tutu $26.50
Tight n shoes $12.99
Striped Boatneck Sweater $12.99

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I’m fairly certain I’ve photographed every member of Mary Beth’s family by now – and I couldn’t be happier about it! A few months ago I had an extended family shoot with her side of the family, and now it was time to spread the photo joy to her husband’s.

I met them at the family home on Conesus Lake in hopes of getting some shots near the water, but strong winds made us retreat to a calm side of the house. Thankfully there is a gardener in the family, so we had plenty of alternate locations to choose from.

To the Brinkerhoffs: I absolutely loved the colors and outfits you put together, and was thrilled to hear Wardrobe Wednesday was a source of ideas and inspiration. It was my pleasure to photograph you all and I hope you enjoy these photos. Cheers! ~ Morgan

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  • October 22, 2010 - 1:35 pm

    Mary Beth Brinkerhoff - Morgan, they are beautiful as usual! What great luck to have met you last year and to have you capture these moments, especially of our kids, with such beauty and eye to detail! Next up? My website updates with new professional photos and then….senior portraits, yikes!
    By the way, the Wardrobe Wednesdays blog was a fabulous resource for both sides of the families as we tried to coordinate our looks without matching too closely. I think the results look very modern and fresh. Thanks again!
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This week Stephanie put together two stylish and very affordable outfits for  couples this fall. Once again, I want to own everything…

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Fall can be such a wonderful time of year to capture the true love at heart. The last couple of weeks we have showcased great wardrobes selections for dressing the families for fall photos. This week, we've decided to showcase the "couple" as family or engaged. As a wedding photographer, I love capturing the story of engaged couples during the fall season. For most, this is the opposite time of year that they'll be married and adds as a great contrast to their wedding day photos. Not only is this a great time to capture the love, it's also a fabulous time to capture the colors of fall. With the leave changing to bright orange, yellow, and red; you can truly have a variety of color added to your wardrobe selection. In this week's Wardrobe Wednesday {where fashion meets photography}, I've decided to showcase two different selections for your fall "couple" photos. 

First we have our classic dressy yet somewhat urban selection that highlights the couple against the colors of fall. With the darker colors, you'll truly stand out from the vibrant colors and allow your love story to be the highlight of your session. Not only will this selection allow you as the couple to be showcased, it also adds a bit of a the romantic european feel. Imagine yourself being amongst the hustle and bustle of urban lifestyle with beautiful brick and colorful trees surround. This selection can be worn with or without the jackets and can certainly be dressed up with beautiful accessories 

Selection number two is more of a full fall attire. With the earthy tones and sweaters your able to capture the true feeling of fall and cuddling next to one another to keep warm. You can choose to go with adding pattern as you see in the selection seen here or change it up a bit with solid more simplified colors. Either way, you're story will be told as a whole with the feel of the fall in love season.

I always try to express to my engaged or couple clients that your wardrobe represents you and your love story. So make sure to pick an attire that will allow your love together to be captured and featured as your story before your future "family" photos. With fall as your backdrop, the colors will pop regardless. What you want is to showcase your love and life together before children and other life's responsibilities. Best of luck to you and if you ever need some suggestions, please feel free to contact any of us at Wardrobe Wednesday {where fashion meets photography}

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Look No. One

 

Female

Crossover Dolman Blouse $59.50 Gap

Curvy Jean $69.50 Gap

Ruffle Collar Coat $59.50 Gap

 

Male

Velvet Blazer $98.00 Gap

End on end tailored shirt $29.99

Standard fit jeans $54.50

 

Look No. Two

 

Female

Cropped Toggle "Jet Sweater" $30.00 Old Navy

Long perfect tank $6.97 Old Navy

Diva skinny jean $29.50 Old Navy

McNeff boots $140.00 Aldo

 

Male

Argyle v-neck sweater $16.00 Old Navy

Loose fit jeans $29.50 Old Navy

Yaden shoes $60.00 Aldo

 


 

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