Hey! You’re here and I’m so happy you found me and this blog, a place for all things photoshoots. But, that’s not why you clicked on this post, you want to know who the heck I am. Well, thanks for asking! I’ll tell you a bit about how all of this started.
In January of 2021, my husband, three kids and I moved to Georgia from Florida. After we were settled and things became a little less COVIDY (totally a word) I started looking for a family photographer to book our “First Family Photoshoot in Georgia”. So, of course I looked for Peach Tree Blossom Mini’s and then I found Kimberly Minor.
We met in the local mom’s group and I knew right away she was the one! If you been around here for a bit you know I’m a little obsessed with family photoshoots. So, finding our family photographer was a big deal for me! We booked our Spring 2021 Family Photoshoot at a Georgia Peach Farm and I started to plan.
NOT MY FIRST RODEO
I’d done a few photoshoots before, this wasn’t my first rodeo. But still, I found myself up every night after the kids went to sleep, for weeks before our shoot stressing, searching and shopping too much! I was thoroughly confused.
I had a vision for our outfits, but no clue how to make it all happen.
REAL SEASONS WERE ALL NEW TO US
My husband and I were born in Florida and had always dreamt of moving out of Florida. I know that seems silly to some because their dream is to move to Florida, but we were just tired of the heat! Georgia had seasons, a chance of light snow, more nature for our kids to grow up near and amazing schools.
Before that Spring 2021 shoot, I had primarily relied upon the photographer I was using for outfit advice, or simply wore whatever I felt that we looked good in. But, something, I’m not sure what, made me a little pickier this time. Maybe it was the new lifestyle, or the new background that we had never had access to before…but I became a bit obsessed with getting it right.
I searched for help, gathered inspiration from wherever I could and over ordered dresses and clothing options for my family. I coordinated us all and felt ready for the shoot, and then I got news that the blossoms were gone. The photographer and I quickly pivoted and booked a new spot, in a field of clovers. Still something I never had access to before in Florida, so I figured it would do.
But, the outfits!
It was too late to switch outfits so we had to stick with the outfits we already had. All coordinated for an entirely different environment and type of shoot. I wasn’t sure if they would work!
I wore a dress I would NEVER wear usually, way too long for me at 5 ft tall and a style my husband lovingly referred to as my “pirate dress”. But, I had a vision so I moved forward with it anyways and we got these results.
I’d never been so happy before with my results from a Photoshoot. Of course, I did have an amazing photographer, I’m not trying to downplay her talent. But I I had amazing photographers for my past photoshoots as well. Still, there was something unique about these pictures. They seemed to represent who we were as a family, who I was as a mom, a little bit better than ever before. The pictures felt like us.
THEN CAME THE BLOG
The obsession didn’t go away after our Spring photoshoot. I quickly booked our Christmas photoshoot at a real live Christmas Tree Farm and started to plan in July for our Christmas Photoshoot in November. This time, less confused and more focused on getting it all just right. This time, the background wouldn’t change. There were some constants I knew I could rely upon, the environment full of beautiful forest green Christmas trees, my photographers editing style that would warm all of that up, and a better handle on what outfits worked in photoshoots.
I began to develop a system for choosing outfits
We were super excited about getting to see a real Christmas tree farm, Christmas trees in south Florida are more of a “delivered to the side of the road in a tent” kind of experience. So, I began to research our outfits, pull together examples I believed worked. I gathered so much info and learned so much through the process that I felt the need to start a blog. I needed somewhere to organize my thoughts and wanted to share with other moms in the same position as I had been, overwhelmed with the endless options and needing to make some decisions. So, I bought a domain and got to writing and Family Stylin was born.
I learned all about Color Theory, the lost 80’s art of Color Analysis (which is coming back), and looked at the styling for our Photoshoot like a painter would painting a picture. I knew my photographer had a specific editing style and I wanted our outfits to compliment that warmness. So, I learned a little more about photography editing styles and how they affected the final images. I then learned how to style my figure the best. I looked at hundreds of examples of real Photoshoots and drew conclusions from those examples to find clothing that worked in photos. I eventually ended up creating a system out of pure need. Styling Formulas married to Color Theory and Analysis, that made perfect little pictures.
A Partnership was born
My photographer approached me with an offer after that shoot. She was aware of my blog and wanted me to begin working with her, styling her clients for their Photoshoots. At first I was very hesitant. I was happily a busy mom of three. I wasn’t a stylist, I wasn’t certified or anything. But, she saw something in me that I maybe hadn’t seen in myself yet. And she knew I could help others to do what I had done. So, I gave it a try.
THINGS ARE OFFICIAL NOW
I added “Photoshoot Stylist” to all of my profiles and began to take on clients. I used the system I had developed to style each person in those shoots. And to my delight and my family photographers glee, it worked! We even sold out some of those galleries when working together which was a nice bonus!
The Picture Perfect Plan came to Life
I quickly learned that I was repeating the same steps with different clients and getting the same results each time. The right colors, the right outfits, were all attainable by everyone. So, a rebrand was called for. My husband surprised me for my birthday (what a man) and bought me this domain and I started to build my brand.
My hope is that I can help all the people in the same situation that I was. They booked their photoshoot and they really want great results but don’t know where to start! I’ve overthought it all for you and I’m proud to say I’ve got it figured out.
And now it’s easy to get the photos I’ve dreamed of for my family. Even with extended family included!
You can find my growing list of freebies, tools, tips and resources on Instagram. Just check out the link in the bio or send me a DM to get started. And make sure to check out our tools and resources to help you plan by clicking here.