Location & Styling Guide for your Session
Everyone stresses out SO much about what to wear… I want to try and take some of that stress out of this process!
This is supposed to be fun!
This page is here to help you feel confident and prepared for your upcoming photo session. You'll find tips on what to wear, how to coordinate outfits for couples or families, suggested colour palettes, and advice on choosing textures and accessories that photograph beautifully. Whether you're going for timeless, casual, or styled looks, this guide will help you feel your best in front of the camera.
Beach Locations
These beach locations offer the ocean, sand dunes, driftwood and trees, along with stunning views and generous space. They create a beautiful and relaxed setting, perfect for letting kids play and explore while capturing candid and genuine moments.
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Rifle Range Beach
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Elliott Heads Beach
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Bargara Esplanade (near Neilson’s Beach)
Nature Locations
These natural spots offer endless opportunities for capturing stunning shots, with a mix of trees, shrubs, and the soft magical glow of golden hour. The relaxed, bushland vibe adds to the beauty, creating the perfect setting for genuine and memorable moments.
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Barolin Nature Reserve
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Natural Greenery Field (next to Barolin Nature Reserve)
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Botanical Garden
Other Locations
Bundaberg offers a range of gorgeous locations for your photoshoot. I’d love to help you find the perfect location that matches your vision. If you have any favorite places or ideas in mind, let me know and I’l do my best to bring your ideal photoshoot to life.
Location Guide
Basic Tips
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For Family Sessions, Start with Mum’s outfit and build around that. (Baby/kids will look cute in almost anything,) so choose this outfit FIRST so that you feel confident and look great!
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Shoes matter! Don't have someone in dress shoes while some else has sandals on. Classic shoes or barefoot is best! Remember to choose footwear that works with the location.
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Make sure you don't put everyone in jeans. Mix it up, texture and colours. Maybe girls in skirts and boys in chinos while dad wears jeans
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Long skirts/dresses look AMAZING in photos!
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Subtle patterns are best if you want to use patterned clothing, do not put everyone in patterns!
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Choose a Colour Palette with 3-5 colours (see below)
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As a general rule of thumb, I suggest to dress up one level nicer than you would on a daily basis.
The Dont's
Avoid characters and graphic T’s
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Cartoon characters and bold logos are fun, but they can distract in photos. Choose solid colors or limited-pattern outfits for a cleaner look.
Limit patterns
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Florals, stripes, plaid—I love it all! Patterns are fun, but in family pictures, patterns can get distracting. You don’t have to avoid patterns, but it’s a good idea to limit them. For a family of 2 to 5, I recommend that only one family member wear a pattern.
Avoid neon and super bright colours.
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Bright colors like hot pink and neon green don't photograph well. They can reflect oddly on our skin, creating unflattering hues in photos
Solid White is Hard to Work with…
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Its extremely challenging to get everyone in the same shade of white, so unless you only have one person in white. avoid it. Choose cream or ivory instead, it’s much more forgiving.
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Avoid being overly matchy-matchy
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Ideally everyone should have some variations in their colours.
For the Girls
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Skip boxy or oversized pieces, as they can appear bulky or shapeless in photos and may make you look wider than you actually are.
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Be mindful with jersey knits – although comfy, they can show undergarment lines or cling in unflattering ways. If wearing jersey, layer with a structured piece for balance.
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V-necks and open necklines are generally very flattering as they elongate your neck and bring attention to your face.
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Choose small, subtle patterns instead of bold prints. Large patterns can be distracting and overwhelm the image, while smaller ones help tie group outfits together without competing for attention.
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Neutrals and earth tones such as beige, rust, soft greens, ivory, and dusty blues work well in almost any location.
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Add layers and textures – think cardigans, knits, flowy fabrics, denim jackets, or lace. These photograph beautifully and add visual depth without feeling “overdone.”
For the Kids
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It can be so tempting to dress your little one in that adorable tweed jacket or fancy dress — but if they are uncomfortable, it’ll likely show in the photos.
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When kids feel good, they’re more relaxed, natural, and happy in front of the camera. Try to avoid itchy fabrics, stiff shoes, or anything that might make them too hot or too cold during the session.
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For family photos, it can work beautifully to dress the kids in slightly brighter colours so they pop a bit more in the group, especially since they're often the smallest — but this isn’t a hard rule, just a helpful tip!
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And if you have very little ones, always bring a backup outfit in case of spills, messes, or last-minute outfit dramas. You’ll thank yourself later!
For the Guys
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Opt for pants over shorts – chinos or tailored trousers photograph better than shorts and create a more polished, timeless look.
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Choose closed-toe shoes – leather boots, dress shoes, or neutral sneakers elevate the outfit. Avoid athletic or overly casual shoes unless they fit the style of the session.
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Structured shirts are a great choice – button-downs or collared shirts add shape and polish. They can be dressed down by rolling up sleeves or leaving the top button or two undone.
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Stick to solids or subtle patterns – Avoid bold logos, graphics, or loud prints that can distract from the overall image.
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Prioritise comfort and confidence – wear clothes that fit well and feel like you. If you're comfortable, it will reflect in your posture, expressions, and the overall energy of the session.
When you're unsure, go for the simple and comfy vibe! Your photo session is all about capturing the joy of being together with your loved ones, so focus on the smiles, not just the outfits. It's all about the happy moments!
Colour Palette Inspiration
Ever heard of these cool things called "colour palettes"? They're not just for home decorating – they're also awesome for picking out coordinated colours for your photo sessions.
My Tips for Choosing a Colour Palette
Start With Choosing Colours:
Go for 3-5 neutral colours, and by neutral, I mean not just your typical greys and blacks, but think mustard, forest green, rust, mauve, navy, and more. If you're into brighter hues, go for just one, and maybe skip the super bright oranges and magenta/pinks – they can play tricks on your skin tones in photos.
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Take Notes from your Surroundings
Draw colours from your location & incorporate them into your wardrobe. If the location is the beach, choose a light beige, cream and brown as your base neutrals and blues or teals as your colour. If it is nature, choose a light blue, cream and beige as your base neutrals and olive, khaki or mustard for your colour.
Add Texture
Texture can really add depth to a photo. Lace, knitted sweaters, scarves, or a jean jackets are all examples of how you can stay within your colour-pallet, but give dimension to your outfits.
Limit Patterns
Limit your patterns to one person if you feel uncomfortable with styling.
Iron / Steam Your Clothes!
Nothing will cheapen up a photo quite like wrinkled clothing.
In-Direct Matching
One of my favourite tips for dressing is in-direct matching. Say mum is wearing a red knit scarf, her spouse could be wearing a red plaid shirt.
Location
Are you getting your photos done on the beach? Then it might be better to use a lighter pallet, or neutrals. If you're in the bush or nature, jewel tones pop beautifully against the darkened background.