When it comes to family photos, the most important thing is to wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. However, there are a few tips that can help you create a more flattering look and accentuate your best features:

1. Dark, Solid Colors: Dark, solid colors like black, navy blue, and dark green can help create a slimming effect.
2. Vertical Stripes: Vertical stripes can help elongate your silhouette and make you appear taller and thinner.
3. Fitted Clothing: Wearing fitted clothing can help create a streamlined look and downplay any areas that you might want to conceal.
4. Avoid Baggy Clothing: Avoid wearing baggy clothing, as it can make you look larger and add bulk to your silhouette.
5. Choose the Right Fabric: Choose fabrics that drape nicely and don't cling to your body, such as cotton, silk, or rayon.
6. Accessorize: Wearing a statement necklace, earrings, or scarf can draw attention to your face and away from your body.
7. Comfortable Footwear: Wearing comfortable, supportive shoes with a low heel can help elongate your legs and create a flattering look.

Remember, the most important thing is to wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. When you feel good, it shows in the photos and can help you create a more flattering look.

Most family sessions last an hour. Although, they can be much shorter than that. One past session only lasted 5 min when the child fell into a lake at the park. After dad jumped in to retrieve his youngster, I wasn't sure if I should keep shooting. Years later the father told me the lake images are some of their favorite.

When it comes to headshots, it's generally best to avoid bright, bold, or distracting colors in the background. This is because the background should not compete with the subject for attention and should not detract from the main focus of the photo, which is the person's face.

One color to avoid is bright or neon colors, such as hot pink or bright yellow, which can create an unprofessional or immature look. These colors can also reflect onto the subject's face or clothing, creating a color cast that can be difficult to correct in post-processing.

Similarly, patterns or textures in the background can be distracting and should be avoided. This includes busy wallpaper, busy fabric patterns, or any other background with a lot of detail. These backgrounds can take away from the subject's face and make the photo feel cluttered or chaotic.

Overall, the best background for a headshot is a solid, neutral color that complements the subject's skin tone and clothing while providing a clean and professional look. Avoid bright or distracting colors and patterns that can detract from the main focus of the photo.

Below you will find some things to be mindful of and to avoid for a successful portrait session:

1. Don't neglect to plan ahead: Plan the location, clothing, and poses in advance to ensure a smooth and efficient shoot.
2. Don't ignore lighting: Good lighting can make or break a photo, so pay attention to natural light and use artificial light sources if necessary.
3. Don't forget to interact with your subjects: Engage with your subjects, make them feel comfortable, and help them to relax to get natural-looking photos.
4. Don't use a low-quality camera or lens: Invest in good-quality equipment to ensure the highest image quality.
5. Do pay attention to the background: Make sure the background is clean and uncluttered and does not distract from the subjects.
6. Do take a variety of shots: Take a mix of posed and candid shots, as well as close-ups and full-body shots, to create a well-rounded collection of images.
7. Don't ignore editing and post-processing: Proper editing and post-processing can enhance your photos and bring out the best in your subjects.