How to plan for summer sessions – Concordia, Missouri Photographer

When summer comes around, everything is so green and alive … and hot. Oh it’s so hot. It was almost 80 degrees at 7 a.m. And getting all dressed up for a photo session can sound daunting, especially if you are dressing to impress. Below, you’ll find some tips about how to prepare for your outdoor summer session!

1. Light fabrics like cotton or linen

Wearing lighter fabrics is a sure way to make sure you aren’t unnecessarily hot during our time together; especially since men tend to photograph best in long pants and close-toed shoes. If your shirt is a heavy fabric, partnered with long pants, you might get a bit toasty. Same goes for women in longer dresses. Heavy fabrics and hot, humid days do not pair well together.

2. Flowy dresses for the ladies

Have a loose, flowy dress is a great way to still dress to the nines, but not feel like you’re slowly (or quickly depending on the day) melting outside. They are also incredibly flattering, and photograph oh so well. 🙂

3. Shaded locations

This one may seem obvious, but having a location with open shade is a perfect way to guarantee some great lighting while having the added benefit of not standing in the hot, summer sun. Open shade is when you stand in a shaded location, but when you look up you can still see the sky. So for example, being in front of trees instead of under them.

4. Cooler of cold drinks

Water is great, because 1. hydration, and 2. if you spill it, no stains! However, if we have an evening session and you are of age, grabbing a couple of cold ones (couple being key there) before the session or while we are moving locations/taking a break can be a great way to cool off. There is also the added benefit of relaxing and allowing yourself to be more in the moment during the session. 🙂

5. Make-up and toiletries for touch ups

I don’t know about you, but when I sweat while wearing make up, it feels like I may as well be wiping it all away. Throwing some oil absorbing sheets, mascara, foundation and perhaps deodorant if you’d like in a small bag to bring to the session can be a great way to make sure you always look your best.

6. Portable fans and/or AC in the car

This is especially important for the little ones and wedding parties (or the heavy sweaters like myself). While the bride and groom are in the photos 90 percent of the time, the wedding party is sometimes standing off to the side in that brutal heat. It’s great for them to get a reprieve when the aren’t in front of the lens by sitting in a car with the A/C on or having some sort of fan to cool off with. When children get too hot, they can get cranky and the whole session can quickly feel tedious. To avoid this, keeping little ones cool and calm helps keep everyone else stress-free.

Want to get in touch?

If you’d like to book your session or wedding, you can contact me at kelsey(at)kelseyalumbaugh(dot)com. Check out my Instagram @kelseyalumbaugh ! I’ve been working curating my feed, so let me know if you see the pattern! And like me on Facebook to see the latest blog posts and wedding updates. 🙂 If you’re curious about the investment, you can check that info out here, but please feel free to reach out so I can better address your photography needs.

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