Heidi and Keith’s wedding took place at Liberty Christian Fellowship in Liberty, Mo. Several folks there helped out with their ceremony.

Heidi and Keith wear the heart’s of their sleeves which makes for great ceremony shots. She was so bubbly! I like it most when a ceremony has that laugh-out-loud moment that pierces the formality of the event without subtracting from it.

Tags: Add new tag, Kansas City photographer, Kansas City wedding pictures, Kansas weddings, Liberty Christian Fellowship

Do the clothes make the person? Hard to say… but they often make the portrait. When planning for a portrait session stick to these 10 tips when deciding what to wear and you’ll be on your way to awesome portraits.

1. Be comfortable: Good pictures will require a certain comfort level from you, the subject. If you are scared of losing your balance in high heels or sweating under that polyester shirt then good pictures are going to be harder to come by. Stick to clothes you like, that build your confidence and are functional and comfortable.
   


2. Clothes are a statement: Outfit changes are the norm in a portrait shoot so mix it up with some clothing options that will make for more fun, sassy portraits. Bring along other outift options that are more formal to ensure a more broad choice of pictures showcasing the various parts of your personalities.
   


3. Keep it simple: Dark, plain fabrics usually work best. Avoid crazy patterns, designs and logos too. Clothing with distinct lines, dots and bright patterns can be distracting in a photo. Same goes for shiny fabrics. Keep your jewelry choices simple and minimal.
   


4. Avoid short sleeves and shorts: Long sleeves and pants are the superior choice. Skin tones can vary a bunch on various legs and arms not to mention the lighter complexion will distract the eye when viewing the pictures.
   


5. Not too many choices and changes: You should feel welcome to have a few clothing changes but don’t overwhelm yourself and your photographer with choices. It takes a little time for your photographer to get the creative ball rolling. Stopping for an outfit change halts and can disrupt that process.
   


6. Ask before wearing whites: Yes, dark solid print clothes are generally better, but rules are made to be broken. Talk with your photographer before the shoot if you are considering a white shirt. It can look awesome in certain kinds of backgrounds and contexts so let your photographer know and they will be better prepared to make excellent photos.
   


7. Props (nothing hokey here): Does your lovebird indulge you with an old-fashioned picnic once in a while? How about a tune on the guitar? Bring along a few items that reveal a unique aspect of your relationship. Talk it over before the session with your photographer.
   


8. Suitability to locations, or not: If you are hiking about on nature trails to get to your locations, you will want to consider clothing that is practical and appropriate for that surrounding. Or, for a little extra contrast, maybe really dress it up with a suit and tie and wonderful dress to strike a visual contrast with the rustic surroundings. Again, talk with your photographer beforehand about such ideas and get their input. A little planning always helps.
   


9. Classic, timeless styles: Great pictures last a long, long time so be sure your clothing choices will age gracefully. What is the fashionable trend today can easily be tomorrow’s parachute pants. So stow away the Ed Hardy shirts.
   


10. Hats, scarves and accessories for extra cute children’s portraits: Oversized ball caps, a football jersey from Mom and Dad’s alma mater always work well.
    

Following these guidelines will help with the mystifying task of selecting what to wear for your portrait session. But remember, photography is a creative collaboration. So some rules are made to be broken.

To see what our clients have chosen to wear for their photography sessions in and around Kansas City check out some examples by visiting our portrait photographer galleries and engagement picture galleries.

Tags: High school senior portraits, Kansas City engagement pictures, Kansas City photographer, Kansas City portrait photographer, Photographers in Kansas City

Meg and Eric’s ceremony featured some wonderful touches complete with good readings and a wonderful singer. It was simple affair which seems a reliable way to create a comfortable elegance. Comfortable elegance totally describes this couple so much! St. Elizabeth’s is a wonderful place with good light, accommodating staff with reasonable photographer restrictions.

Tags: Crosstown Station, Kansas City photographer, Kansas City photographers, Photographers in Kansas City, Waldo

Tags: Kansas City photographer, Loose Park

To heck with the snow and cold!!! The engagement session season will soon be in full swing. Honoring the forthcoming Spring, here’s another favorite from a 2007 engagement session with Shelly and Jeff at Loose Park. These two were about as cool as a couple could be. There are certain couples you meet in which you know instantaneously they were made for one another and that describes Shelly and Jeff.

Tags: Kansas City photographer, Loose Park