The Everyday Magic Style Guide
Real life, thoughtfully styled.
The Everyday Magic Project is all about documenting your family as you are right now—the pancake mornings, backyard adventures, neighborhood walks, flour-covered counters, and all the beautifully ordinary moments in between.
I want your photos to feel natural, relaxed, and unmistakably you.
But because these sessions are also part of a larger creative project, styling plays an important role in making the final collection feel cohesive.
The guidelines below aren't just suggestions—they're part of the creative direction for Everyday Magic. Please plan everyone's outfits with them in mind.
And don't worry: this does not mean you need to buy all new clothes or dress your family up!
Think elevated everyday: comfortable, natural, and thoughtfully put together.
Start With What We're Doing
Your outfits should make sense for your family's activity.
If we're making pancakes in your kitchen, you probably don't want to be wearing a formal dress and heels. If we're running through the backyard, everyone should be able to actually run through the backyard.
The goal is for your clothes to feel like they belong in the story we're telling.
Think:
Linen
Denim
Soft knits
Overalls
Relaxed dresses
Simple tees
Cozy sweaters
Rompers
Comfortable pants
Layers with lots of texture
Basically: real life, but a little prettier.
Keep Your Colors Soft + Muted
Color has a HUGE impact on the final feel of your images.
For Everyday Magic, we're sticking with colors that feel soft, earthy, warm, and timeless.
Colors that work beautifully:
🤎 Creams, tans + warm browns
🌿 Olive, sage + muted greens
🩵 Soft or dusty blues
🌸 Dusty pinks + muted mauves
🍷 Deep, muted jewel tones
🤍 Warm neutrals
You definitely don't have to dress everyone in neutrals! Color is welcome—I just want it to be a little more subdued rather than super bright or saturated.
Please avoid:
🚫 Neon or very bright colors
🚫 Bright reds
🚫 Highlighter yellow or green
🚫 Colors that are so saturated they become the first thing you notice
Bright colors can reflect onto skin and create funky color casts, but more importantly, they can pull your eye away from the thing I actually want you looking at:
your people.
No Logos, Graphics or Text
This one's important!
Please don't wear clothing with visible logos, characters, graphics, or text.
That means no giant Nike swooshes, Paw Patrol shirts, graphic tees, etc.
They immediately draw your eye and can make an otherwise timeless image feel dated or distracting.
Simple is almost always better.
Coordinate, Don't Match
Please don't feel like you need to find one color and put everyone in it.
We're going for cohesive, not matching.
Instead, choose a small palette of colors that work beautifully together and spread them throughout everyone's outfits.
For example:
One person might wear a muted floral dress, another might pull the soft blue from that pattern into their shirt, and someone else might wear cream or warm brown.
Boom. Family color palette.
You look like you belong together without looking like you were issued a family uniform. 😂
Patterns: Less Is More
Patterns can add personality and visual interest, but they work best in small doses.
✔️ YES: One person in a subtle, small-scale pattern.
❌ NO: Several people in bold or competing patterns.
If one person is wearing a pattern, use the colors within it to help choose everyone else's outfits.
And when in doubt? Solids and subtle textures are your friends.
Texture Is Your Secret Weapon
Texture photographs SO beautifully.
It adds dimension and visual interest without distracting from your family.
Some of my favorites:
Overalls (sooo stinking cute on kiddos)
Cable-knit sweaters
Linen dresses + tops
Rompers
Ruffles
Knit details
Denim
Soft, flowy fabrics
Cozy layers
This is especially helpful when you're wearing mostly solid colors. Different textures keep everything from feeling flat while still keeping the overall look simple.
Comfort Matters. A Lot.
We're not going to spend your session standing perfectly still and smiling at the camera.
You'll be:
Moving.
Playing.
Snuggling.
Baking.
Walking.
Chasing kids.
Probably sitting on the floor at some point.
Choose clothes that let you actually do those things.
Avoid anything that requires constant adjusting, feels restrictive, or makes you worried about how you're sitting or moving.
And this goes for kids, too! If your child is miserable in their outfit, I promise you—they will let us know. 😂 Comfortable kids = kids who are free to play and be themselves. And that's what I want to photograph.
Don't Forget the Shoes
Shoes have a sneaky way of becoming VERY noticeable in photographs.
Please avoid:
🚫 Light-up sneakers
🚫 Character shoes
🚫 Very bright or rainbow-colored shoes
🚫 Heavily worn or scuffed sneakers
🚫 Flip-flops
Instead, look for:
Neutral sneakers
Simple boots
Sandals
Flats
Mules
Other shoes that quietly blend into the outfit
For an in-home session, barefoot may be perfect! The goal is simply for your shoes to feel like part of the outfit—not the star of the show.
Dress for the Weather
This is Seattle. We know better than to trust the forecast too far in advance. 😂
If it's chilly, add layers that actually look like part of the outfit—a cozy sweater, cardigan, jacket, or coat.
If it's warm, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen are perfect.
And if we're planning to incorporate water play, puddle jumping, or another potentially messy activity, make sure everyone is wearing something you're comfortable actually playing in.
I don't want anyone spending the session worried about keeping their clothes pristine.
Hair + Makeup: Look Like You
You do not need professional hair and makeup for Everyday Magic.
In fact, I want you to look like you.
Style your hair the way you normally love to wear it. Do your usual makeup—or don't wear any if that's more like you!
If you decide to have your hair or makeup professionally done, I'd recommend asking for something natural that still feels like yourself.
These images aren't about creating a perfectly polished version of your family.
They're about preserving this version of your family.
Before Your Session
Give everyone's outfits one final look together.
Ask yourself:
Do these colors work together?
Is anything especially bright or distracting?
Are there any visible logos, graphics, or characters?
Can everyone comfortably move and play?
Do these clothes make sense for what we'll actually be doing?
If yes—you’re ready. And if you're not sure?
Send It to Me!
Seriously.
If you're deciding between outfits or wondering whether something will photograph well, send me a photo.
I'm happy to help you pull everything together before your session, and I'd much rather help you make a quick adjustment ahead of time than have you wondering whether you chose the right thing.
Because styling is part of the creative direction for this project, please reach out before your session if you're unsure whether an outfit follows the guide.
That's It!
You don't need a picture-perfect wardrobe.
You don't need to buy your family entirely new outfits.
And you definitely don't need everyone to look like they're headed to a fancy family portrait session.
I want you to look like yourselves.
Just a thoughtfully styled version of yourselves that lets all the good stuff—the movement, connection, chaos, laughter, and little everyday moments—take center stage.
I can't wait to photograph your Everyday Magic. 💛