TIMELESS, not tacky!

Photographs are literally a moment in time, frozen… for eternity. That little flutter of the shutter captures a tiny slice of a time in our lives that we can then travel back to over and over again. It is such a beautiful and romantic notion that can be so quickly and easily spoiled by all things ‘fashun’. 

Wylde Folk, as natural light photographers will do our part to ensure your photographs can stand the test of time. We will avoid over-fancy camera work; We say no unnatural colour manipulation –where the background is B&W and the feature is in colour… you know? Yeah nah. No thank you. And we say no “trendy” filters.

Be it ‘on trend’ hairstyles (do you remember the 20’s Veronicas mullet, with chunky bleached bits?- yep, yeh I totally did this to myself… cringe) …The choices we make when we style our loved ones and ourselves for a photography session might be great at that very minute, but they will be ultimately frozen in that moment in time forever, so we’d like to help you make some solid choices. 

EFFORTLESS STYLE. NOT FASHUN.

One of the biggest tell-tail signs of a tacky portrait shoot is the outfits. Effortless, classic style is timeless. The one thing that is noticeable about photos from every decade since we started taking happy snaps – is that the images that have stood the test of time are those where the subject is reflected in an effortless, stylish manner. There are no big “era indicators” – the clothes, the décor, the background, the poses – they are all simple and classic. Even a portrait of your great-great-great grandmother will have her shown in a simple dress, beautifully coiffed hair and flattering makeup.

Try not to theme your images - the theme is “you”.

Oh… and seriously… don’t forget about shoes! It would be a shame to put a lot of thought into the perfect outfit only to have the viewer’s eye drawn immediately to the ratty sneakers. We’re looking at you Dad…

AU NATURALE.

Are you the person who gets up everyday and applies a full face of makeup, curls your hair, shapes your eyebrows… and knows all things highlighting and concealer? No…? Don’t worry – not many of us are pro’s and hair and makeup can be tricky. Trust me I know, I try to wrangle my baby hairs like I do my toddler and I most often come out second best. Booking a professional makeup artist for your session doesn’t mean that you’ll be made up to look like a Christmas turkey… Makeup artists and hairdressers will just help you look your best, naturally. Natural makeup styles using complementary neutral colours and simple, soft hairstyles will have you feeling great and looking your best. When you feel confident and comfortable with your appearance you will be more relaxed during the shoot and it will show through in the images. Just ask me for a my recommended list of hair and makeup artist.

COORDINATE. DON’T CLASH.

Have you ever played the Google game where you put your name plus ‘glamour shots’ into the search bar and seeing the gems that come up? It’s a hilarious game with endless laughs… but let’s think about these people in these images for a minute. At the time of them handing over their hard earned cash for a glamour shoot, they thought, and they were told, that they looked incredible and the photos would be amazing heirlooms. And now we literally have turned them into a game and we laugh at these unfortunate images, captured in time. 

So let’s avoid matching outfits in our family portraits but let’s make sure your outfits coordinate and work together. Think neutral colour palette, with minimal (1) pattern – colours that work well are whites, light greys, light-medium blues, cream, tan, dusty pinks, sage and olive greens - Nothing too bright (unless it is naturally you), and definitely no logos or slogans. Let’s keep it sophisticated, and stylish. Princess Grace, not Queen of Pop. Meghan Markle, not Nicki Minaj - on this occasion. 

KEEP IT SIMPLE 

Beautiful portrait photography is about you. It’s not about the props. You are the subject, you are the content, and you are the story. You don’t need props to express yourself on the daily – so why do they have a place in your portraits? The only exception I would make here is perhaps including your child’s most sentimental toy… or maybe taking the family dog to your outdoor session (although our pups are closer to people than props). Do you want to remember your beautiful new baby with their perfect soft skin and long luscious eyelashes? Or would you rather remember them as a flowerpot with an oversize gerbera strapped to their head? I know which one I’d rather, just saying. Don’t get me wrong there is true talent that I can appreciate in getting a newborn to sit so effortlessly in a pot but I am guessing if you follow me and my style we will be on the same page here.

BE AUTHENTIC 

Be you. There’s no one else in the world like you. And remember these images are about you and your story. There’s no point in dressing your Dad up in a blazer and tie if that is not what he would wear in ‘real life’ - at the same time it’s not the right time for his favourite XXXX Gold shirt either. Once again think casual Sunday best. Remember who you are. That’s who we want to see in the pictures. 

KIDS NEED SNACKS

You might be thinking ‘what do snacks have to do with timeless photos?’ Kids invented hangry. Your session might only be for an hour or so, but snacks are the currency of children. They curb hangry. They are the perfect bribe.  Be sure to brief them about what is going to happen throughout the session, especially if they are shy or not used to strangers. Conversely some children are born performers.

Bring a change of clothes – for younger children you might need to switch out a grubby t-shirt or stained shorts… for older children, they might just not like what they’re wearing. Pick your battles, and come prepared. Try to ensure everyone, not just the kiddos have had adequate rest before the big day. Tired equals grumpy.

USE WHAT OUR MOTHER (nature) GAVE US.

There was a period when all of our portraits were taken in front of mottled grey backdrops with soft lighting and what appeared to be Vaseline on the lens. But Why?! Our world is such a beautiful place – and being based in Brisbane – we literally have nature’s best backdrop on our doorsteps. There is a phenomenon in photography called “The Golden Hour” – it’s not something that you can replicate in a studio. No amount of fancy lights and editing work can ever truly recreate this natural beauty. It is the glory of the sun setting and the incredible array of light and shadow and colour it spreads over everything it touches. It is flattering for everyone and it’s free. 

If taking advantage of The Golden Hour were not possible or appropriate for your session – then the first preference would be that natural light is always better in my opinion. Indoors is of course good too, a naturally lit studio would be the best option but your home is beautiful too. Just be sure to ensure the background is free from clutter, mess or appliances.

REMEMBER THE DESTINATION

If you plan to hang your family portrait on the wall in your house, consider the style of the rest of your décor. Do you have a beachy vibe going in your home? It’s likely because the beach is your happy place. Take your session to the beach. Shoot in your natural habitat. Then when you come to proudly hang your next family portrait it will simply become an extension and glorious expression of you. 

Making the investment in portrait photography can be a big financial commitment for many of us. And like any financial commitment, it is measured by its return on investment. A carefully curated, timeless photography session – be it photographing your newborn or your engagement – they should proudly last you a lifetime. And beyond. Hand down heirloom portraits to future generations that they will look at adoringly, not giggle at the tacky choices made in the name of ‘fashun’. Keep it simple and it will last forever.

Love + Light, Tahlia x