Families & Children:
Kids will be kids. Let them be themselves for a bit. I will start out the photo session with candid/casual shots of the kids to help them get comfortable with me and my camera.  When it comes time for posed shots, whatever is happening, keep looking at the camera and smiling. No matter what. When I catch the kids smiling or laughing, I need the parents/adults to already be there.  Keep a positive, upbeat and encouraging attitude.  No kids I know will smile when their parents are talking sternly or worse yelling at them. Please try not to allow kids to eat snacks on the way to your session.  They may get stains on their clothing or arrive with messy faces & teeth. Make sure their faces are clean. Pay special attention to the areas of the eyes, nose & mouth.
 
What to Wear:
These are merely tips. You are ultimately in control of
your clothing choices and the
look you want to portray in your photos.
When having family photos, treat your family's wardrobe selections as a total outfit.  In other words, make sure everyone is dressed for the (same) season with coordinating colors (choose 2-3 colors), not matching everything. Wear solid colored clothing. (one person, such as mom or dad if preferred can wear a patterned top if it coordinates with the colors of the group.  Stripes should go up
and down, not side to side) 
I once had a fall family photo session where everyone was in darker colors and long sleeves, except one person was wearing a yellow short sleeve polo shirt with light khaki pants.
He was dressed for spring, not fall and stuck out like a sore thumb. 
The goal is to be drawn to everyone's faces, not to stand out
from the rest of the group.
Darker clothing slims and long sleeves (or at least elbow length) look best when practical. Choose long pants for men/women or a skirt below the knee for women (so that you can sit and bend without showing too much leg).  Your arms and legs take up more skin area than your face and will draw attention. 
Choose dark socks and footwear.
(white socks are a big no-no with dark pants
as that's all you'll notice later)
Men should always wear closed toe shoes. In general, white doesn't photograph well on most people. Solid pops of color are great to add personality and interest. Try fun scarves and neckties.
Keep jewelry simple as too much jewelry takes attention away from your face. Do your make-up and hair as you normally would. Trying something new may end up in you hating your photos.  Schedule haircuts 2 weeks before your photo session. Men may need it to grow out a bit. Ladies may need time to practice working their hair. Allow some time to live with your new look and be comfortable.  If you need to reschedule your photo session, that's okay. I want you to be confident and comfortable for your photos! 
 
Props:
Personalize your photo session with a blanket, toy, stuffed animal, musical instrument, sports equipment, your pet, your car,
your art work, etc.
 
High School Seniors:
The easiest way to switch up your look during your photo session without taking up a lot of time is to keep the same pants/jeans and just switch out your top/shirt. Consider adding a jacket or vest. You can also add a hat, sunglasses or other props.  I'm not strict about the number of complete outfit changes. You should just know that the more time you spend changing clothes, the less time there will be for taking pictures which will mean less to choose from in your online photo gallery.
Let mom have a choice in one of
your outfits including the shoes!
The rest should be about you and your style. Your Senior Pictures should represent your style and preferences for clothing choices. Footwear is important. Mowing in the shoes you plan to wear for your Senior Pictures is not recommended! Make sure your shoes are clean and
that your clothes are wrinkle free. Girls, please consider skipping that glittery stuff on your face.
It often doesn't photograph well. 
When a flash is used, it can look like a big white spot on your face
that I have to remove.

Have a question or concern not
addressed here, just ask! I'm happy to help!