After being in isolation / distancing / hibernation for such a long time, some of us are having a hard time returning to the Hard Pants Before Times. If you’re unfamiliar with the Hard Pants Before Times, or HPBT as I will call them, they were the times before COVID, when we all begrudgingly wore uncomfortable clothes in public, in order to make other people believe we were put together and not running home to remove uncomfortable items as soon as possible.

COVID isolation helped many of us realize that what you wear matters very little, and we began reverting to comfortable clothes that previously weren’t considered “socially acceptable,” like leggings as pants and such.

Anyway, if you’re struggling to return to the Land of Hard Pants and don’t know what to wear for your family, maternity, or newborn photo session, I’m here to help.

First, some ground rules:

1. Coordinate, but don't match. The days of all white shirts and jeans are gone.

2. Let the kids choose their own clothes from a few selections you've chosen. Controlled choice!

3. Wear something that you like, that fits, and that looks good on you. If you hate the outfit or how you look in it, you won't do anything with the photos afterwards.

Now, where to start:

1. Start with neutrals.Try this website to determine your skin's underlying tone and which types of colors you look good in, if you aren't sure. Do you look better in crisp white or a warm cream tone?

2. Add contemporary colors, in small amounts. Consider the colors of the season. For Spring 2020, contemporary colors include bold pops of color that will cheer you right out of your isolation funk, and some classic springy pastels. As a rule, don't put everyone in different colored pastels, or you'll risk looking like a carton of Easter eggs.

3. Throw in some pattern and texture. Add a soft sweater, a shiny belt, or a scarf. Or put your tiniest human in a patterned dress while you stay in solids. Your eye will be drawn to pattern first, and the bigger the pattern, the more it will dominate. If you're trying to hide that new Isolation Fifteen you put on while you support every RVA local restaurant, help draw the eye away by putting pattern elsewhere.

4. Don't compete with nature. If your backdrop is a beautiful magenta azalea bush, maybe don't make orange your go-to family photo color. Also consider where in your house you'll be hanging these, and how large. If you're planning to hang a canvas over the couch, consider that the colors in the photo will now be a dominant part of your room. Make sure you like the color if you'll be seeing it a LOT in your house.

Whether you're planning for professional family photos or planning a cell phone group selfie, use the tips above to start choosing your spring photo outfits. I’m more than happy to help you narrow down your outfit choices via text, as well.