A Story With Santa is an interactive portrait experience with Santa on a styled set. In order for your portraits to look their absolute best, it is important that you adhere to wardrobe requirements, most specifically color requirements. Dressing your child in the right colors will ensure color harmony within the portrait. I’m including several examples and suggestions of wardrobe choices that will work beautifully with this set!

 The main colors contained in the set are:

• Deep Red (Cranberry, Burgundy, Crimson, Maroon)
• Deep Green (Evergreen, Pine, Moss, Emerald)
• Antique Gold
• Rich Warm Browns
• Some Dark Blue/Navy

First a few wardrobe tips as well as a few things to avoid:

• DO NOT wear anything that is solid white. This includes white shoes, white tights, white hairbows. White pearl jewelry on the girls is acceptable.
• Solid colors photograph best, however small patterns like a Christmas plaid can work well.
• Please avoid any colors that are too bright or neon, like lime green and bright yellow.
• Please, NO character pajamas or loud prints.
• For girls with long hair, if their hair is straight and tends to fall in their face, I recommend pulling it back. Hairbows, headbands and clips are perfectly acceptable just keep the hairbows on the smaller side and NO white. When you look at the portraits you want to see your little girl’s face, not a giant hairbow.
• Shoes are optional with pajamas or casual wear. If you choose to do pajamas they can go barefoot or they can wear dark, solid color slippers. If you choose a casual look, they can go barefoot or wear winter shoes or boots. For a dressy/formal look, you will want to put them in dress shoes. Please do not put your children in summer shoes. The studio will be on the cooler/cold side to keep Santa comfortable. The set has a winter/fireplace look so you will want to dress your child as if it were winter to match the set. 
• Any girls over the age of 5 wearing dresses should wear dresses that are calf length or longer. Please do not put short dresses or skirts on the girls. Kids squirm, they also play with, pull, tug and lift clothing! Short dresses show undies, which we do not want! If your child is younger and the dress is shorter, please put tights under the dress. I prefer dark colored tights.
• Make sure your child is comfortable in whatever attire you choose. An outfit that is cumbersome, scratchy, uncomfortable will only result in an unhappy child that will fidget, pull and tug at the clothing during their time with Santa.

* I mentioned no white several times and this is the reason why. Your eye is naturally drawn to the lightest color in any photo. This is a dark colored set. If you put anything white on your child, the first thing your eye will see in the photos is the white... white tights, white hairbow, white shoes, whatever they are wearing that is white! I want the eye to be drawn to the children's faces, not their clothing, so please stay away from white or any other light, pastel colors.  

PARENTS: If you plan to jump in at the end for a photo or two, please dress appropriately. Whatever your child is wearing, you need to match them! If, for example, you dress your child in red pajamas, you should consider wearing matching red or green or even plaid pajamas. An alternate option that would work with your child’s red pajamas is to wear black leggings and a solid color t-shirt and bring a robe in a coordinating color to wear over the clothing. You could also opt for dark jeans and a solid top or sweater, again keeping with the color scheme of your child’s attire. If you choose casual wear, jeans and a solid long sleeve shirt or sweater that matches or coordinates with your child’s outfit will suffice. If you choose a dressy look, put on something that is dressier while again, matching or coordinating with the color palette of your child’s wardrobe. Another option for a dressier/formal look is for you to wear solid black.

Even if you do not plan on jumping in for a quick photo, if your child is shy or withdrawn and you think there is a possibility that they will not want to participate in their time with Santa, dress the part!! If needed, I will include you in the photos. You will be able to sit next to Santa with your child in your lap as he works through the story lines. If your child then becomes comfortable with Santa and decides to let go of you, you will be able to step just outside of camera range for the remainder of the session.

Please visit the Portfolio Page for examples of appropriate wardrobe.

If you have any questions regarding wardrobe, please do not hesitate to ask. Feel free to send photos of wardrobe you are considering if you are in doubt. You can text to 256-338-7334 or email Lisa@LJonesPhotography.com.