One print to begin
Pull a color from a floral skirt into someone else’s solid shirt. Let the other pieces stay quieter. If you mix prints, try a wider stripe beside a smaller floral, with a shared color between them.
The styling room
Wear something that feels like you.
A little color. A little texture. Room to move, lean in, and be together. Build a look for your engagement session, couples portraits, family photographs, or a slow morning at home.
Start with what you love wearing. Gather a few references. We’ll use the feeling as a starting point... and leave space for real life.
Build your session look
THE COMBS CREATIVE / FIELD GUIDEThe way it feelsBack to your open invitation Inside this chapter
01 / Your kind of together
What are we dressing for?
02 / Find your colors
A palette, not a uniform.
Pick a starting palette, then change any swatch. Choose two or three main colors and let the textures do the rest. Everyone can feel connected without wearing exactly the same thing.
Color on a screen is a reference. Lay your clothes together in natural light before the session.
03 / The fabric drawer
A little pattern. A lot of personality.
Try a stripe, a tiny floral, or a familiar check. Keep one pattern as the starting point, then give it breathing room with solid colors. Choose a texture to see the sketches change.
These illustrated swatches suggest a feeling, not an exact fabric. Try your pieces together in natural light, especially small prints and shiny finishes.
04 / The wardrobe notebook
Real-life outfits. Room to make them yours.
Everyday pieces for all kinds of together. Your first two colors dress the sketches; the others add small accents. Change the palette, pattern, or texture above, then save the outfit shapes you love. These are styling illustrations, not products or shopping links.
05 / The finishing touches
Build the outfit. Keep the personality.
Masculine, feminine, a little of everything... these are starting directions, not boxes. Borrow from any of them. Add a person or a second outfit option, choose an age range, and gather the pieces that feel right.
The 6–8 point idea
Give each chosen piece one point: a shirt, trousers, shoes, glasses, a belt, earrings, a bracelet, a watch, or a purse. A pair of shoes or earrings counts once. A dress or jumpsuit counts as one piece. An extra layer counts, too.
Six to eight points can be a fun starting place for an adult look. It is not a score for how good you look, and you do not need to buy anything to reach it. A simple outfit can be beautiful. Children do not need a target.
For example: shirt + trousers + shoes + belt + glasses + watch = six points. Dress + cardigan + shoes + earrings + bracelet + purse = six. Choose the details you actually enjoy wearing.
06 / Mix it with intention
Connected, without matching.
Balance the textures
A soft knit beside smooth cotton. Denim with linen. A little satin under a relaxed jacket. Two or three textures can add depth while keeping the palette calm.
Give every person a part
Try cream knit + blue denim on one person, a muted blue dress on another, and a small checked shirt with tan trousers for a child. Repeat a color, not the entire outfit.
Pack a little possibility
A second shirt, an extra layer, walking shoes, or a favorite bag can change the feeling without a full outfit change. Allow time to switch and somewhere comfortable to do it.
Props with a reason
A picnic blanket, a favorite book, flowers, a record, or something you actually do together. Bring one or two meaningful things. The people stay the center of the story.
More ways to remember
Interested in 35mm, Super 8, or another creative addition? Mention it when planning your session. Availability and any additional investment are confirmed with your booking; selecting props here does not add a paid service.
Talk through your session07 / A little photographic inspiration
From the studio archive.
Start with the outfit sketches above, or borrow a little movement and feeling from our photographs. Open the archive below if you would like to add a photo reference, too.
Open studio photo references
Explore more past projects · Find a little posing inspiration
08 / Gather your references
A Pinterest pin. A favorite outfit. A little context.
Browse The Combs Creative on Pinterest, then paste the pin or board link below. Links stay as references here; images and boards are not automatically imported.
09 / Your session look
Collected. Ready to share.
Your look is saved only when you choose Save on this device. It is not sent to our team. Copy or download your notes, then share them in your HoneyBook conversation or email.
Email JessicaA few things to keep
Comfort photographs beautifully.
Try everything on together. Sit down. Walk around. Pick up your little one. Layers, soft knits, linen, and familiar pieces can bring beautiful texture without taking over the frame.
For Boston and New England sessions, bring a layer for the wind and shoes that suit the ground. Newport by the water, a Vermont field, a Maine coast walk, or your own front steps... let the place help shape the look.
Plan your sessionFROM THE STUDIO ARCHIVE
Dress for the feeling.
Texture, movement, and a setting you love. Use these examples as inspiration for your own wardrobe, comfort, and expression.
KEEP THE STORY GOING