STYLE TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT FAMILY PHOTO SHOOT

Family photos are a great way to preserve memories with loved ones. Being a personal stylist, I have helped many families with photos. To make sure your family photo session is a success, try some of these styling tips:

» Pick a theme unique to your family. For example, if you’re big sports fans and have a favorite team, incorporate that team’s colors or jerseys into your photo. This will encapsulate your group’s unique personality and spark memories of fun times spent together.

» Pick one to three colors to thread throughout your group’s clothing choices. Think of it like a plaid blanket. Not all colors have to be the same, but having a few similar shades will help your eyes move throughout the photo and provide a unified style. Have people of special interest (like grandma, for example) in the brightest color.

» Try to avoid clothing logos. Name brands on T-shirts and jackets can be distracting and can even have reflective properties that cause glare in a photograph. This is not a good look when trying to preserve a lasting memory.

Planning a family or group photo can feel overwhelming. However, by keeping these suggestions in mind, you can make the process a little easier and make a lasting impression for years to come.

Nikki Steele is a stylist serving the Plymouth community and more. For more style tips, follow her on Instagram @nikkisteelestyle, or visit nikkisteelestyle.com.

A Refreshing Spring Sip

Can you feel it? The temperatures are starting to rise. Before you know it, you will be inviting friends and neighbors over to sit on the deck or porch to catch up on that ski trip you took or bond over the 4,000piece puzzle you put together waiting for the spring thaw.

Here’s an easy beverage that can be made with or without alcohol.

Lime Rickey

This is a favorite springtime cocktail that is very simple and refreshingly tart. It only requires three ingredients: fresh lime juice, simple syrup and seltzer water.

Combine 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice and 4 oz. of simple syrup. Pour this into four glasses, filled with ice. Add seltzer water until full. Add a large lime wedge for garnish.

If you want to add a little booze to your Rickey, add 1 to 1 1/2 oz. of your favorite gin to the glass before pouring in the Lime Rickey mix. Enjoy!

Christian Nesheim is the owner of Vinifera Wines and Ales. Find out more at viniferawinesandales.com.