Tips for your portrait session with us

Good morning!

The following applies to Families as well as Seniors who its originally targeted for but I have made some adaptations to it to make it more rounded for all genres. These are not rules or “set in stone” per say, just plain ole suggestions that we have learned over time to help out with getting people ready for their photo shoots. Portraits are meaningful and last a lifetime, so we want you to be as prepared as you can be for your session to ensure the best quality photos.

1.   Clothing – formal, semi-formal or casual (don’t forget accessories for those outfits). Make sure your shoes n socks match if applicable (had a client that had a dark blue and a black sock, they ended up just taking them off lol) Ladies, make sure to have your toes polished (if you do) we take full body shots as well as close-ups. solid colors work best. Make sure your hands are manicured as well, you will be using them in the portraits. Patterns distract the eye from the subjects in the photograph – you and your family.

2.   Colors, we have to pick colors – Flesh tone or neutral colors are great for outdoor sessions. For spring and summer sessions - lean towards pastels including watermelon and peach. For autumn and winter sessions – lean towards reds, golds, deep oranges, med to dark greens and med to dark blues. Coordinate rather than match everything, mixing textures like knits, ruffles or denims will give your portraits that pop and pizzazz you are looking for.

3.   Accentuate your features – turtlenecks are great for long necked people, square neck tops are a top choice for round and square faces and round neck tops are great for people with thin faces or pointed chins.

4.   Ahhh jewelry – Unless you are marketing the jewelry, be careful with attention grabbing pieces. You don’t want the attention off the faces due to a huge set of earrings or necklace. Classic and modest pieces are the best (simple necklace and earrings or pearls). If you love to wear big jewelry just try and make sure it doesn’t overpower your face and eyes.

5.   Makeup – Ladies please don’t go overboard although it’s tempting to go glamorous. Be very careful with the glitter or sparkle type shadows, powders or blush. Sometimes it can reflect the flash and create white spots. Choose carefully for your lips as well, there is too much of a good thing, it can give you the appearance of drooling to having a white mark on your lips from my flash.

6.   Touch up and last minute preps – bring anything you can think of your powder for reducing the shine on your face to hair-ties or scrunchies (just be sure and remove them from your wrists before your photographs) if you wear glasses, think about using a different pair and remove the lenses out of them to reduce the glare. We will attempt to remove lens glare as much as possible.

7.    Hairstyles and this n that – work with any hairstyles you desire a few days before the session, if you plan on getting it cut please do so a week before so it can adjust and come out of shock. Guys please have a fresh shave and other facial hair neatly trimmed in your photos. Be careful with artificial tanning, go a day or two before the session to give your skin back its natural glow.

8.   Oh no, I broke out and have some blemishes – Please do not worry about that…I can remove it from the portraits. We do minor/basic retouching for the faces to give you the most attractive portrait possible. We don’t do major stuff like making you look like a porcelain doll or remove braces and the like. We can, but that’s an extra fee ;)

9.   Poses and posing – try practicing your smiles and various facial expressions in the mirror if you choose. We provide a “checklist” to help you and your family with posing ideas. Try to set it up with your kids to get them familiar with them. We will be doing goofy stuff as well so think of ways to pose when we shout “time for goofy poses”. We want to capture you in your most natural and upbeat selves. We do various full body, ¾ length, close-ups, sitting and standing poses as well as personal poses for your pleasure. You are more than welcome to bring props – sunglasses, hats, favorite toys for the kids etc.

10. Be prepared – To stay relaxed you can bring a friend to help with the kids or to keep you relaxed (if you don’t like your portrait taken). Be comfortable with your photographer, get an idea of their style and make sure you are comfortable with it. Imagine yourself and family in the portrait examples they have posted. Don’t be shy – ask questions or if you are uncomfortable with a certain pose, we can change it no problem. If you are sick or your children are sick, please do not hesitate to reschedule. We want you at your best for your portrait sessions; after all it’s an investment.

These are just a few tips to having a successful portrait session. If you have any more tips, please feel free to comment in the section below.

Thanks for reading,

Leslie