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Tips on Preparing for Your Portraits

Clothing Suggestions

It is best to bring in both formal and casual outfits that express your style but will not be outdated before the pictures are hung on the wall. :) Outfits

Formal
Timeless clothing will help your portrait withstand the test of time. The color of the clothing should be toned down without crazy prints and patterns. Dark colors with long sleeves and pants tend to slenderize.

Casual
Casual outfits can follow these same suggestions or may show off your personality. Texture and layers are great and definitely add more interest. I prefer to begin sessions with young children in a comfortable familiar outfit. This makes children more at ease and then we can build up to your formal outfits. Eye glasses may or may not be worn. Non-reflective lenses are very helpful, but the best option is frames without lenses if you can obtain them from your eye doctor.

Makeup and Hairstyles

Feel free to bring any makeup and hair styling products to your session. Don't worry about normal blemishes or flaws in your complexion. All finished portraits are retouched to minimize these imperfections.

Props and Accessories

No matter what your age, I love when you bring in props of your favorite things to incorporate into your portraits. For children this may be anything from a favorite toy or stuffed animal, to a favorite hat or sports memorabilia. This definitely helps children feel at ease and bring a smile to their faces. Teens and seniors may want to bring in clothes or items used for their favorite sport, a musical instrument, or even their best friend. Let your imagination run wild.

Group Portraits

Couples, families or small groups should carefully select clothing to blend together but not all be identical. Choose whether the basic tone of clothing is going to be warm-toned (earth tones, etc.) or cool-toned (blues/grays/blacks, etc.). When subjects appear in a mixture of dark and light tones there is visual confusion. When this happens, one person becomes dominant and may appear heavier than in reality. Also it is best if everyone photographed together dresses either casually or dressy.

Other Tips

The day of your child’s session, avoid mood altering foods and drinks that contain a lot of sugar, caffeine, and food coloring. Fed children are happy children. If your child follows a nap schedule, please be sure that they get their nap the day of the session. If your child has a cold, fever, or other illness, please reschedule your session giving as much notice as possible. Even remotely sick children are not happy campers.

 


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