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*Note: Although I may eventually get
another studio, at this point when the word studio is mentioned, it refers
to your home or location. I copied these tips (with permission) from
another website. I thought they were well thought out so I added them
here. Chuck
General
Session Tips
It is very
important to get a good night sleep before your session, also drinking lots
of fluids will improve your skin texture.
Simplicity is
the key to a successful portrait.
Think about what
type of portrait you want and bring in the necessary outfits that capture
that look.
Clothing
Think about what
type of portrait you want and bring in your favorite outfits that capture
that look.
If you are
taking full length photos, don't forget shoes, hosiery, etc.
Your face should
be the focal point of your portraits. Long sleeve solids or very subtle
prints are usually the most flattering in portraits. Remember, if you are
self-conscious about your arms do not wear sleeveless tops.
Earth tones are
best for outdoor portraits, since we can drop you into an outdoor background
if you request it before your photo session.
Traditional
styles will stand the test of time and keep your portrait looking fresh for
years to come.
Busy patterns
and bright/loud colors can be very distracting in your portraits, however,
subtle aloha wear is always nice. Avoid large and bold patterns that might
tend to draw attention away from your face.
Solid colors are
best but avoid solid white outfits.
In a group or
family portrait, proper clothing coordination is critical. Do not mix casual
and formal attire and choose clothing in the same tonal ranges (i.e. do not
mix light and dark values) so that no single member stands out.
Make-Up
and Hair Styles
Don't forget
your necessities...makeup, hair brush, hair spray, etc.
Be careful when
applying foundation. You do not want your face to be one color and your
upper body another.
Apply makeup as
you would if you were going to a formal occasion in the evening. In other
words, using a bit more than you would during the day.
Use enough
powder base for a matte finish to avoid any shiny or oily appearance on your
face.
Pay special
attention to your eyes, as they will be the most important part of your
portrait. Eye shadow should be a lighter color to bring your eyes forward.
If you plan to
get your hair cut, do it at least 1-2 weeks before your appointment.
Allow two weeks
for a fresh perm to relax.
Don't experiment
with new hair styles the day of your session.
Gentlemen
remember to to shave before your session...a "five o'clock shadow" cannot be
removed from the finished portrait.
Accessories
If you wear
glasses all of the time, you'll probably want them in your portraits but
please keep in mind that light will glare and reflect on the lenses. Also,
tinted lenses may darken under studio lighting. It is very difficult to
remove the glare once a photo is produced so it may be best to avoid it
entirely by removing your glasses or removing the lenses temporarily from
your frames.
Items such as
watches, glasses, and other tight fitting jewelry or clothing can leave red
marks on your skin and can take up to an hour to disappear. Please be sure
you remove them at least an hour before showing up for your appointment.
Fine watches,
rings, necklaces, pins and bracelets are always in good taste and should be
coordinated with each outfit you bring.
If your hands
will be in the photograph, be sure your nails are manicured.
Pregnancy
Portraits should be taken around the 6th or 7th month. The belly is the
optimum size during the 6th or 7th month for portrait purposes.
Earlier than
that the belly may be too small.
Several hours
before your pregnancy / maternity photo shoot, you'll want to take off
anything that has tight elastic like slacks with tight waistbands and
undergarments or bras in order to make sure you don't have elastic or strap
marks on your skin. Don't use lotion on your belly, especially the kind to
help reduce stretch marks on the day of your session. If you do, you're
belly will be really shiny, and that's not a good thing.
Tops should be
very form fitting.....at least around the bust line. Big shirts won't show
your form...and showing your form is the whole point. You'll want something
to cover the breasts, and yet expose the belly. Bringing a robe is a good
idea to throw on in the studio in between poses.
Your hands are
most likely going to show......so don't forget to have a manicure and a
pedicure too. Face powder is always a good idea to eliminate shiny spots.
Moisturize elbows and knees.
Eat a light
snack before the shoot.
Limit jewelry to
essential pieces. While it's nice to include special or important jewelry in
your portraits, too much jewelry will be distracting.
Bring images
you've torn out of magazines or found on the web when you meet with your
photographer. Showing examples is the best way to communicate with your
photographer about the type of look and mood you want for your portraits.
Be on time for
your appointment and don't schedule any appointments or activities directly
after your photo shoot. Quality portraiture requires a good amount of time,
you won't want to rush your session and possibly have sub par results.
If you're
planning on including your husband in your images, make sure you discuss it
with your photographer so they can give you clothing guidelines such as,
you'll probably want to bring black slacks and he won't want to forget to
either remove his belt, or bring one without a shiny belt buckle as the
buckle can be a big distraction in the photo when it catches the light.
The best time
for a newborn session is when your baby is just a few days old. Our studio
is the ideal setting for the portraits, as we can adjust lighting and
backdrops as needed. If you are committed to keeping your child in your
home, we can come to you for a small fee.
Keep the day of
your shoot simple and relaxed. Dedicate the entire day to your baby and
yourself. From the moment you wake up visualize how effortless and flawless
your portrait session will be, sip your favorite tea, and listen to your
favorite music. clothing lines
Clothing can
leave red marks and impressions in your skin that can take hours to
disappear. We will remove marks and lines but too many can be tricky and
time consuming. To get the most out of your time with us we suggest that you
apply a loose fitting diaper and clothing to your baby one to two hours
before your shoot. If you are planning topless or breastfeeding portraits
with your newborn, you should also avoid bras and other elastics. simple
pictures are best
Babies become
lost in the background when there are too many elements in the picture. For
the best results, keep jewelry, toys and people to a minimum and avoid
clothing with patterns. plenty of towels
Please have
plenty of towels or cloth diapers at hand. Newborns can pack quite a few
surprises during a portrait session. Backup clothing for mom and dad might
be a good idea too.
Your experience
will be different than any other previous portrait sessions you have had. We
capture a moment of real life with all it’s emotion and depth. Our focus is
on you and you have our full attention.
It’s all about
your comfort.
Your shoot will
start once we have taken the time to get to know each other and relax. We
don’t schedule more than two portrait sessions in a day so there is plenty
of time to focus on you. Your session will last around two hours. Afterward,
you have all the time in the world to order and reorder your pictures. We
don’t throw any images away like most studios do after a certain time limit.
As you select
clothing for your child, remember that simple is better.
Collars on
infant clothing usually pop up during the session and expressions are lost
while trying to fix them. Too much bold color, or frills and fluff around
the face, will detract from the beauty of the child. Solid white diapers are
best or a white cover to place over them.
The bottom of
shoes will most likely show in a young child’s portrait.
Make sure the
bottom of the shoe is not decorated with brightly colored characters or
decorations. Although sneakers are the most popular shoe of our time, they
are very distracting in photographs. Try to find a shoe that coordinates
with the clothing. Be careful that the shoes fit well so as not to be a
source of ill temperament. Of course, bare feet make great timeless
portraits!
Please try on
all the clothing before the session.
Check for fit
both sitting and standing and if the look is not pleasing you will still
have time to change your selection. We can not make clothes look like they
fit it they are not the correct size.
If your toddler
refuses to wear something you have chosen, ignore it until you get to the
studio.
We can see how
the child reacts when we start the session and perhaps we will be able to
help. Remember, the expression is more important the the clothing the child
is wearing.
For older
children, do not try a new haircut or hairstyle the day before a session.
If your child
uses a pacifier, try to limit use prior to the sitting
A pacifier can
leave a red ring around the mouth, which can show up photographs. With older
children, please do not give them candy or juice with coloring. The purple
lips or green tongue will last for hours.
Please do not
try to bribe your child or make promises of rewards for good behavior.
A child learns
early that a bribe comes when you want them to do something they don’t want
to do. They will automatically have a negative feeling about coming for the
session. Do we think enticement is a bad thing? By no means. We use it
during the session to get desired results but the reward will be more
immediate. Such things would be a small snack after a few poses or a ride on
the swing before we move to a different area. A reward must come fairly
quickly after the offer is made. A two year old is not going to be patient
and wait for two hours, he wants it NOW. Wrong mood for a portrait!
Don’t use up all
those smiles!
That may sound
silly but an infant or toddler who is played with a lot prior to a session
can tire of being happy. They need rest. Don’t worry about keeping your
child happy prior to a session. They will be ready when you get to the
location.
RELAX, RELAX,
RELAX!
The calmer you
are in preparation for the session, the calmer your child will be. Your mood
and temperament can be detected by your child. If they detect stress,
anxiety or frustration in your tone, it will affect their mood as well.
Your job is to
get to the session and the rest is up to us! Everything will go smoothly.*
In addition to
the general tips, follow some of these simple tips.
Have your
engagement ring cleaned the day of or the day before a session - it is part
of the focus of your images!
If you have
children (from a previous marriage or otherwise) feel free to include them -
some of us think of our pet as our child - bring him too!
Engagement
sessions can be held outside of the studio if desired - think about the
place you met or where he proposed!
Wear what you
like and feel comfortable in.
Have a variety
of outfits (casual and dressy).
Solid colors are
best.
Avoid
pale/pastels colors for outdoor photos.
Avoid stripes
and patterns, especially very small stripes; they tend to be very
distracting in photos.
Mid-toned to
dark colors and bright colors tend to photograph better, especially outside.
Avoid sleeveless
and very short shirts.
Avoid shirts
that easily show bra straps on the shoulder area; they can sometimes be
digitally removed, but is VERY expensive.
Skirts are okay,
but limit the variety of poses.
Darker colors
tend to have a slimming effect; light colors the opposite effect.
If you are
self-conscious about certain body parts, cover them with appropriate
clothing. For example, wear long sleeve shirts if you're conscious about
your arms; don't wear a short shirt if you don't want your midriff to show.
If you wear
glasses, have your optician remove the lenses or borrow a pair of empty
frames like yours. Glare on your glasses is not easily removed and is
costly.
Get your hair
cut 1-2 weeks before your senior session.
Don't try new
hairstyles the day of your shoot.
Avoid coloring
your hair the week before your session.
If you are going
to tan, don't tan the two days before your shoot.
Sunburn and tan
lines cannot be digitally removed.
If you have
blemishes you are concerned about, a little make up can cover it up. If you
can't see it in the mirror, you won't see it in your pictures. (We retouch
all ordered images.)
Eyeliner and
mascara help the eyes stand out, but don't get it clumpy.
YOUR things are
YOUR best props: letter jacket, instruments, hats, class ring, hobby stuff,
etc.
If you want
uniforms, talk to your coach before school is out for the summer.
A pet is not a
prop, but bring them along if you want. Make sure someone else will be able
to care for the pet while you're busy looking good for the camera.
Time of
Day
Early morning
and late afternoon light are best for outdoor shoots; its the "magic light"
time. Consider these times when thinking about the time you would like to
shoot your outdoor pictures.
Timeline
1-2 Weeks Before
your shoot:
Finalize your
location(s).
Finish tanning.
Get your hair
cut, trimmed, colored, whatever you want.
Ask a friend to
join you and a parent during your shoot. You'll both have a lot of fun!
We'll call you
to confirm the time(s) and location(s) of your shoot and answer any
questions.
Create a list of
any special pictures you want (i.e., with a pet, your mom and dad, class
ring, etc.)
The Day
Before Your Shoot
Get a good night
sleep.
Have all your
clothes and props ready to go.
Give us a call
if you have any questions.
The Day of
Your Shoot
Be prepared well
in advance and on time for your shoot. No one looks good when they're
rushed.
Eat something
before your shoot (be sure there is no food in your teeth!).
Bring a parent
and/or friend with you to help ease your jitters; they will be able to help
you out in a number of ways.
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