Tips For A successful Portrait

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 What to Bring and What to Wear depending on the session you have decided upon pick several styles of outfits. Always include both casual and more formal styles with both dark/black and colorfull/white outfits for your portraits.

Pick a couple and if it is a senior portrait let your parents pick a couple, then choose- one or two from each pile. Colors will add some life to your proofs but traditional styles are the best choice overall and will look the best over the course of your life. That is to say, todays style will be gone tomorrow. Otherwise you're portrait will look dated and out of style in a year or two.

No Zebras here. In all seriousness stripes never photograph well, so unless you are dead set on an outfit leave the strips at home. PLEASE REMEMBER Your face is the main point of your portrait(s). Long sleeve solids or very subtle prints are usually the best in portraits. Medium to dark clothes look the best on dark backgrounds. So if you want a dramatic look, use darker more subtle colors.

Medium and light colors look the best on lighter colored backgrounds. So if you like the lighter backgrounds, bring lighter clothes solid sweaters will always be in style. Some poses show shoes bring shoes & socks that you plan to wear. Barefoot OR sandals is fine depending on the uniqueness of the look you want and are no problem for your casual looks\ don't forget your jewelry, belts or accessories

For outdoor portraits. NO GREENS PLEASE bright greens often clash with the greens of the leaves and grass. Black, Khaki, pink, orange, navy, tan, gold, burgundy, dark yellow are good outdoors. Please stay away from white, light/pale yellow or other very light/pale colors outdoors. These often are too hot and may out shine you.

Here are some common problems we run into. tan lines and sunburn! from tanning salons! It is importaant to stay away from the tanning salon and keep from sun bathing for a week before your session. Another problem is even sun tan or tan lines with people who wear sunglasses and or hats and ball caps so try and plan ahead- as you will have these portraits for the rest of your life Tan lines raccoon eyes, peeling skin on noses from recent burns, are a real turn off.

For the ladies the big problem is strap lines on the shoulders for the ladies who wish to be photographed in a strapless formal dress or top. Sunburn, uneven tanning and tan lines can not be retouched. Your session will need to be rescheduled.

Another big problem is clothes that are wrinkled or don't fit. Please don't bring your clothes rolled up in a ball in a backpack. Also try the cloths on before you arrive. It is important that your your dress skirt, shirt, jaket and/or tie properly fit.

A word on props.

Props can help to show your personality and shoe the types of activities you are involved in. Be sure to bring some of your own props to your portrait session. Here are some ideas:

• Musical Instrument
• Vehicle (car/truck/bike/cart) - Avialble by scheduling an outdoor session, adding an outdoor session to an existing shoot or booking the ultimate session
• Stylized jakets or clothing representing activities or hobbies....
• Pets (check with us ahead of time, there may be an extra
• Change for additional time/film required.)
• Hats
• Sports Equipment
• Sunglasses
• Poms/megaphone, cheerleaders don't forget your lollies.
• Team uniform/ball/helmet/shoes/stick/bat

Final recomendations

KEEP IT SIMPLE this will help garrantee a successful portrait.

Glasses wearer please note that if you wish to be photographed with your glasses the lenses must be removed Your optometrist will do this for free if you can't do it yourself.Due to our lighting and the way we concentrate our lighting to bring out your eyes we can not photograph you with lenses in your glasses if you plan to wear them.

Contacts can be worn, but often your eyes will be less red and will have more sparkle if you can get by with your contact lenses out. Long sleeve dresses and shirts are MUCH better than short sleeves ESPECIALLY for your head and shoulder/traditional poses.

Coordinate your outfit from head to toe.

Darker clothes minimize body size.

Don't forget to bring your jewelry, especially your class ring.

If you're in sports don't forget, helmet and ball, hockey stick, etc.

You often need to contact your school/coach weeks in advance to get jerseys and helmets during the summer. (don't delay in doing this)

You should wear your hair in your regular style. Guys should

NOT have a fresh haircut, but should have a fresh shave! 5 o'clock shadow will show and can't be touched up! If you need a trim, have it done about a week before. Gals, don't go get a new style or go to a new stylist that you've never used before.

A little Visene will "get the red out" if you have allergies! Heavier thicker materials will photograph and lay better for example, a sweatshirt is much thicker and will photograph ten times better than a t-shirt or button down cotton shirt. Guys, button down shirts are fine if you put a sweater or suit or sport coat over them.