Schedule
a Time
- Natural light pictures look best in the morning or at dusk. Afternoon sunlight creates shadows and lines on faces and should be avoided.
- If children are a concern, schedule a time when they are happiest.
Pick
a Location
- Let’s talk about your ideas and I can share mine.
Choose Outfits
- Coordinated outfits will always compliment the group. Matching outfits can take away from the people in the photo making it so the viewer only notices how similar everyone looks.
- Simple solid colors always look great. It’s OK for one person in the group to have a simple stripe or basic design but tight stripes and patterns do not show up well in photographs and should be avoided.
- Do not wear tight fitting clothes if planning maternity, infant, or any style of photo session in which skin is showing. Restrictive clothes, tight waist bands, socks, and some under garments can leave unsightly marks.
- If you wear glasses most of the time, you will want to wear them in your portraits. To eliminate glare or reflections, bring empty frames or remove the lenses from your glasses (if possible).
- For helpful outfit coordinating ideas type “what to wear photography” into Google image search.
Consider
Poses
- If you have fun posing ideas in mind or if you would like to recreate a pose you’ve seen on another website, please email me so that we can discuss the possibilities.
Grooming
- Clean finger nails and toe nails. Make sure noses and eyes are clean and clear.
- Come “camera ready.” That means make-up and hair are ready for pictures when you arrive.
- Heavier make-up tends to look better in photographs (this doesn’t mean you should “cake it" on though).
- Moisturize all skin that could show.
- Make appointments for haircuts a week or two in advance of the photo session.
Bring
- A small snack (something that will not ruin clothes if there is an accidental spill)
- Make-up and a compact mirror for touch ups
- Brush or comb
- Kleenex
- Chap-stick or lip gloss (men and women should have moisturized lips)
- Lotion
If
you are bringing children it is always helpful to have their favorite toy or
comfort item on hand. Photo
sessions are usually 1.5 hours long and young children usually last about 25
minutes. After that it is a creative
team effort to keep everyone smiling. It
really does help if kids have some kind of treat to look forward to after the
photo session.