Tips for Awesome Portraits

   Proper clothing and makeup choices are important in the preparation of a successful portrait session. Following a few simple "rules of thumb" will help ensure good results.

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Your Face is the focus...

   Faces are the most important part of a portrait. Makeup should be blended at the jaw line for smooth transitions between face and neck. The camera will pick up details in makeup, so too much makeup will not look good. A more natural, clean look, usually works best. Gents - It is best to have a clean shave when you show up for your portrait.

 

Hairstyles

   Hairstyles that are simple and "off the face" photograph well. Hair falling down onto the sides of the face can create distracting shadows and bangs that come down too low keep light from getting into the eyes. You probably don't want to sport a new hairstyle for your portrait. If you get a haircut, you should get it a day or two before a portrait session.

 

Glasses

   You decide if you would like to wear your glasses while being photographed. If you choose to wear them, you may be asked to tip them up off your ears a bit to cut glare from studio lights. We may also ask you to remove your glasses and take some photos without them. You may want to consider speaking with your eyewear specialist. In some cases it may be possible to obtain a frame set similar to your own that do not have lenses (no lenses, no glare). We will attempt to minimize the effect glasses cause, but we can only do so much!

 

Clothing Choices

   Try to make clothing choices that compliment you and your skin tones. Bright colors often detract from the face (not always, but often). Clothing made with solid fabric will almost always photograph better. - This is our way of saying - "Stay away from fabric prints!" Clothing with any kind of print or pattern can be a problem and should be avoided. Darker clothing helps to blend figures to a background and tend to slenderize the subject, while light colors seem to add weight. An exception to this rule may be in the use of light clothing for "high Key" situations, such as our custom made pencil portraits.

   Lay out your clothing choices on a bed where you can see them all at one time. Be sure to include your shoes, socks, stockings, and any accessories. Carefully look over your collection. If one piece stands out too much, it probably is not the best choice. Usually clothing below the waist should be darker than above. Obviously, clothing should not be too loose or too tight fitting. You will look your best when you are comfortable!

 

Clothing Necklines

   The most flattering necklines tend to come close to the neck. A wide, open neckline can tend to make your neck look thicker. By contrast, a neckline that comes up to the base of the neck, such as a v-neck or turtle neck top, are generally more flattering.

 

Formal / Casual

   Long-sleeved clothing is usually best for more formal poses.  White or pastel shirts and/or blouses under a dark jacket are perfect. A simple scarf loosely tied around the neck also helps to frame a face beautifully when a collarless blouse or sweater is worn. Neckties should be toned down in both color and pattern.

   For casual portraits, it is usually better to wear long pants rather than shorts. When bare arms and legs are exposed to the camera, the added skin tones may take attention away from the face.

 

A Final word on Clothing

   Choose clothes that you feel comfortable in. Choose clothes that compliment your skin tones (darker skinned or tanned skin toned people can usually wear brighter colors). Be sure to give yourself some options for different looks (plan on both formal and casual). Keep in mind that we may try a number of poses (especially our seniors) so you'll want to be able to be flexible while wearing your clothing choices.

 

Get Creative

   Don't forget to bring  special props you might want to include in the image. Props can help show your personality and record the types of activities you are involved in. Some ideas for props include musical instruments, letter jacket, uniforms, hats, sports equipment, stuffed animals, or sunglasses. You may want to bring up any ideas or items that may need special attention (pets are a good example of something that may require special notification - contact us prior to your session).

 

When you are ready to set up your session, contact us to book an appointment. We look forward to speaking with you!