Session Tips

Picking the Best Time

• Choose a time when your family is well-rested, fed and open to the experience. Small children are usually more cooperative in the mornings. If you have family members who are prone to low blood sugars, you might schedule the shoot for after a fun family meal, or treat them to a nice healthy snack somewhere before they come. Get a good night's rest, relax and be ready to have some fun!
• The diffused light from a partly cloudy day is ideal for shooting. Bright midday sun will cause heavy shadows under the eyes. If you do want to shoot in an outdoor setting, talk to me ahead of time about some of the best ways we can work around inclement weather or lighting conditions.

Hairstyles

• Hairstyles that are simple and off-the-face photograph well.
• Hair falling down onto the sides of the face can create distracting shadows.
• Bangs that come down too low keep light from getting into the eyes.
• Try and avoid being photographed right after a fresh haircut. If you need a trim, have it done about a week before.

Glasses

• Decide if you would like to wear your glasses while being photographed.
• If you choose to wear them, I may have to ask you to tip them up off your ears a bit to cut any glare from the lights, flash or sun. You may be able to obtain a frame set similar to your own from your eyewear specialist.
• Any tint to your glasses will darken under photographic lights or outside.
• Contacts present no problem.

Clothing Choices

• Lay your clothing on a bed where you can see it all at one time. Be sure to include your shoes, socks, stockings and any accessories. Then, carefully look over what you have chosen. If one piece stands out too much, it probably is not a good choice.
• Clothing should not be too loose or too tight. You will look your best when you are comfortable.
• Dress for a full length pose, because we do not know how much is going to show until everything is set up.
• The color of clothing should usually be toned down. Bright colors almost always detract from the face.
• Light colors are best if you are being photographed against a dark background or you have a fair complexion. Light colors also seem to go better with dark hair and a dark complexion.
• Earth tones are best for outdoor portraits, unless the setting is somewhere bright (circus, beach, fair), in which case lighter colors are a better choice.
• Darker clothing helps to blend figures to a background and tends to slenderize the subject, while light colors seem to add weight. Black, dark browns and blues are best with a light background.
• As a rule, clothing below the waist should be darker than above.
• Long-sleeved clothing is usually best, even for casual portraits. When bare arms and legs are exposed to the camera, the added skin tones can take attention away from the face.

Neck

• A wide, open neckline can tend to thicken the look of the neck.
• By contrast, a neckline that comes up to the base of the neck, such as a V-neck or turtleneck top, are generally most flattering.
• Avoid necklaces that have clasps that tend to spend more time in the front than in the back where they belong.

Feet

• If your feet are to show in the portrait, make certain your shoes and stockings are in keeping with the visual intent of the portrait.
• Dark stockings on women photograph very well.

Group Portraits

• Formal or casual - you decide. Is your family most comfortable in suits and formal clothing or are they more at home in jeans and casual shirts? Whichever you pick, families and family groups look best when the whole family is coordinated.
• Some folks coordinate by wearing different shades of same color. Others might all wear jeans, with shirts in different solid colors. It can be fun to pick a look that defines how you all are as a group.
• If you are unsure what others in your group will be wearing, bring along a few extra clothing choices so that you have some compatible choices.
• White is a color that can distract the eye immediately from the face. Best to avoid it if possible.

Props

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

• Musical Instrument
• Leather Jacket
• Uniform
• Hats
• Sports Equipment
• Stuffed Animals
• Sunglasses
• Pets (please let me know ahead of time if you plan on including your pets)