Preparing for a Portrait Session
How do I prepare for a portrait session? It's not as hard as it may seem! Just follow these guidelines and you'll be just fine.
CLOTHING STYLE: Consider who the portrait is for and where it will be displayed, and that should help guide your sense of formal attire or casual. If it is for a formal living room, then you will want to wear formal or dressy attire. If you want a casual room, then wear casual attire.
CLOTHING COLORS AND PATTERNS: We normally recommend staying away from strong, busy patterns in the clothing because the portrait is about you, not your clothes. Note that we are talking about patterns, not texture. If your cloth has texture (such as a knit sweater) then that works well. Strong colors and busy patterns force the viewers eye to look more at the clothing than at your face. An exception to this is with children; bright, bold colors can work well with them. Single color clothing is recommended.
Wear clothing that works well with the background of the image. If the background is a darker color, then wear darker clothing. The same is true for a medium or light background, use medium or light clothing. Light clothing can be pastels or even white. Consider again where the portrait will hang in the home. In a room with decorated with dark tones, you will want to use dark clothing. Our SIGNATURE SERIES will require dark clothing. We strongly recommend for this series that one outfit be black in color. You may also bring other dark colors.
OTHER CLOTHING CONSIDERATIONS: Normally, I would recommend long sleeves to cover your arms and that the legs be covered for a formal portrait. The same is true for formal or casual portraits if you are concerned about how your arms or legs appear. If not, then show it! Layered clothing always looks good.
If you are wearing t-shirts, it is best for T-shirts not to have any writing, logos or images printed on them.
Remember that baggy clothing will usually make you look bigger than you are. If you are concerned about your weight, don't wear baggy or tight fitting clothing.
GROUPS: It is best for everyone in a group portrait to have the same tones in their clothing. If dark tones are being worn, then everyone wear dark tones. Otherwise, if everyone is in a dark wardrobe except one person, that one person is going to stand out like a sore thumb and the portrait will not appear balanced; the image just won't "look right" to the viewer. They may not know why, they will just feel it.
HOW MANY OUTFITS SHOULD I BRING TO THE SESSION? We would recommend that you bring 2-3 outfits for a session. If you booked a Mini Session, you should bring one wardrobe selection.
WRINKLES: We're talking about the clothing kind here, not the human kind. Please be sure that your wardrobe selections are without wrinkles; wrinkles will clearly show in the final image. Iron is necessary. Of course, if you want a "grunge" look or something more edgy, then wrinkles work! Changing rooms are available at the studio and there is a place to hang your clothing.
BLEMISHES: Don't worry if you wake up the morning of the session and you have a fever blister or blemish. Simple distractions can be removed in retouching. You might want to drink plenty of water for a couple of days prior to the session.
JEWELRY: It is fine to bring jewelry, especially for a more dressy image.
HAIR AND MAKEUP: Please arrive at the studio with hair ready. Have nails and make-up already done. Bring along some make-up (lipstick and powder) for touch ups. Glitter tends to look like perspiration in an image.
AND LAST: Please be at the studio 15 minutes early.
If a minor is being photographed, please remember that a responsible adult must be present in the studio at all times during the session.
Let us know if you have any questions or ideas that you want to discuss. The email is ronb@pobox.com and phone is 623.698.2228.