Preparing for Your Portrait
YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! A beautiful portrait does
not just happen. There are many details that, if carefully
planned for, will make a substantial difference in the quality
and appeal of your photographs. Your help with these fine
points can transform an ordinary picture into a work of art
you will treasure for years to come.
CLOTHING: Keep it simple! For outdoor settings, casual
is definitely best. Wear solid colors. Avoid bold patterns
such as stripes, plaids, polka-dots, florals. Wear similarly-toned
colors; a monochromatic look assures that no one person well
stand out from the others in the group.
HAIRSTYLES: Plan haircuts at least a week in advance
of your session. Allow 10 days to two weeks for a fresh perm
to relax. Don’t try a totally new hairstyle, as several
months are generally needed to get accustomed to a new look.
If an outdoor session is planned, apply hairspray to keep
the hair in place. Men may need to shave just before the session-a
“five o’clock shadow” can not be removed from
the finished portrait.
MAKEUP: Apply makeup exactly as you would if you were
going out for the evening. Pay special attention to your eyes,
as they will be the most important part of your portrait.
Concealer helps soften blemishes and lines and is recommended
for everyone in the group when necessary.
GLASSES: If you wear glasses most of the time, you’ll
want them in your portraits. However, tinted glasses, or glasses
that darken in bright light, will ruin the look of your portrait.
Also, the glare from the lenses will be distracting in a portrait.
You can help simply by wearing a pair of empty frames. Also,
be sure and remove sunglasses about a half hour before the
session, to allow time for indentations made in the face by
sunglasses to fade and also to allow your eyes a chance to
get used to the bright light so you don’t squint!
YOUR IDEAS ARE IMPORTANT! A portrait should reflect
you and your lifestyle-you might want to include a special
prop in some of the images. We’ve done portraits with
automobiles, bikes, boats, animals, musical instruments and
sports equipment. Please feel free to discuss all your ideas
with us!
FROM PHOTOGRAPHY TO ART: Since at least one of your
portraits will be hung in a highly visible part of your home,
it is very important to plan the portrait to fit the décor
of that particular location. Your photograph will become a
decorator accent piece if you plan the clothing colors to
match or compliment the colors in the room where the portrait
will be hung.
Feel free to consult with us about frame styles to match
your décor!
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