Prepping Guide for Your Portrait Session


Preparing for a portrait session can greatly enhance the quality of your photos. Here's a comprehensive guide to ensure you look and feel your best for the session:


Your Look!

Your outfit can make a significant impact on your photos. Here's how to prepare:

  • Plan Ahead: Select your outfits in advance and have them ready the night before. Launder, iron, and prepare any necessary items.
  • Solid Colors Over Patterns: Solid colors are generally better for portraits. Avoid patterns, logos, graphics, and illustrations as they can be distracting.
  • Avoid Yellows and Oranges: These colors can create unflattering skin tones and reflections, making you appear sallow or overly warm in photos.
  • Simplicity is Key: Simple outfits often photograph better. Avoid overly complicated designs.
  • Glasses: If you wear glasses, consider removing the lenses to avoid glare. Alternatively, you can have a lens-free frame.
  • Confidence and Comfort: Wear clothes that make you feel confident and comfortable.
  • Durable Outfits: Choose outfits you aren’t afraid to get a little dirty. You might need to sit or lean on various surfaces.
  • Proper Fit: Ensure your clothes are reasonably fitted—not too tight, not too loose.
  • Minimal Accessories: Avoid over-accessorizing. Simple accessories can complement your look without being distracting.
  • Undergarments: Make sure undergarments are not visible. We won't alter the visibility of these in the final photos.
  • Mind the Neckline: Be aware of your neckline as it will be captured as is.
  • Family/Group Sessions: Match the formality of the outfits. If one person is in a suit, avoid having others in casual wear like t-shirts and jeans.
  • Color Palette: For family or group sessions, use a similar color palette to create a cohesive look.
  • Shave the Night Before: This helps prevent photos from capturing irritated skin and redness.
  • Empty Pockets: Keep your pockets free of items to avoid bulges and distractions.
  • Avoid Colorful Foods: Before the session, avoid eating foods that may cause discoloration around your mouth.


For Specific Types of Portrait Sessions

Business/Professional Portraits:

  • Dress Appropriately: Wear business attire that reflects your professional image.
  • Neutral Colors: Stick to neutral colors that convey professionalism.
  • Grooming: Ensure hair and nails are neatly groomed.


Casual/Lifestyle Portraits:

  • Be Yourself: Wear clothes that reflect your personal style and hobbies.
  • Comfortable Clothing: Choose outfits that allow you to move and pose naturally.


Children’s Portraits:

  • Comfortable Outfits: Ensure children wear comfortable clothes they can move and play in.
  • Favorite Toys: Bring along a favorite toy or comfort item to help them feel at ease.


Senior/Graduation Portraits:

  • Caps and Gowns: Bring your graduation cap and gown, and ensure they are clean and wrinkle-free.
  • Personal Style: Wear outfits that reflect your personal style and interests. Consider bringing props that represent your hobbies or achievements.
  • School Colors: Incorporate your school colors into your outfits or accessories for a meaningful touch.


Bridal Portraits:

  • Wedding Dress Ready: Ensure your wedding dress is clean, pressed, and fits perfectly. Bring along any accessories like your veil, jewelry, and shoes.
  • Bouquet: If possible, bring your bridal bouquet or a similar arrangement for a complete look.
  • Wedding Details: Bring additional wedding details to add personal touches to your photos. Examples include:
  • Wedding Invitations: Including your invitation suite can add a unique, personalized element.
  • Rings: Bring your engagement ring and wedding bands.
  • Heirlooms: Incorporate any family heirlooms or special items.
  • Shoes: Your wedding shoes can be featured in some shots.
  • Garter: If you’re wearing a garter, bring it along.
  • Hair Accessories: Include any special hairpieces or clips you’ll be wearing.
  • Perfume Bottle: Bring the perfume you’ll wear on your wedding day for a sentimental touch.


ADDITIONAL TIPS

  • Hair and Makeup: Consider having your hair and makeup professionally done. If you're doing it yourself, practice the look a few days before the session to ensure you’re happy with it.
  • Hydrate and Rest: Drink plenty of water and get a good night's sleep before your session to ensure you look fresh and vibrant.
  • Weather Considerations: Dress appropriately for the weather. If it’s hot, light fabrics are best. For colder weather, layering is key.
  • Bring Essentials: Pack a small bag with essentials like a comb, hairspray, makeup for touch-ups, and a lint roller.
  • Practice Poses: Spend a little time in front of the mirror practicing poses and facial expressions. This can help you feel more comfortable during the session.


GATHERING YOUR PROPS

If using props for your sessions, have them prepared and ready to go a few days before the session.

Recommended Props:

  1. Blankets for seated photos
  2. Flowers - especially recommended for bridal sessions
  3. Child's favorite toy if you want that captured
  4. Seasonal Items - Pumpkins, Wreaths, etc.
  5. Hats
  6. Items that are meaningful to your shoot:
  7. Engagement: Bring the RING! and items that are meaningful to the relationship, flowers
  8. Bridal: Rings, Bouquet (even if you don't have one, any flowers make the photos pop), scents, jewelry, shoes, veils
  9. Maternity: Baby clothes, shoes, blankets, ultrasounds, Signs
  10. Birthdays: Cake, Banners, Balloons
  11. Graduations/Senior Year: Grad Gowns, Tassels, Sports Props, Flowers, Signs


NECESSITIES TO BRING TO YOUR SESSION

These are some of the items we recommend you bring to your sessions.

Recommended Props:

  • Spare Bag - VERY IMPORTANT. Its always a good idea to bring a bag with all your items to stash and helps store the items you would have otherwise placed into your pockets
  • Mirror
  • Makeup
  • Towel/Tissues
  • Chapsticks
  • Comb/Brush
  • Hairspray
  • Hair Ties/Hair Pins
  • Lint Brush
  • Safety Pins
  • Comfy Shoes - especially if you are wearing heels, its a good idea to switch in between spots
  • Water
  • Bug Spray
  • Props



By following these tips, you'll be well-prepared for your portrait session and ready to capture beautiful, memorable photos!

Things to keep in mind


  1. Your Final Payment is due 7 days prior to your photoshoot
  2. Arrive 10 Mins Prior to your shoot and be ready to start the session on time
  3. If your session includes retouching, we only remove items such as small blemishes or scratches. If there is anything else that's prominent that you would want the photographer to remove, please discuss with us during the shoot and point it out. We can not promise but we can try. We will not go out of the way to assume you would want something removed as we would respectfully not want to offend anyone if those are natural birth marks.