PREPARING FOR YOUR PHOTOSHOOT
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RELAX! This is going to be FUN! You don’t need to panic. I work hard to create a casual environment, and put you in the best position to be get great images.
Ideas: I LOVE to see your ideas! Portraits should be an expression of you who are,and there is no better way for me to understand what you are looking for than if you share your ideas! Take some time to scout Pinterest or Google Image Search to look for portraits that you love. Gather 15-20 (more or less is ok) of your favorite images and send them to me for some basic inspiration. Tell me what you love most about each of them. Is it the pose? The lighting? The scenery? The Props? Tell me as much as you can about why you love the images, and I will do my best to incorporate your ideas into YOUR shoot. What to wear? Wear what makes you feel the most confident and attractive. That said, you will want to avoid wearing busy patterns that will be distracting to the final viewers. Solid colors usually photograph better than patterns. Avoid wearing fad styles that will quickly appear dated. This is especially true with “trendy” clothes like rock bands t-shirts, or other pop-culture references. If you are self-conscious about your arms, avoid wearing sleeveless tops, as they tend to make your arms look fuller. Bring a variety of outfits that show off all of your different personalities. Bring some dressy outfits, some casual outfits, and a mix of colors and styles. If you’re comfortable in dresses, bring them! They look great and offer a nice variety from your other casual clothing styles. Undergarments should be color coordinated with your outfits so as not to show through your clothes. Girls may want to consider wearing a strapless bra depending on your outfit. Shifting or tucking straps to try to hide them doesn’t always result in a great look. Boys should remember that pant-sagging and showing your boxers is a trend and won’t be flattering when you look back on these in a few years. Try on your outfits before your shoot to be sure that your chosen undergarments won’t leave unpleasant lines underneath your outfit. Plan to make outfit changes quickly. We have a limited time for your shoot, and the faster you can change outfits, the more time we will have to make images. To that end, I recommend that you group your outfits on hangers and make sure that they are ironed and ready to go. Any jewelry that you plan to wear can also be put into a Ziploc baggie and clipped to the hangers. Remember that if we are shooting on location, access to private dressing areas may be limited. If no such facilities are available nearby, you may find it best to simply change in your vehicle. I’ve been known to lay a sheet of backdrop fabric over a car’s windows to provide the necessary privacy! Makeup and Hair: Makeup is a very personal choice, but I recommend that clients consider wearing makeup even if they don’t wear it on a regular basis. A well-done touch of makeup will help to even out skin tones, conceal imperfections, and also cut down on the shine that can come with a mid-summer or early fall photo shoot. It can really bring out that model look! Just be careful not to overdo it. A little makeup goes a long way. Mascara should be clean and not clumpy. Avoid makeup with an SPF rating; such makeups tend to add a shine, or glare to the final image. Nail polish, if you wear it, should be clean and tidy, and not chipped or faded. Popular convention says that hair looks best on the day of a cut, but in reality, it is best to get your hair cut a few days before your shoot, so that it can return to a more natural state. Hair should be styled before the shoot, and can be touched up between poses. Bring a mirror and whatever hairspray, clips, pins, etc, that you might need to tend to this. A clean shave is important for men, so be sure to shave or trim on the morning of your shoot. Ultimately, your hair and makeup are your responsibility. Want to book a stylist for your big day? I can make arrangements to have a certified makeup artist with us for the shoot for a small additional fee. Props You are welcome to bring a few props to show off your personality. Sporting equipment, uniforms, musical instruments, even a pet can make a great prop. Be sure that any props you bring are going to represent you for the long haul though. Remember that these images will be representing you for years to come. Props should be tasteful as well. I reserve the right to refuse to shoot images that could be considered offensive, etc. I also want to be sure that the focus is on YOU, not just your props. Additionally, we may be moving from location to location, so consider your props appropriately. If you do bring a pet, make sure that someone can be responsible for them during your shoot. Friends and Family You are welcome to bring a friend or family member with you if you choose. They may be a great help to make you feel comfortable during the shoot. Having an extra pair of hands around can even be helpful to me, and I may put them to work holding reflectors, flashes, or gobos! Please be aware that your guests need to remember that the focus is on you, and they should be careful not to be a distraction to you. Weather Don’t fret if there are clouds in the air on the day of your shoot. A light or even moderate cloud cover can be great as it tends to be a beautiful, even light, avoiding the harsh contrast of bright hightlights and dark shadows in the final images. In fact, photo shoots that take place on beautiful sunny days will require us to look specifically for shaded areas that will help with the light. That said, we don’t want to shoot in a falling rain, high winds, or other inclement weather. In the case of poor weather, we may be forced to reschedule. I will wait until an hour or two before the scheduled start time of your shoot to make any final decision, as weather can change quickly in the Finger Lakes. Be sure to provide me with a cell phone number and an email address where I can contact you on the day of the shoot in the event of inclement weather. |
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