Ideas -Bring photos, websites, magazines, books, or drawings that you like. I will use these images to form an idea of the photographic styles and "looks" you like, and together we'll achieve portraits that no one else has! The more I know about what you want before the start of your session, the easier it will be for you to get the kinds of pictures you like. |
Guests -Feel free to bring a friend or family member to help ease the "jitters." Guests are invited to sit with you and help with clothing, hair, etc. |
Hair -Schedule a haircut no sooner than five days before your session to give it a chance to "fill in" a bit. And don't try a radically different haircut, color or style. |
Makeup -Apply makeup as if you were going out for the evening. Too little and you'll look pale and washed out; too much makes you look painted on or fake. Pay special attention to your eyes; that's what everyone will see first in your portraits. |
Glasses -If you wear glasses most of the time you'll want to wear them in your portraits. To eliminate distracting glare and reflections, call your optician and arrange to either borrow a pair of empty frames like yours or have the lenses removed from your own frames. Most opticians will gladly do this for free if you give them a few days notice. This is the easiest way to improve your portraits if you wear glasses. If you choose to wear your glasses the way they are, keep in mind that removing any glass glare from your photographs can be quite difficult if not impossible, depending on the glare location. |
Braces -If you wear braces, they're as much a part of you right now as your hairstyle or the clothes you wear. Don't be self-conscious about smiling! If you don't like your braces in your portraits, they can be digitally removed at your request. |
Blemishes -All of your finished portraits will be completely retouched, but your digital proofs will not. To improve the look of your proofs, apply a small dab of cover-up makeup to any noticeable blemishes. If they're gone in the mirror, they will be gone in your photographs! Also, please try to stay out of the sun a few days prior to your session to avoid sunburn. |
Clothes -Choosing the right clothing is easier than you might think. When selecting your outfits, keep in mind the number of clothing changes you'll have for your session. And, while there are no "rules" about what to wear, here are a few suggestions on what to bring for each different session choice:In the Studio -Simple, solid colors work best for this session. These are the portraits that most likely will hang on your walls for a long time, and you don't want the outfit to overpower the image. Your Studio outfits might be a suit or sport coat (for guys) or a dress or skirt (for girls), or they might be jeans and a t-shirt. Either style (or something in-between) is fine, but remember that the simpler the better. Prints, words, and stripes are very distracting in any photo and they tend to take away the focus from your expression. They can also be quite trendy and may not be as appealing to you in years to come.Outside -This is the session for jeans, khakis, shorts, tanks and tees, but more formal apparel looks nice too. The best colors outdoors are blues and earth tones (olive, green, tan, brown, etc.) however, bold, vivid colors can really pop in the right location.Overall -Fashions can be great, but it's a good idea to wear at least one outfit that will likely not be labeled as obviously trendy. The thing about fashion is that it goes out of style. You might be happy with your photos for a year, then be terribly embarrassed you actually wore such an outfit five years down the road. White socks don't look well, so remember to bring darker socks if you plan to wear shoes. Please make sure your clothes aren't wrinkly as your photos will show all the wrinkles. |
Your Stuff -No rules here. Any props that fit into your life can be included in your portraits, examples of such include your class ring, skateboard, art supplies, snowboard, girlfriends/boyfriends, buddies, stuffed animals, band instruments, hats, pets, bikes, cars, awards, etc. Your activities are a part of who you are, feel free to express yourself. If you're bringing a vehicle, try to coordinate your outfit with the color of the car. |
Friends/Pets -If you're bringing a friend, sibling or significant other, keep your outfits in the same tonal range. In other words, you both want to be in the same or similar, rather than contrasting, colors. That doesn't mean that you have to have matching outfits. But, with two or more people in a photograph, similar colors tend to be less distracting to the eye. If your cat is gray, bring a gray or black shirt. Please inform Tara prior to your session if you plan to have additional people/pets in your portrait. |
Come prepared to have a good time, because you will! Feel free to call or email with questions or concerns, I want you to be comfortable with this experience!