* Wear similar tones of clothing
* Think in black and white tones; if everyone wears dark blue and one person wears white, the eye will be drawn to the person wearing white. If there's a reason that one person should stand out, then do it. If not, change your color selections.
* Denim in any color for pants and jackets works well. It's classic, it's informal and it comes in lots of great colors. Best of all, it never goes out of style.
* Groom your hands and nails; they usually end up in some pictures.
* Avoid patterns, logos, branding, and busy designs Stripes, plaids, checks and busy patterns like paisley all tend to be distracting.
* Avoid anything shiny or reflective ~ Avoid large, shiny objects like belt buckles, bold jewelry and reflective watches.
* Unless your watch has a story, it's best to take it off during your portrait session. In fact, it's best to take it off well before you arrive so the marks on your wrist have a chance to fade.
* Classic, elegant jewelry like pearls always looks appropriate.
* Beware the color red ~ It attracts attention! If you want to stand out on purpose, wear red. If you choose red for everybody, it's best if the reds match...
Portrait Tips for Women
Wear long sleeves, or at least three-quarter length sleeves.
Choose v-necks, square-necks and turtlenecks.
Avoid cowlnecks and other floppy necklines.
Avoid buttondowns and crewnecks unless you have a very long neck.
Classic jewelry, like pearls, always makes a great choice.
Blouses with collars that open and lie flat look great over a jacket.
Layers look great. A single-breasted jacket over a tight-fit, square-neck top looks fabulous.
Fitted tops always look better than loose-fitting clothing.
No matter what you choose, make sure you can cross your arms comfortably without the shoulders riding up.
Portrait Tips for Men
The more formal the portrait, the darker your colors must be. You can get away with light colors for an informal portrait or location shots in the summer on the beach.
Turtlenecks look great, especially under jackets.
Do not wear a jacket that is much lighter than what you're wearing underneath it.
Crewnecks sweaters or layers work fine on men. Don't be afraid to wear white t-shirts under buttondown shirts.
Tips For Everyone:
*arrive early - be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get here - you won't want to be rushed.
*haircuts - schedule a haircut no sooner than five days before your session, to give it a chance to "fill in" a bit. don't try a radically different haircut or style - your hair should be the way your friends and family are used to seeing it.
*choosing the right clothing - while there are no "rules" about what to wear, here are a few suggestions on what to bring for each different session choice:Avoid patterns, logos, branding, and busy designs Stripes, plaids, checks and busy patterns like paisley all tend to be distracting
*essensital indoor - some seniors dress up a little more for their studio portraits, but more importantly than the "formalness" of your outfit is the style. simple and solid colors work best for this session. these are the portraits that will hang on your walls for a long time, and you don't want the outfit to overpower the image.
*basic outdoor - outdoor portraits should be casual, and so should your outfits. this is the session for jeans, khakis, shorts, tanks and tees. the best colors outdoors are blues and earth tones (olive, green, tan, brown, etc.). whites and reds do not work well outdoors.
*bring a friend - if you are bringing a friend, sibling, or significant other, please keep your outfits in the same tonal range.
* scheduling your photo session - make sure you schedule early, as the best times go fast. if you are planning on an outdoor session, the best light of the day is in theEarly morning and late afternoon and we only have one 9:30 am and 4:30pm time slot available.
* bring plenty of clothing changes. it is better to bring it and not use it, then leave it at home and wish you had brought it. we do ask all seniors to bring a long sleeved black shirt. other ideas include, hats, belt buckles, t-shirts, dance costumes, dresses. if you can wear it, bring it along!
*Tips on glasses
Glasses represent a particular challenge in portraits. The lenses tend to distort the face, producing a less than pleasing effect. Consider bringing a pair of frames without lenses (ask your optometrist if you could borrow a pair without frames) or be prepared to remove the lenses from your existing glasses. You might also consider a portrait without glasses. In general I know that you will not be pleased with portraits taken through the lenses of your existing glasses, so please be prepared to have your portraits taken either without glasses or without lenses in your frames. If there is no other choice I will do my best to not get flash in them although there is no guarantee.
