PLANNING YOUR SENIOR PORTRAITS
Here are some tips to help
make sure your senior portraits are the best they can be.
CLOTHING: First of all AVOID STIPES AND PLAIDS!! Solid colors are
best! Also bring a variety of color. Don’t
bring 5 blue outfits even if blue is your favorite color. Very the style, all one look gets boring. Vary the dress level,
bring some dressy, some medium, and some casual. Remember, these portraits will
be hanging on your parents wall for a very long time. Bring some trendy stuff
but also some classic styles to make your parents happy. I suggest you bring
double what you think we will actually use so that we have plenty to pick from. Plan
outfits completely. It is hard to do a full length formal in your suit of all
you brought were tennis shoes. Also remember dark colors look better on dark
backgrounds and light colors look better on light backgrounds. Group your outfits
together on hangers. Be sure they are ironed.
Be sure your shoes are clean.
CLOTHING FOR BLACK & WHITE: The black and white “glamour”
look is best with black or dark clothing. The contrast between the skin tones
and black clothing is what makes them so dramatic.
HAIR: Avoid drastically changing your hairstyle or color right before the session.
Let it be natural. Quick, easy hairstyle changes are welcome during the
session. It is ok to show up in curlers and take it down just before the shoot. I do my best to smooth stray hair and help with hair, but it is hard for me know what
your hair is “supposed” to look like so make sure you let me know your preferences.
PROPS: BRING THEM!! Bring props that help to define who you are. Some popular choices are: sports equipment (soccer ball, football, base/softball,
hurdle, uniforms, ect…), music instruments (from tuba to rock guitar), hobbies (dance outfit, swimming gear, painting,
ect…), your car can even be a prop.
GLASSES: Most glasses glare! Check with your optometrist. Some will loan you an empty set of frames similar to yours. Another
option is to look for cheap reading or sunglasses close to your frames. You can
pop the lenses out of these. Glass glare can be retouched at $7.00 per image. Once it’s retouched, anything you order from that image will be retouched.
TATTOO’S, SCARS, AND BRACES: Just let me know if you want tattoos
to show or not. Scars are not automatically retouched but can be removed or softened. You just have to let me know. Braces can
be removed at a cost of $18.00 per image. (It’s not something I
can do myself.) I would suggest if you do any at all you just do the big portrait that will be hanging forever and your
yearbook picture. The rest are going to be given out to friends and family and they know what you look like with or
with out them.
FRIENDS, SIBLINGS, AND PARENTS: Are welcome. They can even jump in
a shot or two with you at no extra charge.
RETOUCHING: I include a general retouch on two images, your biggest and your yearbook picture. If you want more images retouched it’s $5.00 per image for things I can do myself. For things I can’t do it’s $7.00 (braces are $18.00) an image for the lab to do it. Once an image is retouched everything you order from it will be done.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR GIRLS
JEWELRY: Keep is simple. We want the attention to be on you. Big shiney jewelry can distract from the real subject.
If you have different jewelry for different outfits you might want to put each set in a zip lock bag and attach it
to the hanger for that outfit.
CLOTHING: Be careful of baggy clothes that might make you look bigger
than you are. Clothing that is to tight makes you bigger than you are. Be careful of sleeveless styles. They
can make your arms look fuller than they are. Consider everything from swimsuits
to formal dresses. Have fun with it. Bring the wildest thing you own but would never wear. You never know
it could make some great, fun images. Think about your body type. If you don't like your arms, don't bring
sleeveless tops, if you don't like your thighs, don't bring short skirts.
UNDERGARMENTS: It is amazing how many times someone will come in
wearing flowered underwear and not realize it’s is a problem until they go to put on their white pants. Please be sure to bring coordinating undergarments with each outfit if necessary. And don't forget
all the various bras you might need.
FINGER AND TOENAILS: If have chipped paint, it will show. Many casual shots are done barefoot so don’t forget about those toes.
Avoid really bright colors. Natural or basic colors work best. We don’t want to draw attention to your neon orange toes.
TAN LINES: Tan lines will show in portraits. We suggest you vary your swimsuit top or use a tanning bed or self tanner to even out tan lines.
MAKE UP: Makeup should be only slightly heavier than normal. Buy new mascara. Stick with neutral
colors. Bring powder and lipstick/gloss for touch ups.
Guys
Just a few things.
SHAVING:
If you are normally clean shaven, shave about an hour before coming. This way it's fresh but gives the
redness time to go away.
GROOMING:
There should be two eyebrows not one.
CLOTHING:
Don't forget shoes!! Clean shoes. If you are wearing a suit, bring dress shoes. If you are wearing tennis
shoes, clean them. I know I said this above but you wouldn't believe how many guys don't think about shoes.
