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Our Suggestions…
Are meant to be used as guidelines to help you prepare for a great photography session and the most beautifully finished portraits possible, therefore, we hope that you will use this information in this brochure as you plan for your portrait.

What you wear…
Will have a direct bearing on the effectiveness of you portrait. Proper clothing can greatly enhance the personal appearance of any subject so we strongly urge you to bring several outfits to you portrait session, using the enclosed information to help you plan ahead.

Remember that YOU are the subject, not your clothing. Appeal and props should be secondary and should not detract from the subject. Clothing and props can help establish a mood but never compete with a subject.

Please arrive 10 minutes before scheduled time of session so you can be signed in without losing any of your session time.

If you plan to give a portrait gift to family or friends, consider where it will be displayed so you can choose a style and backgrounds that will suit the area.

Important … points to remember…

Dress according to the style and effect you want to create, either formal or casual, sophisticated elegance or informal, both indoors and outdoors.
Medium to dark colors photograph best, since they will recede, leaving the emphasis on the light, or facial, skin tones. This is very important when planning your clothing, especially if a friend is joining you in one of your poses. Avoid patterns, wear only solid colors.
Pastel and light colors must be handled carefully since they tend to dominate the portrait and add size to you, the subject.
White and pastel colors can be used very effectively as accent colors, or when not used against a light background.
Long sleeves are best – they compliment the facial skin tones and allow the possibility of cropping the photograph, if needed. It’s important to not wear a sleeveless or “capped” sleeve (covering only to shoulder) which, in the photograph, makes your arm appear larger than it really is.
Sweaters, cardigans and jackets can be used very effectively – but high collars and turtlenecks will “shorten you neck”, giving your face a much rounder appearance than most of us want to have!
Hats, musical instruments, and sports equipment are good for character studies and give a unique look to your portraits.
If a piece of clothing has a special meaning to you, such as uniforms and ethnic attire, but doesn’t fit into the suggested guidelines, it should be included in your session.

High-Key or Window-Light Portraits
…using a white or light background…

When using one or the other of these backgrounds, all clothing and accessories must be white or very light. The style can be either formal or casual since everything “light” works well – but remember – no patterns!

Special props – We encourage you to bring props that reflect your personality, such as musical instruments, or items used in a hobby (art, dancing, sports, crafts, etc.), which can be used to give your portrait special meaning to a family member or friend.

Outdoor portraits / Environmental studies – Wear clothes and styles appropriate for the environment. Remember that medium to dark colors are just as important outside as well as inside. Earth colors (brown, rust, green, red, etc.) are always good. Denim and leather styles are excellent. Sweaters and jackets are good but no bulky apparel (parkas, etc.). Dress for full length even though some poses will be done 3/4 length.

Beach – Overcast days are great for your photography session and are even preferred! Pastel or light colored clothes work best since beach colors are beige, blue, gray, white and green. It’s a good time to go barefoot!

Makeup – A base should be work to help even out the skin tones. Blend it thoroughly over the face and neck areas. Eyes should be lined on the outside of the lid – not the inside to avoid having you eyes appear much smaller than they are. Avoid colors since you’ll probably be changing clothes colors. A neutral color is best. Frosted lipsticks or face highlighters may reflect light and are not recommended.

Couples and Groups – plan clothing style and colors carefully. Everyone should stay in the same color family and wear solid colors only. Don’t mix styles, such as casual with formal and dress for full length. Ladies should avoid short dresses since they may be seated in the front of the group. Dark stockings are preferred with dresses that are medium to dark in color. Everyone should avoid wearing light shoes, light slacks, light skirts, light socks.

Retouching – all photographs will undergo normal corrections and enhancement at $7.00 per pose. Major problems such as correcting hair or clothing, removing or restoring various items, changing backgrounds, etc. are not included in normal corrections. Estimates for this work will be given on request.

Eye Glasses – we will do all we can to eliminate reflections and glare. Normally minor retouching is all that is necessary to eliminate glass glare. Highly-corrective glasses may cause problems that cannot be corrected by regular retouching. You might want to borrow a frame (no glass) in the same style as your own, or have the lenses removed from your own glasses for the photography session. Photogrey lenses should be avoided as they may show an orange cast when photographed.

Small Children – use solid colors in styles that are natural for your child. You might have them wear playclothes and bring toys or props that have special meaning to them. Again, it’s important to dress them in solid colors. We know that this is difficult when there are so many nice patterns for children, but patters in clothing distract from the little person who is being photographed!