Session Tips
You have chosen to create images of yourself, your child, your pregnancy or your family and I am sure you have chosen this timing because there is something meaningful about right now that you want to capture. Since it is important enough for you to take the time to do this, I want to make sure you walk away with an experience and images that you love.
To achieve this, I have provided some thoughts below in an attempt to answer your questions in advance and to allow us to make the most of our time together.
Clothing:
I have a large selection of fabrics and draping for us to use. When considering what other clothing to wear or bring for your session there are several things to consider:
- First and foremost, it is important that you are comfortable in the clothing you choose. If you feel awkward in your clothes, you will look awkward in your images.
- Second, wear clothes that express your personality and style.
- Stay away from colors whose tones match your skin tone (think in black and white!) Pastels aren't great for Caucasian skin, browns don't always work well with dark skin.
- Bold colors work well for most skin tones - black or ivory, rich reds, blues and greens, etc..
- Patterned clothing can be visually distracting if there is too much of it. It can also add to a visually powerful image if done right. If you have any question, bring it and we will decide during the session. If your session includes multiple people, make sure that you aren't all wearing different patterned clothing. If the image has a lot of busy patterns, that is all you will see.
- Bring anything you think will work and we can play with it at the beginning of our session.
For Families:
- I don't subscribe to the idea of everyone wearing exactly the same thing. Each person in a family has their own personality and if you are looking for a portrait of your family, it will mean more if it truly expresses each person. That said, it is a balance between personal expression and being so distracting that no one focuses on your faces. It is really your call. As I said before, too many differing patterns will ultimately be distracting as well as logos and brand names. I can often remove small logos digitally.
- Bring multiple choices of clothing for each person so that we can make changes as necessary.
For Maternity:
- Black or dark colored stretch pants are always a good stand by to bring along as well as tank tops. Pre-pregnancy tank tops often work better as they more easily show the belly (less fabric to deal with).
- If you want to be sure to show the belly, bring tops that either open over the belly or easily pull up to expose it.
- Again, bring lots and we can pick and choose once we start.
The Day of the Session:
- Try and get good rest so that you feel and look relaxed.
- Make sure that any clothing you are wearing on your bottom half (pants, underwear, etc.) stay below your belly line beginning at least two hours before your session. This will make sure that you don't have any lines on your belly from you clothing. Those lines can take close to an hour to disappear. Bra lines can have the same problem if we will be doing nude or discreet nude where you will be draped, but areas that may have lines will be exposed.
- Bring snacks and a water bottle. Our session will take from 1½ - 2½ hours and it is important that everyone is comfortable and well nourished.
Jewelry & Makeup:
- Jewelry is often a beautiful and personal touch to a photograph. Bring anything you wear normally as well as any pieces that are meaningful to you that you might want to include in your images. Jewelry can be a prop that you hold as well as something you wear and can be fun to play with during our session
- With make-up, I recommend that you wear only what you normally wear.
- Lipstick can add definition between the lips and the skin of the face in black and white images where they might otherwise be very close in tonality. But, lipstick is by no means necessary.
- Base powder helps to take care of shine if necessary. If you have some, bring yours along as each person's skin tones are different.
- If in doubt with Jewelry or make-up, bring it and we can find what works when we start our session.
Children at your session:
- When you are including children in your session, it is important that they don't feel pressure to perform. The more they feel like they "have to" be a certain way, the more they will resist participating. We will have plenty of time so you can relax and we can let them come into the session as they feel comfortable.
- Make sure you bring snacks, drinks and toys (for younger children) to keep their energy relaxed and nourished.
- When working with younger children, we will make sure to plan our session to coincide with the time of day they feel most rested and alert.
- Keep clothing simple. The same guidelines of color and pattern (above) apply.
Come prepared to have fun and play!