Get a good night’s sleep the night before your session. You’ll look better if you are well rested.
Choose clothing you’re comfortable in. The clothes you wear help set the mood for the portrait, and should complement the location you choose, as well as the décor of your home where your portrait will be displayed. Formal settings call for dressier clothes than a woodsy setting. Feel free to bring three or four outfits for our deluxe session. Think about something that will please mom and grandma, something wild and crazy that you love, and something in between.
Your face should be most important in your portrait, not your clothing. Solid mid-range colors generally photograph best and don’t distract from your face. Black recedes and slims. White can dominate and make you look heavier. Avoid patterns, large or small, as they look "busy." Think about where your portrait will hang in your home and choose colors that complement the other furnishings in the room. Please make sure all your wardrobe items are clean and wrinkle free.
Wax or shave your legs and armpits 3 days prior to a shoot in order to allow for irritation to disappear.
Practice – Practice – Practice!
Even top models spend time in front of the mirror – practicing expressions and poses to prepare for a photo shoot.
It is important to know how your face feels when you smile, or laugh, or frown, or pout.
It is important to know how your body feels when it is posed in an attractive manner.
Practice facial expressions in front of the mirror – learn how your face feels with a perfect smile – no gums, eyes open – not squinting.
Stand there, perfect your poses and learn how your body shapes. The mirror is a perfect tool to show you what the camera can se
Props are recommended. Bring props that are a part of your life and personality. For example:
Grooming:What not to do:
Don’t try a new style of hair or cut that you have never tried before, either experiment way ahead of time or play it safe with what you know looks good.
Don’t get sun burnt, there are a lot of things that can be fixed during the retouching phase, we cannot replace your skin.
What to do:
Get your hair cut about 1 week before the shoot.
If you are going to use a makeup artist then make sure they blend the make up into your neck and chest so it doesn’t look like you have a mask on. If you are doing you own makeup, start out light and add only if needed.
Get a good nights sleep, you want to avoid dark circles under you eyes.
A pedicure and manicure are good to have if you are planning on having you feet and hands in your pictures (you will) and you want them to look nice.
Guys should shave before the shoots, and girls if you don’t want hair to show then get it waxed(3 days before the shoot) . You will be having close up shots taken.
Clothing:
Select a variety of clothing designs and patterns, everything from formals to cut off jeans will work. A variety of colors is good to have.If you have some favorite outfits then bring them too, you can’t have too much to choose from.
Get your wardrobe ready at least 3 days ahead of time.
Bring accessories, hats, bags, jewelry, a cool jacket, scarves etc…
Don’t roll your clothes into a ball, use hangers or fold them appropriately.
Props:What are you in to ? Music, sports, bikes, cars or trucks?? If it’s something that you identify with then bring it. If you are not sure then just ask us.
Foot wear:
Bring a variety, match your shoes to your clothing (and don’t forget a pedicure for the barefoot shots).
Teens & Senior Girls: Senior portrait sessions usually include several outfit changes. These are really fun sessions! Plan to bring a parent to help. Minors will need parent approval for sessions and locations. Our senior girls loved being pampered – a makeup artist will help you look your best, cover any teenage-skin issues, and bring out your best features! Bring lots of outfit ideas and accessories. Check out Darcy’s ideas for photo styling on Pinterest.
What not to do before a session
The following things should be avoided immediately before your portrait session:
a new hair cut, style or color
tanning
piercing
waxing (makeup cannot adhere to freshly waxed skin, and your skin will look glossy and reflective. Wax 4-7 days prior to your session.)
shaving the mustache you’ve had for 20 years
anything that involves bleach, dye, tattoos, or permanent markers
What to wear
Please contact us for wardrobe and styling suggestions. Styling is a huge part of prepping for your session. After you book your session, we’ll send you ideas and suggestions. We like to be part of this process, since it sets the tone for your session. Solids and warm neutrals with lots of textures are best!
Avoid clothes that restrict positioning. You will likely be asked to sit on the ground – especially if we have many people to get in a photo. We super don’t want to see anyone’s unders.
If it looks a little wrinkled in person, it looks a lot wrinkled on camera. Wrinkles cast shadows. This is very obvious on camera. Steam or iron all clothes before the shoot.
Unless your family typically dresses identically, this makes for an awkward photo. Coordinating is good. Matching is awkward. See Awkward Family Photos. “Wear cream and browns” or “Wear dark denim and fall colors” is fine. “Let’s all wear the same Old Navy flag t-shirt” is just uncomfortable for everyone.
Think timeless. Remember hammer pants and that one-sequined glove phase? You want to avoid anything that will look immediately dated. For example, be very judicious about the “I love Justin Beiber”, “Team Jacob” or “Palin in 2012″ shirt you were thinking of wearing. (Aw, c’mon… you giggled!)
Make Up & Grooming
Make up should be natural-looking. We work closely with several amazing makeup artists in the area, particularly for our senior girls. Our girls love being pampered and feeling beautiful! Contact us for pricing and details. This isn’t Glamour Shots at the mall! We want you to look authentically you!
Be attentive to foundation lines. Your neck and face should be the same color with no obvious transition lines. If you color your hair regularly, time appointments so your roots look natural. Contrast is more obvious on camera than in person!
We want soft, clean, dry hair. Avoid over-grooming children. Helmet-like, hair-sprayed heads will be something you all make fun of in 10 years. We want kids to look clean but natural. Children + makeup = unnatural. Wash faces and noses right before the appointment.
Guys – shave if you normally shave, trim if you don’t.
Most of all – HAVE FUN. Portrait sessions are a good time. We know you may feel self-conscious or shy. We do our best to make everyone feel at ease. After all, if you don’t look good, we don’t look good!
Guys -- you should also consider wearing powder to keep your skin from looking shiny. Give yourself a clean shave, neatly trim facial hair or bring a razor to shave before formal pictures if you want facial hair in the others.
Headband, rubber bands, bobby pins
Brushes, combs
Hair appliances (curling iron, rollers, straighteners)
Skin cleanser and moisturizer (Arrive bare-faced for shoots with makeup artists)
Body makeup
Cotton balls and cotton swabs
Mirror
Body lotion for dry skin
Clear or nude nail polish, clippers, nail file, polish remover
Shoes in neutral colors (dress and flats – black is a must)
Different colors of sandal foot nylons (Black, nude, tan and include toe-less if you can find a pair)
Black, white and flesh toned undies (one should be a thong)
Assortment of bras (black, white, nude, and strapless)
Plain black and white socks
Safety pins, small sewing kit, clothes pins, clear nail polish (for runs)
Light dressing robe
Scarf or makeup mask to prevent makeup transfer
Dress shields or clear, non-scented deodorant
Emergency items (Tylenol, antacid, tampons, razor, bandages, etc)
Music, books or magazines for downtime
Bring your portfolio and/or any recent photographs that you have had taken.
Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_4483354_prepare-senior-photo-portrait-shoot.html
Wardrobe and Accessory Ideas and Inspiration
Please have all of your garments pressed and ready to wear.
It is recommended that you hang all of your items on hangers.
Some poses will show your shoes, so make sure you bring shoes & socks for each outfit you plan to wear. Barefoot and sandals look great with casual clothes! Avoid wearing white socks because they do not photograph well. Guys don't forget those belts, and ladies don't forget your jewelry!
"Don't be afraid to use bold colors.
'"Pick one or two colors but use different shades on everyone.
'"Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Belts, jewelry, hats, scarves, sunglasses, etc...
• Avoid necklaces if at all possible. They are constantly shifting and moving and can be problematic during shooting.
For SENIOR sessions, the sky's the limit! You want your senior pictures to reflect who you are. Choose a VARIETY of outfits for your session along with a variety of color. It's a good idea to include both casual and more formal outfits for your portraits. If you choose a couple of outfits, you can always make Mom happy and let her choose one or two also.
Your clothing choice should reflect who you are and your personality. You want to wear something you feel comfortable in and that shows your true personality. There are a few simple tips to keep in mind when you are choosing your clothing.
The Day Before Your Photo Session
A little color is fine. If you are going to the beach use LOTS of sunscreen and take different suits with different cuts and change them frequently. If you are going to a tanning salon be sure to use lots of sunscreen (the type that is designed for tanning salons) and tan in the nude in a stand up booth – not a bed.
DONT
CLOTHING
ahhhh… this is the fun part! we encourage you to bring SEVERAL outfits, and we will help you to select the best ones for your session. for example, if you choose the journey session we recommend bringing at least 10 outfits (or more). we may not get to them all, but it will give us a great idea as to your style and ‘look’ so that we can give you the best experience possible.
TIPS
Avoid over-tanning. You want your complexion to look natural.
Knees show when seated, so gals need to consider skirt or dress length. Shoes and socks show in full-length portraits, so bring appropriate shoes. Flip flops are usually too casual for any outfit. Bare feet are often a good choice for casual portraits.