Clothing

The main thing to keep in mind with clothing and accessories are that you don’t want them to stand out. Your clothing should be comfortable as well. Coordinate with other family members. Below are some general guidelines to keep in mind, but remember, it is your family portrait so do what “fits” your family’s lifestyle and decor:

  • Make sure your clothing is clean (no pet fur, stains, etc.) and wrinkle free.

  • Think about where you want your artwork. Look at the colors in that room(s) and plan your wardrobe to complement your decor.

  • Wear solid colored clothing - patterns can be distracting, especially if you have two or three people in a photograph wearing drastically different patterns.

  • Choose 2-3 colors for your group portrait, ones with similar tones that go nicely together and have everyone work within that color palette. For example: dark green, navy and burgundy – all dark jewel tones. OR tan, a lighter olive green and denims – all lighter, softer tones.

  • Choose long pants for men/women or a skirt below the knee for women.

  • Choose dark socks and footwear (unless it’s a barefoot summer photo on the beach or in the grass). White socks tend to stand out in a photo.

  • Keep jewelry simple and minimalistic.

  • Glasses – if you wear glasses, please see your optometrist about loaning you a pair without lenses, or have your lenses removed for the session. If this is not an option, I’ll do my best to avoid glare on the glasses, but there may be an extra charge of $15 per image for glare removal when ordering your portraits. Glare will not be removed from the proofs.

  • Make sure to take pony tail holders off of wrists a couple hours before your shoot to avoid marks on your wrist.

General Information

  • Sleep – Try to get a lot of REST the night before your shoot. Don’t stress over it! If you’re scheduled for an early morning session, get up early enough to let any sheet wrinkles, puffy eyes, etc. disappear. Make sure you EAT before your session so you’re not hungry. If you’re bringing family members with you, make sure they know we will likely be photographing for a couple hours.

  • Skin – Avoid sunburn! We don’t want to have to reschedule to avoid a red or peeling face.

  • Acne – Don’t worry about a having a few blemishes! If you want me to remove minor acne during retouching, I’m happy to do that.

  • Makeup – Wear what you normally wear, just slightly darker. Take care when applying eye makeup – as this is the focal point of your photos!

  • Do your hair the way you’d normally do it while wearing these clothes.

  • If getting a haircut or new hairdo, make your appointment
    at least 2 weeks prior to your portrait session.

  • Nails – Your hands will be showing in your photos. Be sure if you have polish it is not chipped. Neutral colors are best. The same applies for toes if you’re wearing open-toed shoes, or if we do any barefoot shots.

  • Braces – Braces will not be removed from proofs, but can be removed for ordered portraits at a cost of $25 per image.

  • Scars/Birth marks/severe acne – Scars and birthmarks will be removed during editing only if you request them. Severe acne may require extensive retouching. If that is necessary, it will not be done on proofs, but will be done on prints you order. Basic retouching is included, but extensive retouching requires an additional fee, which is outlined in your session contract.

Tips to help you look your best for your family portraits

What to Bring

  • Props – Anything that says something about your family! Consider your hobbies and the things you like to do together (and separately). We’ll talk during your consultation about what makes your family unique and how we can best represent that.

  • Please let me know ahead of time if you will be bringing any props, so I can plan ahead for some creative ways to incorporate them.

  • Your wardrobe changes!

  • Touch-up stuff: lip balm, powder, hairspray, etc.

If you have any questions at all about how to prepare, call or email me!