Your session is coming soon.

Here are a few tips for looking your best!

• The most important thing is to feel wonderful in what you are wearing (even if it breaks these rules, but talk to me about it well before the day of the session)

• Consider investing in something new

  • Shop with your friends and have fun

  • Blame the investment on your photographer!

• Iron or have your clothes ironed or have them dry-cleaned beforehand and bring them to the session on hangers

• Layering (especially for men but for women too), such as a blazer and collared shirt (but keep it simple)

  • Layered textures add interest

• Avoid these things:

  • Dramatic patterns, prints, stripes, or dots

  • Trendy or dated styles

  • Medium-toned colors (about as light or dark as your skin)

  • Bright white undershirts or shirts under jackets

  • Overly baggy or tight clothing

  • Bulky clothing

  • Reflective clothing

  • Clothing with logos (unless it is yours) or words

  • Blouses with shoulder pads (I hear their making a comeback)

  • Bras with colors that conflict with the rest of your clothing or that show and draw attention

• Consider these things:

  • Long sleeves are flattering to the arms. Only consider sleeveless if you have very slender arms as they will draw attention away from your face!

  • Darker-toned solid (darker than your skin tone)

    • Deep red, blue, green, dark greys, and black

  • Lighter-toned solid (lighter than your skin tone)

  • Colors that make your eyes stand out

    • Blue eyes – grey/blue or pure blue

    • Green eyes – turquoise or green

    • Hazel – consider either of the above

• Necklines that flatter:

  • V-necks lengthen your neck, which is appropriate for broad faces

    • Deep V-necks can draw attention to your chest

  • Round necklines shorten your neck, which is appropriate for thin faces

  • Square necklines make a square jaw more prominent

  • Turtlenecks or scarves hide the neck and should be generally avoided but can also be skillfully used to hide saggy necks and double chins

• Consider your makeup choices carefully

  • Give yourself plenty of time to do an exceptional job

  • Do use light and natural makeup

  • Avoid bold, trendy, glossy, or shimmering looks

  • Don’t use heavy coverup over blemished. the images will be retouched and this makes it look unrealistic.

  1. Think about your hair

     • Get a trim and style

       • Men – a week before your session

       • Women – potentially the day of

     • Don’t get a new hairstyle

     • Avoid bold, trendy hairstyles as the portrait will go out of date quicker

  2. Think about facial hair

     • Men should shave or trim beards

       • Consider trimming your eyebrows and any ear hair

     • Women should consider having their eyebrows cleaned up

  3. Think about your jewelry

     • it should be generally minimal, simple, and elegant

     • long chains are likely to be cut off if getting a headshot

  4. Glasses

     • Before arriving, look in a mirror and adjust them to center your eyes in the glasses. Most will twist over time and ride higher on one side than the other.

     • If you wear glasses, make sure you bring them.

     • If you have transitional glasses you want to be photographed in, wear alternative ones and keep the transitional ones in a bag.

  5. Get a good nights sleep

  6. Make sure your skin looks its best

     • Do not use suntan beds for the week prior to your session

     • Take the opportunity to have a facial the week beforehand.

       • You can blame the investment on your photographer!

     • Drink lots of water in the few days before your session and on that day

  7. What to bring with you to your session:

     • Hairbrush

     • Hair spray

     • Makeup that you might need for touch-ups (including extra powder)

     • Toothbrush, if you’re going to eat before the session

     • Visine eye drops (for getting the red out)

  8. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive on time

  Finally, now that you’re ready, relax and don’t worry. You’ve hired a professional who will use lighting and comfortable posing to make you look your best. Try not to be overly critical of yourself. We’ll be taking lots of photos for you to choose from, and I’m confident that we’ll end up with an exceptional portrait that will exceed your expectations. You’re going to look fabulous!