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Work Portrait

Preparing For Your Portrait Session

Author: James Burger

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Tags: dating portrait , singles portrait , family portrait , kids , children , executive portrait , headshots , Portrait tips , online portrait , personal portrait , professional portrait , tips , advice , grooming , props , make-up , cosmetics , Digital Photography , photographer , photography , Freelance Photographer , Marketing Photographer , Commercial Photography

The following information contains suggestions and tips for various types of portraits. This info is not a set of strict rules, but rather a list of considerations you should have in mind when preparing to be photographed. Each list is specific to different types of photo session, such as Executive Portraits, Family Portraits, Headshots, and Kid's Portraits.

Executive / Professional Portraits

WARDROBE

1. Dark and muted colors can give an impression of power, seriousness and self-control.

2. Colorful accessories (ties, jewelry) highlight your features and give a sense of creativity.

3. Consider your skin tone and eye color.

4. Pants/Skirts: Darker works better than lighter ones, which distract from your face.
Longer skirts work better than short ones for the same reason.

5. Wear long sleeves.

6. Larger patterns work better than tight patterns, but oversized patterns can distract the viewer.

7. Make sure your clothes are well-ironed or pressed and lint free.

GROOMING

1. Men should be clean-shaven or facial hair should be well-trimmed.

2. Hair should be lightly styled and kempt. Generally, having a haircut about a week prior to being photographed is advisable.

3. Wash your face ten minutes prior to being photographed. Unless your skin is very dry, Johnson and Johnson Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets are very good to use by blotting gently on your face.

4. People look their best when they are well-rested, alert, and not hungry, but also not stuffed. The ideal time for more people to be photographed seems to be about 10am.

COSMETICS

1. Women, and sometimes even men, can enhance their portrait with the proper application of makeup, but don’t use too much and only where it is deemed necessary.

BRING

1. Wardrobe choices

2. A brush or comb

3. Your favorite soap and/or moisturizer

4. Your favorite music

Family and Personal Portraits

WARDROBE

1. Color coordinating your family always looks good in photographs. You don’t need to match entirely, but not having plaids clash with polka dots is a good idea, and colors should be selected from a single color range.

2. Pants/Skirts: Darker works better than lighter ones, which distract from your face. Longer skirts work better than short ones for the same reason.

3. Wear long sleeves.

4. Dark colors give in impression of power, seriousness, and self-control.

5. Bright, rich colors give the impression of youth, while dark muted colors give the impression of maturity.

6. Larger patterns work better than tight patterns, but oversized patterns can distract the viewer.

7. Make sure your clothes are well-ironed or pressed and lint free.

8. Keep jewelry and accessories to a minimum.

GROOMING

1. Men should be clean-shaven or facial hair should be well-trimmed.

2. Hair should be lightly styled and kempt. Generally, having a haircut about a week prior to being photographed is advisable.

3. Wash your face ten minutes prior to being photographed. Unless your skin is very dry, Johnson and Johnson Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets are very good to use by blotting gently on your face.

4. People look their best when they are well-rested, alert, and not hungry, but also not stuffed. The ideal time for more people to be photographed seems to be about 10am.

COSMETICS

1. Women, and sometimes even men, can enhance their portrait with the proper application of makeup, but don’t use too much and only where it is deemed necessary.

BRING

1. A brush or comb

2. Some toys or books for children

3. Any significant possessions that might help tell a personal or family story.

Headshots

WARDROBE

1. Dark and muted colors can give an impression of power, seriousness, and self-control.

2. Light rich colors give the impression of youth, while dark muted colors give the impression of maturity.

3. Colorful accessories (ties, jewelry) highlight your features and give a sense of creativity
4. Consider your skin tone and eye color.

5. Pants/Skirts: Darker works better than lighter ones, which distract from your face. Longer skirts work better than short ones for the same reason. Although headshots generally don’t include full-length portraits, it is best to be prepared and wearing a complete outfit helps you feel more professional.

6. Wear long sleeves.

7. Plain or subtle patterns work better than decorative prints and patterns.

8. Make sure your clothes are well-ironed or pressed and lint free.

9. Keep jewelry and accessories to a minimum.

GROOMING

1. Men should be clean-shaven or facial hair should be well-trimmed.

2. Hair should be lightly styled and kempt. Generally, having a haircut about a week prior to being photographed is advisable.

3. Wash your face ten minutes prior to being photographed. Unless your skin is very dry, Johnson and Johnson Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets are very good to use by blotting gently on your face.

4. People look their best when they are well-rested, alert, and not hungry, but also not stuffed. The ideal time for more people to be photographed seems to be about 10am.

COSMETICS

1. Women, and sometimes even men, can enhance their portrait with the proper application of makeup, but don’t use too much and only where it is deemed necessary. Use the type and amount of cosmetics that your industry standard dictates.

BRING

1. Wardrobe choices

2. A brush or comb

3. Your favorite soap and/or moisturizer

4. Your favorite music

Kids

Kids look great no matter whether they are under hard or soft light, and whether they are sparkling clean or have cake smeared on their faces. The best advice that can be given is to let the kids be themselves. I photograph children laughing, making silly faces, crying. That not only ensures getting some dramatic and often humorous photos, but it is often the way to get those angelic photos parents love most. The moments that come between the silly face and the teary eyes often bring kids’ most beautiful expressions.

WARDROBE

1. Light rich colors give the impression of youth, humor, and happiness.

GROOMING

1. The younger the child, the more carefully your session needs to be scheduled. Scheduled a session for at least an hour after your child wakes up and an hour before they are scheduled to nap again.

BRING

1. Wardrobe choices

2. Toys

3. Food / snacks

4. That most important security blanket or comfort item

5. Some happy, kid-friendly music

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Preparing For Your Portrait Session

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The self portrait mirror is probably the dumbest thing ever made for a cell phone. I hate the one on my Dash. Basically, it works just like a mirror. When looking directly at it, whatever YOU can see, the CAMERA sees. So if you're looking into the mirror and it seems a little cock-eyed or crooked, then the picture will be like that

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Tags: art, design, photographer, photography, portfolio, work portraits

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 at 8:44 am and is filed under paintings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.