Portraits
Tips For The Shoot
These hints are to help ensure you get the best results from your session. Follow this advice and you will get much more memorable, natural portrait photographs.
1 Wear clothing that is neutral. Simple clothing always looks best on photographs. Bright colours, patterns, checks and logos tend to dominate the photograph and distract from the face. There are exceptions to this rule however. For example, in winter outdoor portraits of children, bright coats and hats can look wonderful.
2 If the photograph is of more than one person please dress in colours that blend together so that nobody stands out. Clothing should be of a similar type e.g. all casual in jeans or all dressed more formally.
3 Some people are lucky enough to be able to wear any colour, but most of us have either a warm or a cool undertone to our skin. If you have a warm tone wear clothes with a warm hue (e.g. autumn colours, orange, beige) and for cool skin wear cool colours (e.g. blue, pink, purple). Wearing colours that compliment your skin tone will make your skin appear clearer and brighter on the photographs.
4 The best photographs of children are when they are unaware it is being taken.
5 Don't tell children to smile for the camera or "say cheese". This is likely to result in unnatural smiles and strained faces. Exactly what we are trying to avoid. It is better not to tell children that they are going to have their photograph taken at all so there is no build up or pressure on them.
6 Accessories look great in photos with children and babies - have toys, hats, teddies at the ready!
7 Bring a change of clothes to get a couple of different looks for your session.
8 Finally and above all else - relax and enjoy the session.
