CLOTHING
- Plan each outfit out from head to toe! Think about layers (jackets, coats, hats, hoodies, etc). Some shots will be close up, and some will be full length. Try to come up with as much variety with each outfit as possible (e.g. wear a leather jacket with a cool top underneath, for shots both with and without the jacket).
- Make sure the outfits you bring flatters YOU! Many of the recent “in” styles are not flattering to female bodies (such as the long, baggy shirts and dresses that can look like maternity wear and add unwanted pounds to your body). Don’t wear clothing that is too baggy, but also don’t wear clothing that is too tight. It all shows in the photos!
- Try to bring clothes in mostly solid colors, as they look best and hold up over time.
- Darker clothes minimize body size.
- Avoid stripes and bold plaids – they do not photograph well. Keep the patterned clothing to a minimum, as they often will not look good as well, plus they can quickly become dated looking.
- Bring a variety of colors and styles. Don’t bring 5 blue outfits, just because it is your favourite color. Spice it up a little!
- Try to avoid bringing clothing with wording on it. A couple of pieces of clothing with wording on it, if it represents who you are, is ok. Just not everything. Clothing with your school logo on it is great!
- Vary the dressiness of your clothes. Bring some formal clothing (prom dresses), some casual clothing (jeans and shirts), and some medium cute clothing (high fashion and sundresses). To give you the best variety in your photos, you have to give us a variety of clothing!
- Don’t forget to bring the proper undergarments to go with every outfit. There is nothing worse than having a red bra and a white top, or pink underwear with a white skirt! Flesh coloured undergarments are best. If you bring a sleeveless top, bring the appropriate strapless bra to go with it. Tucking in your bra straps won’t work, and they’ll show up in the shots.
- Bring accessories to go with each outfit. Bring necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, hats, scarves, shoes, etc. Don’t go overboard, though. Simple accessories work best.
- Bring the proper shoes to go with each outfit. Boots (knee-high, ankle, funky, fashionable, etc), funky sneakers, high heels, fashionable shoes, sandals, etc. Whatever helps say who you are!
- Try to avoid sleeveless tops, as they do not flatter your arms in the photographs. Most people do not like to see their upper arms or shoulders in their photographs, as the sleeveless tops make your arms look larger and fatter. Cap sleeves, ¾ sleeves, and long sleeves work best.
- Bring sweaters, jackets, turtlenecks, hoodies, faux fur coats, vests with hoods, etc. These types of clothing can be very flattering and can help hide some of your flaws, putting the attention on your face.
- Bring a flattering black long-sleeved, ¾ sleeve, or cap sleeve top for our glamorous black and white photos. The contrast between the black shirt and your face is what makes the photo look so dramatic.
- Each senior style session has a time limit. Most seniors can easily fit in 2 to 3 outfits within their time slot, but if you are not organized ahead of time for EXACTLY what you are going to wear, you will waste time changing. The faster you change the more outfits you can squeeze into the session.
- Bring double the outfits than each style session recommends. For instance, the Cool and Casual You session allows for 2 to 3 outfits. Bring 4 to 5 outfits for the session. (Note: for the senior styles recommending formal outfits, bring whatever nice dresses you own. If you only have 1 or 2 prom or dressy outfits, that’s ok! We’ll just spend more time shooting a variety of poses for what you have).
- Group your outfits together ON HANGARS. Do NOT bring clothes in a suitcase. They’ll be ruined, and you won’t have time to steam out the wrinkles. The wrinkles WILL show up in the photo. We recommend putting your accessories in plastic bags and hanging them on the hangar with your outfit, so you can easily find all your pieces and change into your outfits quickly.
MAKEUP
- Makeup should be slightly heavier than normal, such as what you would wear for a night out on the town.
- Buy a new tube of black, waterproof mascara so that your eyelashes will be clean with no clumps.
- Dark brown eyeliner is a natural looking alternative to heavy black eyeliner and complements most eye shadows.
- Well groomed eyebrows are also a must.
- Even if you don’t normally wear lip color, bring colored lip gloss or lipstick. Pick more natural colors, rather than bold and bright colors. You can bring a tube or two of a brighter color, just in case, but primarily stick to the basics. We want to see a little color on your lips, or your lips will look too pale. Lips without anything on them are hard to see in photographs.
- Also don’t be afraid to add a little color to your cheeks with a blush in a petal pink kind of color, as it will brighten up your face.
- Avoid any make up with sparkles and glitter in it. They show up as unflattering white spots in the photos.
- Avoid makeup with a SPF in it, as they create a shiny or sweaty look on your skin in the photos.
- Get a manicure and pedicure before your session, if possible! Both your hands and your bare feet will be showing in the photos, so make them look their best, too.
- Avoid bright nail polish. Natural or basic (classic) colors work best.
- Avoid any harsh skin treatments in the week before your session. Face masks, harsh skin exfoliants, etc., may irritate your skin and cause unsightly blotches.
- The best thing you can do to make your skin look its best is to get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and wash your skin with the appropriate cleansors in the week before your session.
- Don’t worry if you have a break-out the day of the session! Every photo you purchase is retouched, including removing blemishes!
HAIR
- Don’t change your hairstyle or cut your hair just before your session. A slight trim and normal styling by your hair stylist if fine. Just remember that we want you to look like yourself, only enhanced, not someone you’re not on an everyday basis.
- Let your hair be natural, but clean and well groomed.
- Bring your hair care tools with you: hairdryer, curling iron, flat iron, brushes, hair spray, mousse, etc.
- Bring hair spray to control those flyaway hairs!
TANNING/SUNBURNS
- Avoid self tanning lotions, as they can make your skin color look unnatural in the photographs.
- Tan lines are not attractive in portraits. Do not overdo your tans, as dark tans are not the most flattering.
- Avoid sunburns! Sunburned and peeling skin look terrible in photographs.
EYEGLASSES
- If you wear glasses, we recommend you go to your local eyeglass store and either have them take the glass out of your frames for the session, or ask to borrow a pair of frames in a similar style to yours for the session. We want to be able to see your beautiful eyes, and nothing is worse than glasses glare!
- If you choose to leave the glass in your frames for the session, we will have to charge you extra to digitally remove the glare from your glasses. Removing minor skin imperfections is included with your session, but removing reflections and glares in your glasses is not. We want you to look your best, so plan ahead for this important experience!