How to prepare for your photo session
Planning well your session is an important part of the process. Upon booking your session we schedule an in-home consultation where we plan out everything down to the details. Starting with the location, then the wardrobe. We will raid your closets and put together several outfits for all participants, complete with fun accessories. If you would like to incorporate a couple of special objects that are meaningful for you, we make notes of those too and plan the outfits/ setups that showcase them the best. If we can't find anything in your closets you like, time to go shopping for something fun to wear! (In another blog post I'll share local boutiques and online stores where I love to shop for photography wardrobe and accessories) You can also borrow pieces from our ever growing studio wardrobe collection: we have beautiful dresses for girls and their moms too. Choose outfits you love. Your portraits should be a reflection of YOU, just more polished.
A week before your photo shoot you schedule some "me time" to pamper yourself
This is when you’ll want to start getting ready for your photo session. These little changes will allow you to feel more confident and ready for the camera.
Schedule a root touch up and cut with your favorite hair stylist.
Get a facial if you'd like, but be sure to leave a week before the session to allow your skin to heal.
Alternatively, you might consider exfoliating at home. You may do this a couple of times before the shoot, but leave a couple of days between the treatments and stop a couple of days before the session.
Start a moisturizing routine if you don’t have one already to ensure your skin is bright and hydrated for your shoot.
Wax or thread your eyebrows if you like and leave a couple of days to heal before the shoot! You may also consider lash extensions if you like to go "all out".
Wax or shave and don't leave this the last minute either! Make sure your skin has a couple of days of rest after waxing.
If you usually get a spray tan, do so a couple of days before. If you're not used to it, this is probable not the best time to experiment! Don't tell me I didn't warn you!!!
Be mindful of clothing tan lines, sunglass tan lines, hat tan lines, etc.
The day before
You will want to have your nails done or free of polish, moisturized and natural.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water and avoid salty and sugary, or fried foods as they can cause bloating
Moisturize with a gentle lotion or oil (I use organic, virgin coconut oil) to make sure your skin isn’t dry looking
Gather your wardrobe, accessories and don't forget the right underwear for each look! Ensure that your bra straps aren’t going to stick out from your outfit. Find a strapless, nude bra that fits properly if you’re going to wear strapless, halter, or short sleeve tops.
Steam or iron your outfits you’ll look polished and you won’t have to worry about a wrinkled outfit taking away from your big, beautiful smile!
Bring chapstick! It will help your lips look fuller, softer, and will make smiling more comfortable
Get plenty of rest the night before!
If you're going with the full experience complete with professional hair and make up, arrive to the studio/location with clean and dry hair and no makeup.
If you’ll be doing your own hair and makeup for the shoot, do a test of it to ensure you love your look if you’re trying something new.
If you want to wear glasses in your shoot, the glare on glasses can detract from your eyes in photos. You can have your lenses removed from your frames for your shoot, or you can also buy a suitable pair of duplicate frames on the cheap. If you ever wear contacts, they might be a better option.
Men, be freshly shaved ,trim up your beard, sideburns, mustache, especially looking for wiry stray hairs and pluck and clean up those eyebrows.
Children: clean nails, clean hair, wipe away eye boogers, clean feet (sandals on kids = black feet!), wipe snotty noses, fresh-scrub teeth. The cleaner the kid, the better their photos will turn out.
If your child is still in diapers or pull-ups, tuck them in or wear bloomers.
If your child is still of napping age, make sure they nap before the shoot.
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