Clothing Suggestions
Your portrait is a celebration of you and/or your family. We want to make sure your commissioned artwork will stand the test of time - a centerpiece in your home that will make you smile each and every time you see it; a point of pride and conversation when you welcome guests into your home.
A great place to start in choosing your style is to consider the areas in your home where you plan to display your artwork. Making selections to best suit the aesthetics (colors, decor, formality) of that space will elevate the overall impact and enjoyment of your artwork. Should you need more guidance, we’d love to see your space and create personal recommendations.
Follow the recommendations below for more ways to create a fabulous family portrait that will be unforgettable.
Casual
If you prefer a more casual style, complimentary solid colors in all dark or all pastel tones will make your portrait balanced and unified. Adding plenty of texture variation (think textile feel and/or layers) adds an element of visual interest you will love!
Avoiding bold patterns, stripes, neon colors and text on clothing is recommended. We want all the attention drawn to the face and eyes and highlight the special relationship we’re celebrating with your portraits - not the clothing.
Remember, footwear is important too! Make sure they coordinate with the clothing you’ve selected. (Sometimes this even means barefoot!) For example, leave your sneakers at home unless we’re creating a trendy active-wear look.
Formal
A formal portrait is a wonderful statement piece, celebrating those special occasions that you put so much effort into to looking your very best!
Consider gowns in deep jewel tones, soft pastels or your most flattering little black dress. Do you feel incredible in a fitted piece or maybe something with volume and flow? Choose what feels best and feel free to bring a couple options. For footwear, I do recommend a dress shoe with a heel you can stand comfortably in.
Suits, tuxedos and sport jackets lend themselves to a sharp, refined look - with or without a tie. If we’ll be photographing you with a partner or in a group, coordinate tones (light with light and dark with dark) and colors.And of course, coordinating footwear and socks of appropriate length.
Grooming/Styling
Professional Hair and Makeup Stylists are trained to enhance your natural features and make you look your best - which of course helps you to feel your best, most confident self in front of the camera. We highly recommend hiring a stylist or the day of your session and often can host them here at the studio pre-session.
A few more session prep suggestions:
Trim and clean nails. Natural, buff or neutral painted nails always look great.
Style hair and tidy beards before your session. Bring along any items you may need for last minute touch ups.
Matte makeup is preferred over shimmer as it does not photograph the same as it looks to the naked eye.
Press and hang clothing to bring to the studio. We recommended that you change here to avoid creasing your clothing before your session.
Shoes should be cleaned, dried and carried into the studio to keep them looking fresh, as well as to protect the backgrounds and studio equipment.