How to Prepare for Your Portrait Session, Part 1

What should you do before your portrait session? How can you make the most of your time? What are the best pieces of advice to have to be prepared? I am going to create some lists for you to go over, but I will break this up into 3 separate posts. The first section will cover your physical/bodily preparedness. Here is PART ONE of your cheat sheet:

I. Physically Preparing:

• Skin Care:
  • Don't pick at any blemishes. These are easier to fix in post processing before they are red and inflamed.
  • Moisturize you face, hands, arms--anything that you think will be visible in your image. Moistened skin is more attractive in images as compared to dry skin.
  • If you intend on wearing make-up, bring it with you for touch-ups as needed. If you do not normally wear it, no need to apply it now :) Either with or without it, you're beautiful!
  • Eyebrows--Do they need shaping? I know I let this go too long sometimes. No judgment here!
  • Guys, here's for you specifically: Shave and Trim! A 5 o'clock shadow cannot be removed in editing. Unless we are going for the raw look, you too have some preparation to do ;)
    
  • Here is a great article for more tips for your daily skincare regimen!
• Hair Care:
  • Do you dye your hair? If so and it needs it, touch-up your roots 3 days before the session. If having roots is your style, stay true to yourself!
  • Condition, Condition, Condition! Smoothing those fly-away's will improve the quality of your final images for sure.
  • This one is more of a DO and a DO NOT DO combined: Do Not try any new hairstyles or colors right before your planned portrait session! Do get a trim shortly beforehand (approx. 3-7 days).
• Hands:
  • Groom your nails. You do not have to go out and get a manicure by any means, but pay attention to the underside of your nails and keep the lengths consistent. I do not recommend bright or flashy nail colors (UNLESS your type of session really calls for it). Neutral or no color will keep your hands from being the spotlight of your images.
    
  • Is this an engagement, wedding, or couples session? I highly suggest having your rings cleaned prior to the shoot. Having done so will make the details and quality of your jewelry quite literally shine through!
    
• Other Factors:
  • Get some sleep! Try your best to get sleep not only the night before your session, but the nights before that, too. It will show that you are rested, ready, and gleaming in your portraits.
    
  • Do you wear glasses? You have some options here if you are super worried about glare: You can go to your Optometrist and either 1. Have them remove your lenses from your frames, or 2. Have them loan you or order a cheaper look-a-like pair without lenses. If this seems like a lot to worry about, just wear them as usual and we will work together to find the right angles and lighting so that nothing glares where it shouldn't :)
    

-----------------------Do you have anything else you may be worried about?---------------------------------The next post in this series will cover your clothing choices and options. Stay Tuned!------