Studio portrait session preparation

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Clothing

There are no absolute rules for what you should wear but the following guidelines may help.
Simple clothing is usually best, so perhaps avoid patterns, spots, stripes, logos and multi coloured clothing as these may be distracting in your finished portrait.

Ensure your group wear matching and complementary colours in the same tones. White, black or light blue tops always look great. Trousers and skirts should be co-ordinated too and black or all denim works well. But you may have your own ideas about the look you want to create, and that’s fine too. Classic designs (plain shirts, t-shirts, etc) tend to be a better choice as more fashionable garments can date the photographs quickly.

Completely sleeveless tops should be avoided as upper arms tend to photograph wider than they are in real life. Longer sleeves tend to be more flattering on adults.
Baby’s that are less than a year old can be photographed in their nappies covered with a soft cloth or towel. Feel free to bring along a change of clothing if you wish to try different outfits on your baby.

Young children usually look best in casual clothes like jeans and t-shirt. This will allow them to feel comfortable, relax and have fun. Some toys are available for them to play with, however if they have a favourite toy they like to play with, feel free to bring it along.
But most importantly, wear clothes you are comfortable in and want to be seen in!

Footwear

We have a ‘no shoes’ policy in the studio so don’t worry about your choice of footwear. We need to keep the white floor as clean as possible as most of our family portrait sessions involve sitting or laying on the floor at some point for more interesting and fun images and we would not want you posing on a dirty floor! This is especially true when young children and babies are being photographed.
Dark or clean white socks are fine, but please ensure that all family members are matching.
Going barefoot for a more natural looking portrait image is often preferable so ladies might want to paint their nails (hands and feet) the same colour.

Jewellery

If you wear jewellery to the portrait session try to keep it simple. Too much jewellery or jewellery with overwhelming proportions draws attention away from the subject of the photograph. Simple and elegant are generally the way to go when selecting jewellery. The same applies for any other accessories you wish to have included in your portrait.

Ladies

Your normal day to day or ‘going out’ makeup is fine, keep it simple and avoid putting on extra makeup for the session. Wearing a translucent matt powder over your make-up will help avoid shine and it’s a good idea to bring it with you for a ‘touch up’ during the session along with the other make you used.

Men

Unless designer stubble is preferred, men should ideally shave within a couple of hours before the sitting. Try not to nick yourself!

Sunburn

You should avoid unprotected exposure to the sun in the days before your portrait session as studio lighting can highlight reddened skin.

Specific advice for younger children

Avoid giving advance warning to your children. Younger children may get very excited or alternatively very apprehensive.
Please try to book an appointment at a time of day when your young child is alert and full of energy as this will ensure the best results.
Please note all children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

Specific advice for babies and newborns

Time of day is important when planning a session for your baby – pick a time just after a nappy change and when energy levels are good.
Please avoid sessions within a few days of inoculations as your baby is probably not in the best form and skin can be affected.
If your baby responds well to a particular toy or rattle please bring it along.