CONSULTATION
A free consultation is available to discuss your portrait needs. Discussions on the phone are often adequate to answer any questions you may have, or to let us know what you expect in your portrait session. For family groups, location sessions, or new clients, an in-studio consultation or visit to the location-in-question is preferred. Topics, such as clothing style (formal, casual, etc.), background color and type, reason for the portrait, color or black and white, even where the portrait may hang in your home, are discussed. We also have many products and finish samples we can show you in the studio that cannot be shown on the website. Please call the studio if you have questions or comments on your session, or if you would like to schedule an in-studio consultation.
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
As a general rule, avoid bright, bold colors or patterns that will compete for attention with the face. Long sleeves and long pants, or skirts, are preferred, even in the summer. Sleeveless shirts or blouses add weight and should be avoided. Shoes should be subdued, especially for full-length portraits. Regular daytime makeup is fine, but avoid a new hair cut or style right before your session. Give your new hair a few days to fall into place. Men with heavy beard growth should shave prior to their session.
Clothing should coordinate in color and tone. Small subdued patterns are perfectly fine. Mixing and matching is sometimes more pleasing to the eye than all one color tops and bottoms, especially for groups. A good practice is to lay out your group or family’s clothes on a sofa, as if they were sitting together, and then step back and see if any particular piece seems out of place. Loose-knits are particularly good, as they don’t wrinkle easily like pressed cottons or linen. Please remember to iron clothes that will wrinkle and use a lint brush if necessary.
Family – Groups are encouraged to settle on only one clothing setup. After photographing the large group and all the various sub-groups, a second clothing change is usually too much to sustain natural expressions.
Babies – Bring several outfits to choose from, for variety and for extras in case of spit-ups. We usually settle on two outfits and sometimes their “birthday suit.” If parents desire to join their babies in a portrait, then please coordinate an outfit. We can provide a white gown for madonna portraits.
Children – We usually try two outfits, one dressy and one playful. We start with your most important outfit. You may bring anything that interests the children to include in the portraits, such as their favorite toy, blanket or book. If parents desire to join their children in a portrait, then please coordinate an outfit.
Teens and High School Seniors – Bring 6-8 outfits, from dressy to casual and from mild to wild. Bring anything that has a special place in a teen’s life. Sports gear, hobby gear and letter jackets, pets, boyfriends/girlfriends, best friends and siblings, class rings, sunglasses and even your car, are encouraged. If you bring someone with you to your session, please coordinate an outfit with them. If a senior has bought a cap and gown from school, we recommend that the senior bring it, otherwise we have a navy cap and gown we can provide for you, as well as a black drape. Please bring your favorite music on CD or Ipod to enjoy during your session.
Adults – Bring two outfits that can be a mixture of dressy and casual. A business portrait usually looks better with a subdued jacket with shirt and tie, or blouse. On women, necklines you feel are complimentary and simple jewelry are fine.
We have many more suggestions for fun portraits. Please call the studio for additional information, and to discuss your particular needs.
WALL SPACE
Don’t forget to take into consideration the harmony of colors and empty wall space in your home or office. When planning to hang a wall portrait in your home or office, be sure to think about the wall space where you plan to display it. Does your portrait need to be vertical or horizontal? How much space does the portrait need to fill? We recommend taking a tape measure to your wall so you can decide the size that is right for you. How large does the portrait need to be to adequately fill the space? Will your clothing and color choices blend well with the room decor? We can help guide your choices during a consultation as well as during your portrait presentation session.
