What Do I Wear?

Choose outfits that you like and bring as much variety as possible.

Choose some casual and some dressy outfits. Casual is what you wear everyday and shows off your unique style. Traditional clothing (jeans and solid colors) will stand the test of time. Avoid "trendy" clothes that go in and out of style.

Make sure your shoes compliment your clothing; changes may be necessary with different clothing styles. Many prefer barefoot poses.

Busy patterns and loud colors or brand logos can distract and draw attention from your face.

Blacks and earth tones are great for outdoor pictures.

Don't forget the accessories such as a class ring, necklace, earrings, ect.

Especially for the Guys

For the more traditional portrait, a sport coat or suit with a tie is good. Medium to dark sweaters also photograph well. Wear comfortable clothes for casual and outdoor portraits. Jeans, shirts, sweaters, shorts, sweatshirts and western wear looks good too.

Have your hair cut about a week before your appointment so that it has time to fill in. It is not a good idea to cut your hair the day of or the day before your session.

The five o'clock shadow is hard to remove even with digital. So unless that is the look you are going for then a fresh shave is a must!

Tattoos are also difficult to remove after the picture is taken. Make sure you discuss this with your parents and come to a compromise long before the day of your shoot. Most tattoos can be concealed with the right clothes and the right pose.

Especially for the girls

Bring the colors and outfits you feel best in, if you feel good, you look good. Wear something with bright colors and patterns. For a casual look try shorts, jeans, flip-flops and tank tops. Make sure that your clothes match from top to bottom (stripes and checks do not work together). For a more traditional look wear dresses (even formals), sweaters or lace. If you like an outfit it's probably because you look good in it, so make sure you bring it!

Blonde or light hair looks great with white clothing. White clothes against a white background and black clothes against a black background also look good.

Let's face it, nobody thinks bra and panty lines look good, especially in a portrait, so try to avoid them! Wear a seamless bra, as decorative lace can show through and add unwanted texture. If you decide to wear a tank top, spaghetti straps, or other form-fitting clothing, be aware that bra straps / lines are difficult if not impossible to conceal.

Your hands will be in most of your portraits so have your fingernails done.

Avoid sleeveless or very short sleeves, as upper arms can be very distracting.

Bring lipstick and other makeup for touch ups.

Your face is the center of attention and your eyes play a very important part. Make sure your eyelashes and eyebrows are groomed.

Tattoos-just like with the guys make sure you come to a compromise with your parents long before the day of the shoot. I have seen a senior's mood totally ruined because of a misunderstanding about this. This will show up in your pictures!

What About A Suntan?

Tans are fine but just don't overdo it in the sun or tanner. Too much sun darkens your skin unnaturally, dries out your hair and makes your skin appear blotchy and greasy. Strap marks are another problem that are very difficult to touch up . Keep your tan even and do not tan within 3 days of your appointment. Spray on tans are fine if done right and give the best results.

What about Eyeglasses?

If you wear glasses most of the time and you want to wear them in your portraits have the lenses removed to eliminate glare or reflections. Call your optician and arrange to borrow a pair of empty frames like yours, or have them remove the lenses from your glasses. Most opticians will gladly do this for free ( just make sure you give them plenty of time). This totally eliminates glare and distortions and it is the most important way to improve your portraits if you wear glasses. It doesn't take much effort - and it sure makes your pictures look better!