Many people have emailed me for tips before their session, so I think it might be helpful just to post a few on here.
1. Smile a lot. This is my number one most important rule. I’m a big fan of smiling, laughing people, both in real life and in photographs. The easiest, quickest, best way to make yourself look great is to give me your most winning smile!
2. Dress for your photos. Pick an outfit that you are comfortable in, but that looks good on you. You also need to think about what could go wrong with any outfit (straps showing, etc) and plan accordingly. For engagement and solo portraits, think about bringing two outfits: one that you’d wear on a dinner date, and another that you’d wear for a walk in the park (one dressy, one casual). For families and couples, your outfits don’t have to match perfectly, but coordinating colors do look nice.
My grandmother maintains that everyone looks best in bright colors. I’m not sure that’s 100% true, but I do think that black and white are harder to photograph and tend to be more severe on certain skin tones. To be safe, choose a color that brings out your eyes and that blends or coordinates well the surroundings. Stick to solid colors when possible.
3. Take care of yourself. We need your best, freshest face for your pictures. Get plenty of rest the night before (and don’t drink alcohol, which dehydrates you and causes redness). I can do a little bit of retouching after your pictures are done, so if a sudden pimple appears that morning, don’t worry – but I do generally like to leave things as natural as possible. Take special care of your skin, and spend a few extra minutes making sure your hair and makeup looks great. Bring touch-up makeup (especially lipstick) and an extra hair clip to your shoot, just in case.
Oh, and girls… if possible, leave your hair down! I don’t think there’s anything prettier than windblown hair, especially when it’s backlit.
4. Location, location, location…. In photography as in real estate, location seems to be everything. This goes for portraits and weddings both. Choosing a good spot is so important to getting great shots. I take care of most of this with portraits, but it’s definitely something that brides need to consider when planning their weddings. Even simple steps will help: make sure your dressing room is clean and that there’s space to move around, clean out extra power cords, etc from the front of the church, and consider doing as much as possible outside if the weather is good.
5. Details make the shot! Jewelry, hats, and other accessories make a great portrait even more interesting. Just be sure it’s something you’d normally wear.
For weddings, all those little details you spend months thinking about really do make a difference, and they’re some of my favorite things to photograph. Plan for your details and invest in them – they’re part of what really make your pictures stand out from everyone else’s.
6. Bring props! I love dogs. (I guess cats are okay too.) Pets are welcome – as long as you can leash them or drop them off with somebody for at least half of your shoot. You might also consider bringing sports accessories, musical instruments, a book you love, toys for kids, bubbles, etc.
7. Bring a friend! It’s more fun to have someone else to talk to (besides me, although I do try my best to be charming!). A friend can also be helpful with things like adjusting your clothes, helping you up to tricky spots, holding your bags, etc. For babies and young children, having an extra adult behind the camera to help grab the kids’ attention while I shoot is invaluable.
8. Consider your timing. Many of my favorite shots are made outdoors during the “golden hour,” which is about an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset. The light at this time is indirect, which means it’s less harsh and we have fewer dark shadows to worry about. (It’s also the best time to get that soft, hazy sun flare in your shots, if you like that look.) If you’re getting married, consider the timing of the day when you plan your event. You’ll probably want at least 30 minutes for group formals and another 30 minutes for bride and groom shots. It’s important to save daylight for these times. Many photographers recommend just doing these photos before the ceremony. I have found that sometimes trying to cram in a lot of photos before the wedding just makes it more stressful, but under the right conditions, I think it could work.
9. Embrace yourself. Everyone has something about them that is beautiful. That being said, if there’s something about your body you don’t like to see in pictures, tell me. Sometimes there are posing techniques we can use to highlight your best features and hide the ones you’re worried about. As I wrote before, I think that everyone looks great as long as they’re smiling and having fun, which brings me to number 10…
10. Have fun. Don’t worry about knowing what to do. Don’t worry about feeling shy or awkward in front of the camera. Unless you’re a fashion model, you’re probably not used to posing for a lot of pictures…. My hope is that as the shoot goes on, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy yourself. Usually we start off just by talking, and then as we get used to each other and you start to get the hang of it, the shots get better and better.
