Preparation Makes the Difference...

Clothing Suggestions:

Here are some tips that Kodak and Professional Photographers recommend to customers to make their Portraits more successful.

For groups/couples, Similar clothing colors and brightness levels allow the eye to go to the faces without being distracted. Busy patterns, stripes, large logos should be avoided to prevent distractions. You are always better off to select solid colors.
Avoid extremes. For example all dark outfits except one very light outfit in a group. The person with the light outfit will noticeably draw your attention away from everyone else. The same will happen with all light outfits and one dark outfit.
To add color to your complexion get your tan. A light tanning is always preferable to a deep dark tan, so don't over do it.
Long sleeves to cover the arms are more flattering on most people. The lighter skin tones of bare arms draw attention away from your face, and covering the arms up forces our eyes back up to the face.
V-neck sweaters accentuate your face and are flattering on everyone.
People with larger builds look slimmer in darker colored clothing.
Try to select clothing in good repair and ironed on hangers so we do not see crease marks and folds.
Wear layered outfits for drama.
Coordinate your top with your pants or skirt in case we need to show more of your body than a head and shoulders. This is especially true with groups of three or more.
Make sure your shoes are polished and in good repair. Clean those tennis shoes for a better look.
For large groups, families have been known to buy primary color tee shirts for each family unit. Each family will then have a specific color for their group and the larger group will be a mix of the primaries.
If you normally do not wear suits or ties, pick a more subtle upbeat sweater/pant combination for a more formal look.

Senior Suggestions:

Seniors should expect to bring a lot more outfits than they need so that we can make some critical selections for style and color.
Bring in a mix of collared shirts, knits, some tees, uniform jerseys, coats, hunting gear, fishing outfits etc. We are looking to define your interests and without the proper clothing we can't do it justice.
Don't forget to bring in studio props that tell us what you do. Balls, bats, golf clubs, volleyball & nets, uniforms, saddles, musical instruments, candles, books, hobbies, wake boards, ski's, roller blades etc. Bring your car, cycle, bike, girlfriend, family member(s), pet(s), ATV, sports equipment, guns, mounted animal trophies, sports trophies. We are using these props to define your interests at this stage of life.

Hair Cuts and Makeup:

Avoid the fresh cut look by getting your hair styled a week or two before your Senior shoot so it can grow out before the appointment.
Ladies wear light makeup and bring in hair ties, pins to help change your hair style.
Guys make sure your face is washed before your appointment. The oil on your skin will shine & reflect. Washing and drying your face will help prevent this.
Ladies repaint your nails or remove polish. It is distracting to see nails with paint peeling off and we don't want to always hide the fingers. Don't forget your toe nails in case we show bare feet, they need the same attention as your fingers.
Don't make drastic changes to your hair color or cut style just before your Senior Portraits, you may regret your choices after the shooting session.

Accessories:

Simple jewelry and earrings on the ladies work well to dress up an outfit. Guys that goes for you as well with your necklaces, chains, crosses and don't forget class rings.
Bring hats, hoods, scarf's, shawls, they add drama to an image.

This is just a list of some of the most frequent things we can do to improve your images. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to call and we will be glad to help.