You've found the perfect photographer, you've paid the invoice, you've set a date for your photoshoot... now what? Preparing for your professional photos is just as important as the photo shoot itself! Being ill-prepared can lead to a not-so-great photo shoot and will leave you and the photographer with a bad taste in your mouths. But don't worry, I'm here to help! Here are my top Do and Don'ts for your professional photo shoot: Don't want to read the blog post? Watch the Instagram Live video and see what other questions were asked! 1. Pick out your outfits in advanceI suggest picking out your outfit(s) the week before your shoot and setting them aside. You don't want to accidentally wear that outfit during the week and then it not be clean for your photo shoot! I also suggest setting out jewelry with your outfit during the week to see what jewelry combinations you prefer. If you're looking for more outfit tips, check out this blog post (it's written for Senior photos, but the rules apply to all other professional photos)! 2. Leave the entire day freeThe last thing you (or the photographer) want on the day of your shoot is to have planned too much, get behind schedule, arrive late, and be in a frazzled mood for your photoshoot. That frazzled mood will show through in your photos - trust me. I suggest planning nothing on the day of your shoot. Take the morning to relax and have some "me time". Then schedule enough time to get ready and arrive at the photoshoot location early. As a photographer, I always appreciate it when my clients arrive early! It means we can start on time and maximize our time together! 3. Don't come hungryDo you get "hangry"? I know I do! I suggest eating a small meal before your photoshoot to ensure you won't get hungry. I know some people don't want to eat a lot before their photoshoot because they are afraid of looking bloated, but honestly, as long as you don't eat a huge pasta dish or something you're intolerant to, you should be fine. I suggest eating until you don't feel hungry anymore, that should be enough to get you through a two hour shoot! You can always bring snacks to the shoot as well! 5. TanningA lot of people want to look tan in their photos, and I don't blame them! Being tan gives your skin an even tone and looks awesome in photos. Regardless of how you want to tan, I suggest you stop tanning at least 3 days before your photoshoot. This way, if you accidentally burn or your spray tan goes wrong, your sunburn will fade or you'll have time to fix your spray tan before your professional photos. In terms of a natural tan vs. a spray tan, I can't really suggest one or the other. They both have their pros and cons. If I HAD to pick one, basing my decision strictly off what the tan will look like in photos, I would choose the natural tan. But I don't want anyone to get skin cancer, so PLEASE wear sunscreen! 6. Waxing and ShavingIf you're like me, you've got hair in places you don't want. So you wax or shave to get rid of it. If you're waxing, especially your eyebrows, I suggest doing it at least 5-7 days before your photoshoot. This will give the inflammation time to die down and look natural for your shoot. If you're shaving, I suggest shaving the day before. Shaving isn't typically a huge problem, unless you're using an old razor and get razor burn! 7. Makeup and NailsI provide professional hair and makeup to my clients, but if your photographer doesn't and you're doing makeup yourself, I suggest doing your normal makeup, only darker. False eyelashes make a huge difference as well (just make sure you test these out a few times before your shoot - they can easily look awful...). If you've bought new makeup, test it out at least 2 weeks in advance, just in case you have an allergic reaction! As for nails, I know the trend right now is to do bold colored nails. These can look great now, but are you going to love neon yellow nails 10 years from now? Chances are you won't. So I suggest a more neutral color - possibly pinks, white, or black. Or go au naturale and have naked nails (those never go out of style)! Interested in booking a photoshoot with Sarah? Contact her now to start the conversation!
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It's probably the #1 question I get asked... what outfits should I wear for my Denver Senior VIP Experience? Although it can seem daunting, there are a few "rules" to follow when it comes to outfits that will make you look your best AND photograph well, ensuring you ROCK your Denver Senior pictures! Don't want to read the blog post? Watch the Instagram Live reply and see what other questions were asked! 1. Wear what makes you feel beautiful and confidentYou know that outfit that makes you feel uber amazing? When you're wearing it, you can't help but hold your head up high and strut because you know you look damn good? Often times this is your favorite outfit in your closet. I can always tell when someone isn't comfortable with what they're wearing or they don't feel their best. Wearing your "confidence outfit" for your photoshoot will make you feel amazing and it will show in your photos! 2. Wear clothes that fit your body typeI know the trend right now is to wear oversized flowy tops, but for people, like me, who have big booties or for people who have a larger chests, these tops make us look heavier than we actually are because our waist is hidden! Even if flowy tops look great on you, they can sometimes make your body look a little bigger on camera. So, yes, bring the flowy top! But also bring other form fitting options. Even if you're uncomfortable with your mid section because you have "a little extra", 9 times out of 10, a fitted top will look better on camera than a flowy top. Plus, you're gorgeous just the way you are no matter your size (don't listen to the magazines)! And I always make sure to get only the flattering angles for you. If you'd like more help with finding outfits that look great on your body type, don't hesitate to reach out! I'm here to help! 3. Stay away from crazy patternsOur eyes can usually make sense of crazy patterns, but unfortunately the camera cannot. Most patterned clothing is ok to wear to your photoshoot, however, please stay away from the small crazy patterns like lots of small stripes, small dots, or small floral prints (some florals are ok), they tend to look weird on camera. I suggest sticking with solid colors and adding interest/texture by wearing a jacket, vest, or jewelry. Or stick with bigger, bolder patterns - those are usually safe. But as always, don't hesitate to send me pics of your outfits if you're not sure! 4. Bring at least one outfit that is school appropriateMost schools won't allow a Senior photo to be printed in the yearbook if it violates the school dress code. So bring one outfit that you could wear to school (Grandma will probably like this one, too)! Your other outfits can be whatever you want! 5. Wear/bring accessoriesWearing accessories will jazz up any outfit! Adding more texture, interest, and sparkle to your outfits will also create a more interesting photo! So I suggest bringing a bag/box of jewelry with rings, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces to choose from! Although, make sure your necklaces don't get tangled... that's a whole mess no one wants to deal with! Haven't booked your Senior pics yet? Contact Sarah today to get on the schedule! |