Portrait Session Tips
A little planning helps create better portraits. Choosing the right clothing can make a big difference in how your final photos look.
For teens and adults, long sleeves usually work best because they keep the attention on the face. Turtlenecks and V-necks can also look nice, as long as they are not too wide, too deep, or too bulky.
Unless it’s a fashion shoot, we recommend keeping stockings neutral or dark — especially with shorter skirts. Bright or colorful stockings can sometimes pull attention away from the face and expression.
If your feet will show, make sure your shoes and stockings fit the look you want.
If you are planning on getting a short haircut, about a week before your session would be the best time. Schedule your portrait session for a time when you feel your best about how your hair looks after styling and please avoid drastic changes on the day of the session.
The goal is to keep the look simple, flattering, and natural.
Clothing
The goal of any fine portrait is to direct the viewer’s eye to the face(s) in the portrait. All other elements should be secondary. For individuals, simple long-sleeved garments in medium to dark tones of brown, rust, burgundy, green, or blue are pleasing choices when photographed against a medium or dark background.
Because darker clothing is slimming, it often is a good choice for full-length or three-quarter-length portraits in which a medium to dark background is used.
Bold stripes, plaids, checks, and prints are visually confusing and do not photograph well.
Bright colors, such as red and orange, will overwhelm the face and ruin a portrait.
Bare shoulders or tops with “spaghetti straps” often make the subject look heavier and take the eye away from the face.
ABOUT CLOTHING, COLOR, TONE, & STYLE
When more than one person is to appear in the portrait, or when a special stylistic effect is desired, clothing and prop choices can make or break a portrait.
Skin Tone Considerations
Whether working with light or dark complexions, the objective always is for the face to dominate the portrait. Accordingly, skin highlights must be the lightest, brightest, most intense areas of the portrait. So when a medium to dark background is used, all subjects photograph best in medium to dark tones, whatever the skin tone.
Clothing For Small Groups
Couples or small groups should choose simple garments within the same tonal ranges, keeping in mind how the clothing and background selection will affect the stylistic intention of the portrait.
Clothing For Families
In a family group, proper clothing coordination is critical. When decorating a home, a major concern is to coordinate the colors and tones of the walls, carpets, drapes, and furniture. Similar coordination is necessary when selecting clothing for a group portrait. Choose clothing in the same tonal ranges so that no single member of the family stands out because the clothing is too light or bright as compared to the rest of the group.
Light-colored clothing is appropriate against a white or pastel background.
Careful clothing selection makes the difference between a portrait that appears to be unrelated individuals and one in which every member of the family “belongs” to the group.
Casual clothing complements portraits made in outdoor environments.
DECORATING
WITH PORTRAITS
Giving life to your personal artwork begins with a planning appointment, during which you and the photographer or design consultant can explore your ideas and discuss creative possibilities.
When the finished work is on display in your home or office, it will serve as both a tasteful reflection of your individualized decorating style and a tribute to the ones you love.
As the examples above illustrate, a well-designed portrait, when it is properly sized, creates a decorative focal point that can add both drama and personality to any room in your home.