Frequently Asked Questions

This is the second most asked question! (The first is pricing.) There are a few basics to consider when dressing for your session, so I offer the following general guidelines to help.

• Something comfortable – It’s hard to get a genuine smile from someone who is being squeezed, pinched and poked by their clothing and/or shoes, so let comfort be your first priority.
• Something coordinating – Keep your location in mind when selecting colors. White shirts look great on the beach or a white railed porch, but not so good in the woods. Earth tones tend to look nice with outdoor fall sessions. If this is a group shot, it’s a good idea to coordinate everybody’s clothing so the photos will have a sense of unity. This doesn’t mean they have to match exactly, but simply that they “go together” nicely.  Lay the outfits out a bed and look at them all at one time. Does anything clash or stand out as really bold?
• Something simple – In portraiture, the subject is your face, and that’s where we want the viewer’s attention to go. Large, flashy jewelry and/or bold graphic clothing will pull the viewer’s attention away from your face and date your photos. Keep necklines and jewelry simple for a classic, timeless look.
• Multiple outfits – Feel free to bring a couple of changes of clothes to mix it up a bit!

White outdoors,  unless you are a bride or we are at the beach.
Bold graphics (Big stripes/plaids/etc.) – they pull attention from your face and take over the photo.
Logo shirts (cartoons/concert shirts) – they date your photos and make you look like you “forgot today was picture day”.
Crew neck shirts on women – masculine look that shortens the neck
Bright yellow or bright pink – these colors tend to make most skin tones look washed out.
Turtlenecks (especially black) – usually make your head look like it’s just floating above your body and they just aren’t very flattering!

No wrinkles please – freshly pressed clothing looks best.
Getting a haircut? Try to schedule it a week (or at least a few days) before the session to give it time to relax into place.
Ladies – dark nail polish will call attention to your hands.
V-necks elongate the neck and “point” the viewer to the face.
Button-downs with a collar make a nice frame for the face.
Long sleeves look more formal than short sleeves.

• Please allow extra time for newborn sessions – at least 2-3 hours. Make no mistake – the baby is in control of the shoot!
• It is usually best to plan your session when the baby is 4-7 days old. Their skin has smoothed out somewhat by this time, but they are still pretty flexible and will let us move them around while they are sleeping. Newborns usually do best when asleep because their little eyes have a hard time focusing and they are trying to figure out how to use all those face muscles!
• Feel free to bring any special outfits, stuffed animals or blankets for the session. I have several props as well, but your shots will be more special with your own mementos. 

• Try to schedule your session at your baby’s best time of day, which is usually in the morning.
• Diaper the baby loosely before the shoot to minimize elastic marks on the legs and tummy.
• I am always “prop shopping” and have several for us to choose from – feel free to bring your own as well! Is Daddy a fireman? Bring his work boots and helmet. Got a great blanket that was handmade by your grandmother? Bring it! Cute little hats, hairbows, suspenders, etc – bring them all! Adding mementos to your portraits make them more personal and meaningful to you!

• Try to schedule your session at your baby’s best time of day, which is usually in the morning.
• Same as for babies – I am always “prop shopping” and have several for us to choose from – feel free to bring your own as well! Is Daddy a fireman? Bring his work boots and helmet. Favorite toys, cute little hats, hair-bows, suspenders, etc – bring them all! Adding mementos to your portraits make them more personal and meaningful to you!
• I will ask you ahead of time if it is ok to offer candy as a reward. Candy is given at the end of the session so the teeth stay clean!

•   CAUTION: If you try to schedule your session too close to your due date, you may go into labor early and miss it all together!
•   Bring or wear a tube style bra, so we can play with the wraps and won’t have to fuss with straps.
•   Wear bikini panties, so they aren’t in the way of the belly shots.
•   Don’t wear anything tight on your belly that will leave marks. (No sense in creating lots of retouching work!)
•   I can usually get rid of stretch marks with basic retouching.