Tips for a great session

So what makes for a great portrait session? The weather? your hair day?

It really does come down to a the simpler things! 

1. If your session is scheduled at your home, make sure it's picked up. Neither you, nor your family enjoy the clutter and chaos of normal life, so why would you want to take a picture of it? To get the greatest opportunity out of your session, pick up!

2. If you have kids under the age of 50, make sure they're fed, napped, and have snacks readily available on hand. None of us operate well with an empty tummy, so how can you expect a fun time or a natural smile?  Feed em, nap em, and they'll have a good time!

3. Bring water! Ya start feelin' a little peaked after about 20 minutes of kissing and smiling, so a fresh cool bottle never hurts. Of course, I always try to bring one or two for the folks I am with, but most people prefer their own bottles.

4. KiSS. As we learned of that phrase growing up, keep it simple *smarty*...ok, so it was "stupid", but beyond that, the point is to keep your wardrobe, hair, etc simple.  Outfits are great! Creativity is fantastic! Accessorize to our hearts content, but keep it VISUALLY simple. 9 patterns and a large name brand across your chest don't make for good portraits. We want to see your face, not your prints!  Colors, simple patters, accessories, and props are all great, but never have words, multiple patterns, or extreme business happening all over your body. Your face is so much better!

5. If you're self-conscious about an area of your body (that's not your face or hands), wear clothes and accessories that hide it, or complement it well. Nervous about your arms? Don't go sleeveless. Nervous about your scarred knees? Don't wear shorts. Whatever makes you feel the most beautiful, wear it; it will make you happier with the final product!

6. Attitude is everything! Whether the weather is foul or fantastic, your attitude about the session will show through in your portraits! Make it worth while, and put on a smile. Enjoy your time in front of the lens! After all it IS about you!  Some of the best portrait sessions, the ones with the most character, happened in pouring rain or 6 feet of snow with sunshine outdoors (the snow session gal was wearing a little black dress and FROZE but she had so much fun doing it, and it shone through in her portraits!) The only weather conditions to really avoid are lightning, wildfires/smoke, and excessive winds ( I'm talkin' 50 mph gusts here, like we have in Flagstaff).

So 6 things to consider to make a session great! It's worth thinking about, whether maternity, newborn, senior, engagement, or wedding....

Blessings!
Kelly