The first time I had professional portraits made was when I was 15 years old. I was auditioning to dance in the Hannah Montana Movie (don’t get too excited…I didn’t make it!) and needed professional head shots. I planned my outfits, hired a hair and makeup artist, studied poses, and had my bags packed and ready to go. Even though I was excited to be a model for a day, I was really nervous and didn’t know what to expect. Now, as a photographer, my goal is to make sure all of my clients are at ease in front of the camera and know what to expect during their session.
Here are a few things that you can expect during your portrait session:
- Time
Depending on which session you book, a portrait session can take between 2-3 hours. When you arrive, I will look at your outfits and we’ll decide on the order in which you’re going to wear each outfit. You always want to save your favorite for second or third! - Bring someone!
Bring a friend or parent to make you laugh, fix your hair, touch up your lip gloss and help you change. This will help you loosen up and be yourself and allow me to focus on taking pictures. I usually recommend Mom or Dad. Be careful not to bring too many people (I recommend 1-2 people) or someone that is going to make you feel insecure or stressed during your session. The mood of the session will be reflected in your images! - Changing
I have a pop up changing tent that I bring with me to sessions, but if you would rather change in your car (with air conditioning), that is fine too. Most restaurants, coffee shops and businesses will not allow you to change in their restrooms without purchasing something. - Posing
If you’re nervous about being in front of the camera, HAVE NO FEAR! I will walk you through steps to find the most flattering and comfortable poses for you and your outfits. Not every pose you see on Pinterest or in Vogue works for everyone. Poses depend on location, body type, body proportion and outfits. Feel free to bring inspiration pictures but trust your photographer to guide you through the best poses for you! If you want to go “America’s Next Top Model” on me and pose yourself, go for it! - Locations
We will move to different locations in between outfits and sets of images. Most are within walking distance so it is smart to bring a pair of comfortable, walking shoes so you don’t have to walk through an ally or field in your high heels! If we have to drive, we will caravan to the next location. - Fun
You can expect to have a ton of fun during your portrait session! We will play your favorite music, laugh a lot, talk a lot, and channel your inner-Beyonce. Feeling like a model for an afternoon is always a blast! All of my clients always walk away and say, “Having my senior pictures made was not stressful at all and a lot more fun than I thought it would be!”.
