C2 Photography's Studio Blog: January 2009

Monday, January 26, 2009

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Planning For Your Maternity Photo Shoot

Sheduling:

If you are having a maternity portrait session then I advise you to book about your session for about 8 weeks (32 weeks) before your due date.

If you have decided to do this last minute and you are already past that date then please contact me I will make every effort to fit you into any openings I have.

Shot preparations:

On the day of the shoot make sure you have something to eat and try to avoid tight clothing that may leave elastic marks on your skin. If it is not too uncomfortable then I recommend you leave your bra off for at lease an hour before we start. If this is too uncomfortable then I can airbrush out any strap marks during processing; your comfort is the most important thing.

Clothing:

I recommend plain clothing with no logos. We want to emphasize your beautiful shape and busy clothes can be distracting. Bring several outfits both light and dark. I recommend a couple of tank tops one white one black. You should also plan on some casual pants that show off your wonderful baby-belly. A pair of non-panel jeans also makes for some great shots.

I always take the time before each session to discuss the sort of portrait that you want to have before we start. Some mums-to-be want to celebrate their bump fully clothed and others are happy to go for a more "Demi Moore" type session.

However you chose to be photographed, the end result will be a beautiful piece of art that will celebrate the wonderful nine month journey that you are going through.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Getting The Most From Your Senior Portrait Session

Here are some suggestions to make your senior portraits the best possible…

Clothing
Colors:
Solid colors photograph best. Solid white or light pastels for a high key portrait and solid black for a black on black look great. Earth tones are perfect for outdoor portraits. Avoid large prints, stripes, plaids and patterns as they distract from your face. Shirts with logo’s or text are also distracting. Bring a variety of colors too.

Outfits:
Bring a selection of formal and casual outfits for a variety of looks. Keep in mind that we will be doing some full-length shots, so consider shoes and socks when putting your outfits together. Remember that some outfits that look cool today are going to look dated tomorrow, so bring some classic styles as well as trendy ones. Bring a few that your mom likes as well as your favorite outfit.

You can bring as many outfits as you want and we will suggest the ones which will photograph the best. Please group the outfits you are going to wear together on hangers. Make sure they are properly pressed as wrinkled garments do not photograph well and are not retouchable. Outfits shoved into a bag generally do not come out looking as good.

Sports uniforms, dance outfits, and letterman’s jackets are also great choices to highlight your activates. Be sure to bring along any props that go with your outfit.

Flattering Garments:
If you feel your arms are at all heavy, avoid tank tops, spaghetti straps, sleeveless and cap sleeve outfits. Long sleeves tend to look better than short sleeves and will slenderize your arms. Dark colors minimize, light colors maximize. Baggy clothes can make even the slenderest person appear heavier. Make an honest assessment of or get a second opinion on very tight clothes to make sure they flatter your figure.

Consider what undergarments you are going to wear with each outfit also. Patterned panties may be cute, but if they show through your white pants or dress they don’t look too good. You also need a bra or bras that work with each of your outfits. Nude tone works well for most clothing or white with light colors, black with dark colors. The clear strap bras work great too. Bring a strapless if you need it. Tucking straps never look good in photographs.

Hair & Makeup:
Wear your hair however you normally would. Girls can put their hair up or down for different shots. Avoid a new cut, style or color right before your portrait. Bring whatever hair styling tools you need, including hairspray and any other styling products. While we do our best to make your hair look great in pictures, it is hard for us to know what it is “supposed to look like”. Having mom or a friend there to check your style is often very helpful.

Makeup can either be natural or a little heavier as you would apply for evening wear. Try to avoid sparkles, especially the kind with big pieces of glitter as they catch the light and show up as white dots on your face. A little extra mascara can really make your eyes stand out, just make sure your mascara is fresh not clumpy. Pressed powder is great for controlling shine, especially when it is hot.

Your hands are often in the close-up pictures, so make sure your nails are nicely manicured, as chipped polish will show. We sometimes do barefoot shots too, so a pedicure is also recommended. With nail color, we suggest natural or neutral, something that will go with all of your outfits. Bright orange or blue will draw your eye to your nails in a portrait and not to your face. French is fabulous!

Props:
You can bring whatever props you would like to include in your portraits. These include things like a car or motorcycle, sports equipment, instruments, skis, trophies, or theatrical costumes. You can also bring a friend along to include in several shots. Pets are welcome too, so long as they are housetrained if they are going to be in the studio. Having another person along to care for the pet when they are not in pictures is an absolute must. Bringing a carrier for small pets is recommended.

Bringing Your Ideas:
If you have seen poses or shots that you really like, bring them along. These can be shots that you have seen of other seniors that you know, on websites, or even in magazines. You can always email ahead of time any websites that contain poses or looks that you like and we will work to recreate the look for you.

Retouching:
Normal retouching is included with all your finished portraits so don’t worry if you have a breakout before your session.

Most tattoos can be removed from your pictures. Please tell us if you want your tattoos retouched or not.

Sunburn and tan lines do not look good in portraits and are extremely difficult to retouch. Just be careful of your sun exposure and tanning in the weeks before your portrait.

Arriving for your portrait:
Our studio works by appointment only. We allow up to 2 hours for your senior portrait so you have our entire attention for you scheduled time. Please plan to arrive no more than 10 minutes early for your portrait. A very early arrival may overlap with a previous client leaving or we may be returning from a location shoot and not at the studio to receive you. A late arrival will shorten your shoot and you may not get as many outfits or clothing changes as usual. Keep in mind that while you can do as many outfit changes as you wish, taking a long time to change clothing and/or hairstyles will cut down on your shooting time.

Viewing and ordering your portraits:
Your portraits will be ready for viewing in 2-3 weeks, or sooner if we are close to your yearbook deadline. We post your portraits to our online gallery. You can review them and place your order online or directly with the studio depending on the package you choose. High quality digital files are also available, as are DVD slide shows.