Senior Portrait Perfection

It's that time of year! Here are a few tips to make sure your son or daughter's senior portrait will not embarrass them for years to come. If you are not inclined toward a cookie cutter type senior portrait, ask friends for recommendations. Ideally, a photographer who will offer you a couple different outfit changes and both studio and location photos for one sitting fee will be the best option.

Let your son or daughter have a say in their clothing and hair style if you don't want to fight about it from the moment you set the appointment. If a formal (suit or dress) photo is something you are committed to, allow your child to have some input on a more casual look for a location shot. This ensures you are both happy with the outcome- after all, the bulk of the wallet photos will be handed out to their friends and they need to have a positive feeling about their image.

As far as clothing, whether you are dressy or casual, try to select timeless fashions. You don't want to look at the image on your wall in five years and think- "oh, why did I make him wear that!" Steer clear of trendy items which will date the image or loud patterns or colors which can be distracting. After all, this is a photo of your child, not your child's clothing. Avoid logos and labels- as they can both date and distract.

The day before the shoot is not the day for a hair cut- give it at least five days for your child to be comfortable with the length and style so they are not insecure or uncomfortable in front of the camera- for most people, this is already a foreign and unnerving experience. If your son is always clean shaven, this is not the time to debut a goatee or fledgling beard- likewise, if your child wears glasses at all times, at least some of the photos should include them. The point to the photo is that you remember your child as they are and as you know them.

Have your child bring their IPod or MP3 so that if the photographer has the capability- music they are familiar with or enjoy will be playing during the shoot. So much of our culture is built around music- it is a simple way to relax everyone involved.

Eat a bit before you arrive so no one is cranky, hungry or even over full and annoyed. A light snack is best and carving out a little extra time to spend with your child following the shoot can make for a nice afternoon.

Most of all- have fun and don't be offended if your child would prefer to conduct the shoot without you there. But, make sure to manage your expectations by making them clear to the photographer.

Locations for Your Bridal Portrait

Not every bride is cut out for the studio and we love that.  The bridal portrait is a great opportunity to showcase your personality and interests.  The first step is to look through for images that appeal to you (be realistic- if you live in Austin, Texas, you are unlikely to find a location which looks like Venice, Italy)- pay attention to what about the image is appealing.  Is it the lighting, the location, the time of day it seems to be taken, the effect of the image (black and white, color, sepia tones, colorized, high contrast) or the style (elegant, edgy, sophisticated).  

When I recommend you be realistic- this is critical.  We'd all like to do a sitting which rivals Carrie's in Vogue when she was featured as the Fortyish bride- the floral abounding- easily thousands of dollars, a perfectly appointed setting and artificial lighting- but alas, few of us has the budget for such an elaborate bridal sitting.  If you do, I highly recommend the effort and expense- if you don't, make sure the photos you select in magazines reflect real possibilities.

The venue where you are having the ceremony or reception is a good option if available- this will make for a  lovely presentation of your portrait the day of the wedding.  Consider interesting architecture in your city- landmarks you identify with, places you enjoy (the state fair is not off the table for some, but the dress is at great risk)- a downtown setting is an option for a more urban bride- but like the Arboretum, which is wildly popular- keep in mind it is a public domain and you will be subject to, well, the public.  There is no privacy like a closed studio if you find you are not comfortable.  

A great deal can be accomplished in the studio- most images in wedding magazines are in studio- lighting, floral, back ground, and props can create stunning portraits.  Don't categorically reject the studio, do both- you might be pleasantly surprised.  Either way, shooting in studio and on location will give you more content than you imagined to make your selections.