It takes planning to create a great portrait. Let the photographer worry about all the technical stuff, like lighting and location. But there’s a lot you can do to prepare before you even leave the house.
Colors
What colors you wear will really set the tone for the photograph. For example, black sends an entirely different message than white or red.
Black is timeless and classic, it will always be “in”. Black is strong, modern, and conservative. It can also be somber, menacing, or even depressing.
White is very pure, and is especially good for children. It is clean, bright, and airy. On the downside, white is also sterile, cold, and can sometimes be semi-transparent.
Red is an aggressive and bold color. It is exciting, sexy, playful and attention-getting. Red can also mean gaudy, violent, and tacky.
Try also to avoid colors that are too bright, and it’s best to choose solid colors instead of patterns like stripes or dots. These will compete for attention with the faces in the photos.
Style
You want to wear clothing that reflects who you are, but try to avoid trendy clothing choices. Most importantly, wear clothing that fits. Clothes that are too tight or too loose do not photograph well.
Men should avoid wearing cut-off sleeves unless they have muscular arms. And trust me, most should avoid it even then. For women, try to accentuate your best features with your outfit. Got a great set of legs? Show ‘em off!
Don’t forget your feet! Shoes are important too, and dark colored socks look better than white. Women, if you are wearing open-toes shoes, make sure your toes are well-groomed.
Bring along personal items or props to your photo session. If you are wearing your team jersey, bring along sports equipment too. Show off your hobbies, interests, or even your favorite pet.
The group shot and other imperfections
A lot of families or friends who get group photos attempt to coordinate their outfits. Matching outfits are better than calling all the cousins and requesting that they all simply “wear blue”. You’ll end up with a range of colors from light to dark, and the photo won’t look right.
If the goal is to match, then match.
Glasses and braces on teeth are just a fact of life for many. You don’t have to have braces removed for a day or get special eyeglasses with no lenses just for a photograph. Moles and other skin blemishes can be covered with some make-up, but most photographers offer retouching services for a nominal fee.
Grooming for women
Cardinal Rule #1: Do not experiment with a new hairstyle for your photo shoot, wear it as you normally would. Try to maintain loose and/or split ends as best you can.
Cardinal Rule #2: As far as make-up is concerned, less is more. Most photography lighting is 5500K, which is a pure white light, so apply your daytime version.
Grooming for men
Try to shave at least an hour before the photo shoot, because there is little that can be done to edit a 5 o’clock shadow. Any other facial hair should be trimmed and groomed. Other unsightly hair (such as nose/ear/eyebrow) should also be taken care of.
If you’re getting a hair cut for your photo, try to do it at least a week in advance. Recently cut hairs can stand on end, so give it some time to grow a little bit.
Above all, talk things over with your photographer. Discuss possible issues or retouching prior to the session.
