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Avoid Short Sleeve Clothing and Short Pants
Long sleeved clothing is highly recommended! For casual portraits it is equally important to wear long pants instead of shorts. When arms and legs are exposed to the camera there will be more flesh in the photograph in those areas than on the face, itself. This is a significant distraction.
Proper Necklines for a Portrait
The most flattering neckline for anyone is something that comes up close to the neck such as a turtleneck or V-neck. These tend to slim down the person and frame the face beautifully. A wide-open neckline tends to thicken the neck in a photograph.
Spot Clothing Problems Before the Session
Finally, lay out all the clothing onto a bed. Shoes, socks, stockings--everything should be included! Then, take a careful look at the collection. If your eye goes to any one item in particular, you can be certain the same thing will happen in a photograph. That item should be changed.
For appearance as well as your comfort, clothing should not be too tight or too loose. Also, keep in mind that your portraits are meant to be enjoyed for generations to come. Fad-type clothing should be avoided to create a timeless portrait.
Simplify Your Hairstyle
Keep your hairstyle simple and off the face. Hair falling down onto the sides of the face will create distracting shadows. Likewise, bangs that come down too low onto the face will keep light from getting into the eyes--the very most important part of the face.
Makeup Should Look Natural
Everyone has a color palette (cool, warm or neutral) that best compliments his or her skin tone. If you are having your individual portrait taken, choose clothing and makeup colors that specifically compliment your skin tone.
If you are having a group portrait taken, it is often best to choose clothing in neutral shades so that it is complimentary to everyone. In this case, neutral makeup colors are probably your best choice.
All makeup should be well blended to create a natural look. Too much color above and below the eyes attracts attention to itself. It actually takes attention away from the eyes, rather than attracting the viewer to the eyes.
Interested in a Free Makeover?
Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant.
Eyeglasses and Glare
There are various "tricks of the trade" that I can use to minimize glass glare in your portraits. However, I cannot guarantee that it will be totally eliminated.
Non-reflective lenses, of course, are a big help. Better yet, sometimes it's possible to obtain a matching set of frames without any lenses. This is particularly helpful, if your lenses sometimes distort the outline of your face. You may also simply wish to remove your glasses to avoid expensive retouching costs
Copyright © 2010 Pring Photography
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