I’m really looking forward to working with you at the upcoming photoshoot!

Below are some prep instructions for the portrait session, so we can best utilize the time and get the best results. Not all of these may apply, of course, but reading through may give you some ideas or thoughts that might be useful. =)

1. Hunger, stress and frustration are our biggest enemies (well, besides heat/cold and wind – haha!). Do everything you can to arrive to your photoshoot in a great mood, energized and ready for a fun shoot to capture the best photos of you!
2. Along those same lines, please allow yourself extra time to perfect your wardrobe, style yourself, and travel. We recommend arriving for your session a little early and taking the opportunity to enjoy a few moments of relaxation before we begin.
3. It is important to be well rested for your session. You want you to look your best, and getting enough sleep the night before is a good first step.
4. It’s not necessary to accessorize your session with props unless it has already been discussed as an integral part of your session. We create timeless portraits that are natural, relaxed and most of all authentic, and we find that keeping it simple allows for real moments, expressions and interactions. That said, if you’re an all-star at a sport like baseball, a glove, ball or bat may just be integral to capturing who you are. Let’s talk about it so we can properly plan and accommodate what you have in mind!
5. If you have someone who can help carry additional outfits, purses, phones, drinks, coats, etc. for you, that might be helpful to keep you looking as fresh and relaxed as possible for your portraits. Just make sure they’re the kind of person who will help keep you comfortable and confident in front of the camera, and won’t nit-pick at you. We want positive, reassuring, confidence-building people there!
6. It doesn’t hurt to bring a coat if it’s chilly or a little hand-held fan and an ice-cold drink if it’s going to be hot… Anything to keep you as comfortable as possible in between shots is welcome!
7. I have a portable changing station that we can use for changing outfits. It’s quick — just pops up and back down again, so no need to change in a bathroom or vehicle.
8. We encourage you to embrace whatever mood you feel during your session. Feel free to relax, laugh and have a good time. Portraits are best when you are being yourself. It’s important to remember that just because there is a camera pointing at you, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be looking at the camera. Sometimes the strongest images are created when you are interacting with one another and enjoying a moment as opposed to posing.
9. Does music help you relax and/or break out of your shell? Bring a favorite playlist and a little speaker (or let me know to bring mine!) and we’ll have ourselves a little jam session! Anything that helps you feel comfortable and have fun is going to facilitate awesome photos.

Here are a few other general guidelines and suggestions to consider when selecting your wardrobe and preparing for your session:

• Simplicity is usually best, so when in doubt keep in mind that “less is more.”
• It’s generally best to avoid bold patterns and stripes, as they can often conflict with other elements in your portrait.
• Avoid logos, as they can be visually distracting, and tend to “date” photos.
• Neutral colors such as blue, beige, white, black, tan and grey often photograph the best, as they tend to complement skin tones and don’t conflict with common background elements. Consider the outfits you get complimented on the most.
• Wear clothing that fits properly. A proper fit that allows you to move and feel comfortable will help you look more confident in your portrait. When in doubt, ask a friend who will be honest with you, or send us a photo if you like. =) We’re happy to help!
• Dress with full length in mind, including shoes and socks in your wardrobe consideration (unless we’re just creating headshots for you).
• If you wear glasses regularly, you should definitely consider wearing them for your session as we want you to look like you normally do. Don’t worry too much about shine or glare, as we generally know how to look for these things and photograph to minimize the glare. However, if you don’t already get it, consider upgrading your next pair to have the very useful non-glare coating! Oh, and those transition lenses are a no-go, as they will obstruct the view of your eyes, unless that’s the look that you’re going for. =)
• Ladies, unless you work on them and really LOVE how your arms look, you might consider skipping the sleeveless outfits. 
• Bring a hairbrush or comb and product/hairspray! It’s Oklahoma and usually windy, so better to have it and not even need it, than to need it and not have it. (I have a little mirror that I bring with me to photo shoots.)
• We recommend against tanning immediately prior to your session. A nice tan may look good in person but the camera is more sensitive to skin tones and your natural color is always more flattering in photographs. Just be yourself! We’ve seen some real catastrophes over the years, and everyone who knows and loves you will just see you in the portraits, and not some foreign-looking orange streaks or sunburn blisters. =)

Ladies:

• We normally recommend wearing minimal jewelry for your portrait. Jewelry that you wear on a daily basis is fine, but we prefer to not have you accessorize and add extra jewelry that normally wouldn’t wear. If you do wear jewelry, it should be kept simple and its color should be neutral and non-distracting. Keep in mind that accessorizing takes extra time away from photographing.
• Apply makeup and style your hair as you normally would. Now is not the time to try out a drastically new haircut or new style of make-up that you aren’t comfortable with. We’d hate for you to not love your photos due to the fact that you just didn’t like the unusual new look you decided to try for your portraits.