Family Portrait Preparation Guide
Items to Avoid:
Avoid glitter makeup
Avoid chewing gum
Avoid loose “tendril” strands—they cast shadows, blow in the wind, and need constant fixing. Keep hair out of your face; wearing it down is fine, just skip the tendrils.
Avoid tanning/Sun 3-5 days before your wedding. It is not a bad idea to add color to your complexion by sun tanning, avoid sunburn.
Avoid spray tans, as they often create orange tones and uneven skin color in photos. If you’re considering one, do a trial at least 1 month in advance since they cannot be removed easily.
Avoid tan lines that will be evident. (Shoulders, sunglass lines, wrist watch lines, legs, etc.)
Avoid dry skin and chapped lips.
Avoid wearing shorts as well as avoid wearing tank/tube tops (The more covered the skin, the better the focus will be on the couples faces in the portrait. Exposed skin deters away from the face. The main focal point of portraits are the peoples faces). Avoid bare legs! Bare legs can distract from the main subject of the photograph. Instead of drawing attention to the person or scene being captured, bare legs might stand out unnecessarily. This applies to both men and women. Often times bare legs have bruises, scratches, veins, mosquito bites, sock tan lines etc. If dresses or skirts are being worn I suggest wearing stockings/leggings with the dress.
Hats can be worn toward the end of your session, but they can shade faces. It’s best to avoid them so everyone is clearly visible. If needed, choose a lighter-colored hat, as darker ones cast stronger shadows.
Avoid chipped fingernail polish, items on kids hands such as lagoon amusement park stamps, marker etc.
Avoid eyeglasses that are reflective and wearing transition eyeglasses.
Steer clear of linen attire; it has a tendency to wrinkle easily.
Colors to avoid in your outfits: Neon, Pastels, Red and flesh tones. Bright colors distract. Especially avoid wearing pink/orange pastels.
Steer clear of vivid red lipstick as cameras struggle to capture the intensity of red tones. If wearing lipstick keep it subtle.
Avoid tennis shoes. Boots and dress shoes look best.
General Suggestions:
Pick simple, classic styles that won’t look dated in a few years. This applies to clothing, hair-styles and jewelry. Avoid large branding on clothing. Small brand logos such as the Ralph Lauren Pony, Lacoste Alligator etc. are acceptable and look great.
Manicured nails, shaped brows for women.
Trimmed fingernails, ear and nose hair for men. Men, also pay attention to your eyebrows and if they need to be trimmed.
Women/girls, spray down all fly away hairs prior to your portrait session.
Clean shoes, new socks and/or stockings free of runs.
Make sure clothing is neatly pressed or dry cleaned, paying special attention to smoothing out the shoulder areas where hanger marks can form.
Arrive 15-20 minutes early. Prevent wrinkles by dressing upon your arrival. Especially if wearing linen! Linen is fine but keep in mind the seatbelt will wrinkle your shirt.
Bring water to your portrait session (May - September).
Bring eye drops and moisturizer. Apply before the session.
Beards and stubble are great—just make sure they’re neatly trimmed beforehand. If you’re clean-shaven, take your time and shave carefully to avoid nicks or cuts, and double-check to make sure you didn’t miss any spots. If you’re prone to razor burn, shave slowly and methodically to help minimize irritation.
Be mindful that thicker and longer eyelash extensions might affect the visibility of your eyes which are the most vital element in a portrait. This can make it challenging to showcase the catch lights in your eyes, which are crucial for creating a captivating portrait. If you tend to squint when you smile, it’s recommended to opt for shorter and lighter eyelash extensions to ensure your eyes, the centerpiece of a portrait, remain unobscured.
Men, cut your hair 2-6 days before the portrait session. Cut to the length you want it to be in the photos. Neckline should be neatly shaped and clean.
Teeth clean and flossed. Optional whitening a couple weeks prior.
If it is going to be chilly outside bring a coat and or blanket that you can easily slip off and on. Especially remember this during the month of October as the new season arrives upon us we often forget it can get colder later in the evening, especially higher up in the mountains. Even better if your jacket goes with your outfit and you can wear it in some of the photos.
Bring hairspray.
If one of you is sick before the session I suggest re-scheduling.
If you have a lot of items to carry, bringing a baby stroller to your portrait session can be a practical and convenient option.
If you have a toddler, it can be helpful to let them practice smiling for the camera before the photoshoot. This gives them a chance to get comfortable and better understand what to expect.
If toddlers are part of the family, bring baby wipes, tissues, a favorite comfort item, and candy that won’t leave bright stains or colors.
Factor traffic and rush hour into your travel. Check your gas tank in advance before your commute especially if we are all traveling a canyon for photos.
Layered clothing presents an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the eye.
Remember to wear your wedding ring (if applicable).
Utilizing Google image search can be a valuable tool for coordinating the colors of your outfit.
Steer clear of excessive matching in your outfits, such as having your children wear identical shirts. However, it's worth noting that an exception to this guideline can be made if you have young twins. Choose coordinating colors, not matching shirts.
For portrait sessions during cold winter months please bring the following: Coat, large blanket, gloves, snow-boots.
If the photo location requires a lot of walking, when wearing high heels, it's advisable to bring a secondary pair of comfortable shoes that you can walk around in.
Refrain from drinking excessive water 3-5 hours before the photo session. Instead, ensure thorough hydration 5-8 hours beforehand. Some of the photo locations do not have a bathroom on site so plan accordingly.
If you have children aged 4 and under, please consider clothing choices that won't reveal their diaper in photographs.
Classic watches photograph best. If you’re wearing an Apple Watch, opt for a metal band instead of silicone. If you choose to go without a watch, make sure there isn’t a visible tan line.
For women/girls, it's best to keep the bangs away from the face for a more flattering look. Especially on younger children.
Eyeglasses can be worn. Non-reflective lenses are highly recommended, and it’s best to avoid transitional lenses.
Clothing Suggestions:
The most important part of a portrait are the people. Clothing is secondary and should accentuate the person, not overpower.
Opt for darker and more solid colors as they tend to be more flattering. Example: Instead of wearing Baby Blue go for the darker color Navy Blue. Darker clothing can create a slenderizing effect. For a polished image, consider wearing long sleeves and pants. Avoid showing bare skin, as it can detract from the face. Dressing from head to toe is recommended, avoiding bare arms on the upper bicep/shoulder and bare legs. If you choose to wear a dress or skirt, consider pairing it with leggings, tights, stockings, or a similar covering. Incorporating layers like a sweater or jacket adds depth and dimension to your photos.
When wearing a collarless blouse or sweater, draping a scarf loosely around the neck can beautifully frame the face. Opting for a neckline that comes up close to the neck is the most flattering choice for anyone. Wide-open necklines tend to appear thicker in photographs and should be avoided with the exception of Henley Shirts on men (the “v taper” of the shirt looks great). Pay attention to white undershirts; avoid showing the collar of the undershirt beneath the collar of the actual t-shirt. However, it's acceptable for a white undershirt to be visible under a button-down shirt.
If hiring a hair and or makeup stylist I highly suggest doing a trial run beforehand. If hiring a stylist make sure your hair is done well in advance to ensure you are on time. If you color your hair be sure that the roots of your hair and touched up prior to photos if this is important to you.
Avoid white tennis shoes, flip flops and sandals.
For children aged four or younger, it's common for them to sit with their parent during photos. To create the best visual impact, it's advisable to have the child's outfit contrast with the parent's attire. For instance, if the parent is wearing black leggings, it's a good idea to avoid dressing the toddler in a black dress and opt for a white dress instead.
Lay your clothing items flat to check them together, helping you identify any outfit issues. Feel free to share your outfit choices for my feedback.
It is advisable to avoid patterns in your clothing choices. While very subtle patterns may be acceptable, sticking to solid colors creates a more timeless and classic look. Patterns can sometimes lead to a "camera moire effect," where the fine pattern on your clothing interacts with the camera's imaging chip, resulting in an unwanted third pattern in the photo. Unfortunately, this effect cannot be retouched or edited, so it's best to opt for solid colors to avoid any visual complications.
Winter Season Suggestions:
Avoid wearing the color white at all costs. Stick with darker colors. Lighter colors will not create contrast between you and the snow thus making you blend in.
Avoid wearing coats/jackets with collars that ride high up end up covering half of your face.
If you choose a high altitude mountain location for your winter photos dress very warm and wear proper footwear for walking through snow.
Please be on time. Daylight waits for no one!
I always start right away with the entire group together since children tend to be most receptive at the beginning of a portrait session. When photographing extended families it is very important that each and every family be on time so that I can start right away with the portrait of the entire group.
© Brandon Burk Photography
