Ten General Tips For Incredible Portraits

1. Dress comfortable (and bring a pair of walking shoes)

NOBODY photographs well in clothing they hate, or that they're uncomfortable in. All of the advice below is just that; advice. It isn't mandatory, and it only serves to help you capture the best portraits possible. That being said, I want YOU to be comfortable in your outfit and feel amazing during the shoot, so pick something you want to wear! And, if that something happens to be six inch heels, bring a pair of sneakers, because a broken ankle also doesn't photograph well. 

2. Layer your styling (vests, blazers, jackets, and undershirts)

This helps to create some dimensional interest in your portraits, and it gives us some options during the shoot without changing whole outfits! We can do jacket on, jacket off, sling the jacket over the shoulder; you get the idea. One bonus tip here: avoid patterned jackets with patterned layers underneath- it just looks too busy!

3. Speaking of patterns...

Certain patterns may look great in real life, but don't photograph well. These include busy prints, some pattern prints, small stripes, and graphic tees. When choosing a patterned shirt or dress, think small, repeating patterns with lots of open space between them. You can try the "squint test" to see- squint your eyes and hold the pattern at arms length. If the pattern looks more like a solid color than a pattern, you're good to go! 

4. Cream or tan, not white 

As nice and fresh as pure white can look, photographing it as such is nearly impossible. Pure whites show up blue when photographed in the sun, and they are SO very hard to expose for properly. The bright white catches light and shows up brighter than your skin, making capturing both correctly nearly impossible. Opt for tan or cream instead. 

5. Accessorize! (more on this later)

Bring out the glitz and glam, but keep it simple! Less is more when it comes to jewelry and accessories. They're the perfect way to add just the right touch to your outfit when used right. They also give us plenty of options and details to photograph! Check out the specific tips below for more suggestions. 

6. Avoid bright colors and pastels

Loud and bright clothing distracts from the subject (that's you!) so it's best left at home. It also looks out of place in a lot of the outdoor landscapes I prefer to shoot in. For your shoot, wear something more muted, with simple patterns that look like whole colors from far away. This puts the attention on you, where we want it! 

7. For couples, complement each other, or keep it simple

Certain colors complement each other. These colors include red and green, yellow and purple, orange and blue, green and magenta. When couples keep this in mind, it makes for some excellent "cohesive" portraits without the need for matching outfits. If this seems like too much, an equally great option is to keep it simple with tans, browns, and off-whites, or different shades of the same color. 

8. Tennis shoes are out! Wear something more intentional (Sperry's, dressy boots, dress shoes, heels, etc.)

You wear tennis shoes every day, and don't get me wrong, I love my Brooks for running. BUT this is a special event of sorts, and a good pair of shoes really completes the outfit! Check out my specific recommendations below. Oh, and clean your shoes! It's easy to forget and makes such a difference! 

9. No gum, transition lenses, or instant tanner

Transition lenses change into sunglasses unexpectedly, hiding your eyes. and you know what they say: the eyes are the windows to the soul! Opt for regular glasses instead, or contacts if that's more like you. When it comes to gum, no one photographs well holding something in their mouth, so be sure to ditch it before we start. Finally, even though spray tans can look good in person, they really throw off the natural looking skin tones I pride myself in achieving. Your natural skin is the BEST way to capture you perfectly in a photo!

10. I'll take those keys, please!

I carry around a purse (*cough* camera bag) for just this thing! Items in your pockets, including phones, keys, and wallets, ruin the lines for your clothing and make awkward lumps in your legs. Leave as much in your car as you'd like, and I can carry the rest.