ILLMAN PORTRAIT & EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
SENIORS FYIs & STYLE GUIDE
RULES... Rules are made to be broken! :) The following are just general guidelines
and suggestions, but are not hard-and-fast rules. Senior portraits are about YOU, so above all the only real rule is...
you be you!
Skin & Hair
Tanning
I’m a big believer that your skin is beautiful the
way it is, please don’t feel like you need to tan for your photos. While there are some great self tanners out there, they tend to read very “orange” in photos. If you do want to tan, do so a couple weeks ahead of time and take care to avoid tan lines!
Skin & Hair
Makeup
Well-done makeup is one of the best preparations you can make for your session. If doing makeup yourself, here are a few things to keep in mind: -Makeup should be just slightly “heavier” than everyday wear. You should look like yourself and feel comfortable. Your priorities should be eyeliner + mascara (so your eyes pop), blush (so you don’t look washed out), and lip product. -Make sure your foundation matches your skin tone, paying extra attention to blending it into the neck. We’re all about protecting your skin from the sun, but for photos it’s best to avoid a foundation with SPF.
Skin & Hair Makeup continued... -If you have blemishes (happens to the best of us!), don’t worry about covering them with a ton of concealer. Blemishes are very easily removed in Photoshop, you will not see them in your photos.
-If you are having your makeup professionally done, save some inspiration photos of what you’d like to have done to show your MUA. Consider choosing a celebrity that has similar hair color and skin tone.
Skin & Hair
Hair styles
-Overall your hair should be in a style that flatters and frames your face. -If doing hair yourself, do a couple trial runs so you know how it’s going to look and how long it will take. -Keep hair spray and product to an absolute minimum, as overdoing it here can make your hair look “crunchy”! -If you are having your hair professionally done, make sure to bring your stylist an inspiration photo.
Clothing
-Some people bring a casual and formal option, some bring all dresses, some bring jeans and cowboy boots. Whatever you love and makes you feel confident is what you should wear!
What to wear Clothing continued... -We can shoot 3 outfits in a typical shoot with 2 locations. If you’ve added on another location we can fit one more outfit in, so plan on 3-4 great options. You’re welcome and encouraged to bring as many outfit options as you like, just keep in mind that we may not have time to shoot all of them. We will help you style the outfit on set. -Form-fitting clothing usually looks best on camera, especially fitted around the waist. -Fabrics with a high shine (satin, etc) tend to not photograph as well as silk, chiffon, tulle, lace, cotton, etc.
What to wear Clothing continued... -Keep in mind that if we are going on location, there
might not be a place to change your clothes other than your car or a public restroom. -Please bring all of your clothes on hangers -Send Joanna photos of your favorite outfits beforehand so she can get an idea of what you’ll be earing and think about corresponding backgrounds for you.
Jewelry
-Bring whatever works with your outfits! We tend to recommend keeping it on the simple side, but if you have a great statement necklace you want to wear, go for it!
People & posing Friends & Parents -You are welcome to bring a friend or parent along, please keep it to one escort. Bring someone who will be encouraging and will help keep the mood relaxed. If you don’t like being watched while you have your picture taken, please discuss this with your escort beforehand. They can still watch from a distance, but it will be helpful for them to know to give you a little space during the shoot!
Posing
While we recommend practicing your smile in the mirror, when it comes to posing you can relax—it’s our job to make you look amazing and Joanna will walk you through every pose so you look natural and beautiful in your photos.
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