The Session Guide
“During the session, Kate continually gave encouragement and feedback which helped me relax and be natural. The results exceeded anything I had hoped for: dozens of beautiful, true-tolife, expressive photos. She is a talent both behind the lens and as a coach!�
- Pam
Hello and Welco Thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me to take your headshots. I’m so excited to work with you!
Because I know that having your photo taken can potentially be a very stressful experience, I’ve compiled this guide to help you know what to expect. Please don’t feel overwhelmed; I know there’s a lot of information in here, but you can always toss this guide in the recycling bin, show up on the day of your session, and I promise we’ll have fun no matter what.The most important thing is that you feel comfortable in your photos, and if this guide helps with that, then we’ll be ahead of the game.
If there’s anything that I haven’t covered in this packet and you still have questions after looking it over, please feel free to call or email! You can reach me at (617) 651-1075 or kate@kateLphotography.com.
Happy reading, and I’ll see you very soon!!
xo Kate
ome!
What to E
Expect at Your Session • I never shoot in one place for too long! We’re going to stay on our feet, so don’t expect to get too comfy ;) Please bring shoes that are easy to walk in, and try to minimize the amount of bags you’ll need to carry with you. • Sessions are super informal. We’ll spend a lot of time chatting . I want to get to know who you are and what you’re about! • We’ll set a general game plan before the session, but please be prepared to be flexible once we start shooting. Sometimes I think we’re going to shoot at a certain location, but in the car on the way there, I’ll see something out of the corner of my eye and I’ll ask you to pull over. Just look at it as an adventure, and we’ll have fun! • I will offer suggestions as we go to help you look your best. Unless I ask you to change something, assume that you’re rocking it out! Sometimes I will ask you to do unusual things that feel weird in person but look great in camera (for instance, sometimes I ask people to fall forward toward me and I get some weird looks!). I promise never to do anything that makes you look bad!
Skin Care & Bloa TANNING & SUNBURNS If you plan to tan before your shoot, do so at least a week beforehand, don’t get burned, and be mindful of tan lines. If you accidentally burn before your shoot, slather on tons of aloe vera — speaking from experience, it will help prevent peeling in a few days! And whatever you do, avoid artificial tanning. I promise white is sexier than orange.
AVOID BLOATING If you bloat easily, here’s my favorite remedy. Starting 4 days before your session, chug as much water as humanly possible. Then, 24 hours before your session, stop drinking liquids completely. I know it’s extreme, but I swear by this trick!
AVOID UNHEALTHY FOOD/DRINKS One week before your session, quit drinking coffee and alcohol, and avoid high-salt and high-fat foods. It will be worth it!
MOISTURIZE Start moisturizing nightly a week in advance of your shoot. Using a humidifier while you sleep at night will also help with dry skin. On the day of your session, exfoliate your face with a washcloth.
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Clothing: General • Comfort is key! There’s no need to wear overly formal dresses, suits, or skin-tight outfits. Similarly, avoid overly baggy clothing— the camera won’t add 10 pounds, but ill-fitting clothes will! To sum it up: think fitted, but not tight. • Plan for 2-3 outfits so that you have a good variety of shots from which to choose. Bonus points for outfits that are easy to change into and out of, since that will give us more time to shoot. Consider accessories that can easily change your look -- for instance, you could add a peacoat or a scarf over a dress for an instantaneous outfit change. • It’s always helpful to have extra clothes on hand. I can help you choose outfits when we meet. If we’re shooting in a park, ask someone to come along to help you carry what you don’t wear. • For outdoor sessions, don’t forget to bring shoes that are easy to walk in! We’ll be on our feet a lot during your session.
l Tips
Clothing:
: Color Suggestions • People with lighter skin tones should avoid light colors like pale yellow. Similarly, people with darker skin tones should avoid dark colors such as navy, dark purple, dark brown, or black. Portraits look best when there’s significant contrast between skin and clothing. • When in doubt, jewel tones always work fabulously. Neon is best avoided as it creates unflattering skin tones. • Please avoid anything that will detract attention from your face (busy patterns, logos, words, etc.) • Try to choose colors that bring out your eyes. • It’s best to avoid wearing white clothes in your photos. Eyes naturally jump right to the brightest point of a photograph, so people will be looking at your white shirt or dress instead your face. If you have your heart set on white, try ivory or off-white instead.
Tips for the M • Here’s my go-to look for guys: solid long-sleeved button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, dark jeans, and dress shoes. I also love the look of a collared shirt paired with a blazer or sweater.
• Please have your hair cut about a week before your shoot. If you’re usually a Supercuts kinda guy, this is definitely the occasion to splurge a little on your haircut, as you’ll be using these headshots for a long time.Your hair can completely change the look of your face, and an experienced hair professional will make you look your best. In Boston, aim to spend $50-60 on a good cut. • For facial hair: Shave with a new razor, shaving cream, and a moisturizing after-shave lotion to avoid bumps and redness. Trim up your beard, sideburns, moustache or goatee, especially looking for wiry stray hairs. • If you wear an undershirt, opt for a v-neck with sleeves so that it’s not visible. Ideally, your undershirt should match your skin tone.
Men
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Tips for the Ladies • Please avoid strapless clothing, as certain crops can make you look like you’re not wearing clothes at all. It’s also no fun to keep tugging your dress up all evening. • Check your outfits from all possible angles in the mirror, not just the one you like best. Try sitting, squatting, leaning forward, etc. to make sure nothing hangs out that shouldn’t. ;) • Bring a set of bras and strap-adjusting accessories to work with any outfit you want to shoot in. Make sure to keep your straps well hidden and cut off those pesky hanger loops. Make sure you don’t have any unwanted underwear lines showing through. • Steer away from necklaces unless your neckline looks bare without one. I recommend choosing earrings instead. • For necklines, scoop necks and v-necks work best. Try to avoid a neckline that’s too high, as it can make your neck disappear. • If you love an outfit but need help keeping it in place, I highly recommend fashion tape. You can pick this up on Amazon or in most department stores.
Ladies (ctnd.): Hai My hope is that you’ll be able to use these headshots for years to come. You’ll need these in countless professional and personal situations.You’ve already made a huge step in the right direction by hiring a professional photographer, so I want to make sure you get the most out of your investment!
I strongly recommend spending just a little bit more to hire a professional hair and makeup artist. It always breaks my heart when a client tells me that they love the quality of their images, but they really wish they had gone the extra mile to make their hair/makeup look better. Do it correctly the first time around, and you’ll save yourself money in the long run because you won’t need to have your headshots taken again.
Although I don’t work with a dedicated hair/makeup artist, I’m happy to provide a list of recommendations upon request. When considering options, double-check the cancellation policy in case we need to reschedule due to rain. I also recommend telling the salon that you need to leave an hour earlier than you actually do, as these services tend to run behind and you’ll want to avoid stress.
ir/Makeup
Ladies’ Ha
air/Makeup (ctnd.) HAIR • I recommend having your hair professionally blown out. Ask for lots of volume (no straightening). • Generally I recommend wearing your hair down, because updos can make it appear that you don’t have hair at all. • Ask for a finishing product that will help eliminate flyaway hairs (nothing too heavy or greasy, though!) and hairspray.
MAKEUP • Ask for a natural look -- you want to look like polished version of yourself, not somebody completely different. • For eyeshadow, choose a neutral shade that will work with all of your outfits. For mascara/eyeliner/eyebrow pencil, try to make this match what you would normally wear for a night out. • Contouring/highlighting helps accentuate the shape of your face. • I recommend lipstick over gloss. Choose a shade darker than what you would wear on the street. • Request plenty of powder to finish out your look, which will help you avoid looking shiny in your photos.
Session “I am not a photogenic person, but Kate made me look and feel like a model in our session!!! I had been putting off photos for years and was very nervous when I first arrived, but after the first few photos, I felt very comfortable.�
- Lynne
Timeline
Before Your Session 1-2 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR SESSION: • Pick out what you’ll wear for your photos. Once we’re at your session, I can give you additional help with your clothing if you’d like, or you can text photos of potential outfits to my cell phone. • If applicable, check out your session location on Google Maps to make travel plans. • Ask a “laugh buddy” to join you for your session. • Start following the skin care tips covered in this guide. • Ladies, schedule your hair/makeup appointments.
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE: • Please fill out the pre-session questionnaire and sign the studio policies. Those links can be found on katelphotography.com under the Clients tab. • Submit your session deposit. This deposit is required to reserve your session date and is non-refundable. However, in the case of bad weather, illness, or emergency, this date may be rescheduled for no additional fee. If you would rather not submit your session deposit online, please make checks payable to Kate L Photography and mail to: Kate L Photography | 51 Melcher St. | Floor 7 | Boston, MA 02210
THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR SESSION: • Just a friendly reminder that your session balance is due in full on the day of your session. Please review your invoice link and bring a check made out to Kate L Photography. • Iron your clothes and hang them the night before your shoot. If you’re wearing something that wrinkles easily, don’t wear it in the car on the way to the shoot – just change at the location. Pack your accessories and don’t forget key items like undergarments and jewelry. • There is truth to the phrase “beauty sleep”! Get plenty of rest! • Ladies, confirm your hair/makeup appointments.
During & After Your Session 7-14 DAYS AFTER YOUR SESSION: • Your images will be available for you to review in an online proofing gallery. Feel free to share this gallery with family and friends if you need help selecting your final images. I can also give input if you’d like.
• This gallery will be live for 7 days. After your gallery expires, a $25 reactivation fee will apply, so please place your order before this time.
ON THE DAY OF YOUR SESSION: • Ideally, clear your schedule the day of the shoot (besides hair/makeup) so that you can get n the right frame of mind. Treat yourself! • Due to the time-sensitive nature of sunlight, try to allow plenty of time for traffic and/or lost Uber drivers. Ideally, please plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled session time to avoid stress. • In case of bad weather, we’ll decide whether to shoot about 3-4 hours before your scheduled session time. Please have your cell phone with you so I can reach you if plans need to be changed. • Double-check that you’ve packed all your clothing and accessories. • Go to the bathroom before you leave in case there isn’t one nearby.
1 WEEK AFTER PLACING YOUR ORDER: • Your retouched digital images will be ready for you to download, and you can begin using them immediately. In case the email gets routed to spam, please add delivery@yousendit.com to your whitelist.
• Your flash drive will arrive shortly after that with a backup copy of your images. Please make your own image backup as well — it’s best to have multiple copies in case of hard drive failure.
Location-S
Specific Tips
Natural Outdoor L MOSQUITO SPRAY They seem to bother me more than other people, but it’s better to be safe than sorry during mosquito season!
SOMETHING TO SIT ON I often ask people to sit down so that I can shoot from a higher angle. If you’re concerned about your outfit getting dirty, please bring along a small towel or blanket that you can sit on.
COMFY WALKING SHOES Bring shoes that are easy to walk in, preferably ones that cover your toes. These will help protect you from bugs, itchy grass, other not-so-lovely things.
CHECK FOR TICKS In my 8 years of shooting, I have never encountered a tick. However, they are present in Boston. Immediately after your session, check your skin thoroughly to make sure you don’t have any unwelcome visitors.
Locations
Urban O
Outdoor Locations PARKING Be prepared for parking challenges - it’s helpful to have quarters on hand in case you have to park at a meter. It’s also a good idea to have cash on hand for parking garages.
LEAVE VALUABLES AT HOME. I will never take us to a dangerous area of town, but it’s still a good idea to leave valuable items at home instead of in your car.
COMFY WALKING SHOES Bring comfy shoes for walking from location to location. Nothing makes a session less fun than blisters!
BATHROOM BREAKS Bathrooms can sometimes be hard to find, so bring an extra bed sheet or two for privacy while changing outfits.
“I had such a wonderful time with Kate! She is creative and makes sure to get a variety of different poses and styles so you get the perfect shot. The pictures are truly stunning. I feel ten times more confident walking into any audition now, knowing that I can hand a director one of the shots she took.�
- Kathleen
Frequently As HOW DOES RESCHEDULING WORK? In case of inclement weather, illness, or emergencies, we’ll reschedule your session as soon as possible for no additional fee. If something comes up, please contact me at least 48 hours
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I also lightly smooth skin in a way that still looks natural. DO YOU PROVIDE HAIR/MAKEUP? While I don’t work directly with a hair/makeup artist, I’m happy to provide a list of recommendations upon request. Please be sure to allow
SHOP BLEMISHES?
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plenty of extra time in case your appointment runs late. If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me at kate@kateLphotography.com!