Tips for the guys!
Guys, you want to look great too, so here’s some tips from an expert...My name is Laur, I am the one helping in the camera room during senior season, I’ve seen it all and then some. So, take my advise, if you want the best looking senior pictures you can possibly have...listen up!
Farmer tan
Whether it’s from your hat or your t-shirt, they will show and they are nearly impossible to retouch. Try to avoid getting sunburned while wearing your baseball cap or short sleeved t-shirt prior to your session.
Tats & piercings
OK, even though you have one, does Grandma really want it in her pix? Let us include those things tastefully in some of your images, & take some without them showing. Its a win-win situation for both you & your parents. Hey, even plan a shot to showcase it.
Hairstyles
Not the time for a new do! Trim your hair a couple of weeks prior to your appointment so it has time to grow out a bit without looking too fresh. This is also not the time to experiment with new color or highlights. Wear your hair as you normally do & remember to bring a comb & some styling products for quick fix ups.
Clothing & Shoes & Stuff
Hey we want great pix of you and every guy knows a great pix starts with an awesome outfit, so here’s a couple of clothing tips.
Bring an assortment - Variety is the spice of pix
Take advantage of your 4-8 outfits. By assortment I mean different fabrics, textures & colors. DON’T bring all one style, one fabric or one color - you know, all t-shirts or polos or button ups. The better assortment of clothing, the better variety of pix. Any question as to how it will photograph, just ask. So - again, variety - bring a bit of each, BUT make sure you feel good in it.
What to wear
Keep in mind these pix are going to be around for a long time, especially the one hanging on the living-room wall. So, classic styles photograph better for close-ups or formal shots - think long sleeve & solid colored. If Mom wants a shirt & tie, she should have that. FYI, don’t bring in your tie “pre-tied” we will help you tie it once it is on. Also, most guys like to wear a t-shirt under their button up shirts, two things - first, make sure it’s solid colored, the camera could possibly see the writing through the button up shirt. Also, we will probably ask that you not wear one under your dress shirt. This is because it tends to catch on the t-shirt & not lay well, leaving wrinkles that don’t photo well.
Whats in Style
Casual clothing makes FUN FUN FUN images, especially when paired with the urbanscapes (brick walls, stairways), but...just because it’s in doesn’t mean it works for everyone. AND PLEASE...NO MORE THAN 1 STRIPED POLO, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. If you want to bring stripes, bring a polo and a long sleeved button up. Now, about baggy jeans, whatever the denim style this season, wear the right size. If you are constantly tugging up your jeans, chances are they are too big & cinching them up with a belt only looks worse. I suggest jeans that fit well enough through the waist or hips to avoid seeing your boxers. Watch for holes, some Mom’s don’t care & some do, so bring a pair without incase it your Mom doesn’t want to see them.
Wear it well - how it fits
Please DON’T be tearing off tags when you get here. Try it on, wear it a bit. Sit, stand, bend down in it - because that’s what you will be doing here. If it feels bad or fits funny, it won’t photo well. So, don’t waste your money & camera time on a bad outfit. Watch for wrinkles, if you can see it, the camera will see it. Bring your stuff in pressed & on hangers, we do have a steamer, but steaming out wrinkles will take time away from your session.
Shoes or no Shoes
I know flip flops are still a big deal, so if you want to wear them in a picture make sure they are clean - tops & bottoms. Also, barefoot is great, most of our indoor shots are taken barefoot but check the bottoms of your feet, dirty flip flops or sandals can leave dirt on the bottoms of your feet & that could show in your images. Outside, we prefer you wear shoes, more for your safety then anything else. If you want to be barefoot somewhere, just drop the shoes right before the shot. One last note...Bring shoes for each outfit, remember your tennies for sports, dress shoes & socks for your formal outfit if you want a full length - when in doubt BRING IT!
Caps & hats
If you usually wear caps or hats, by all means bring them. We will take shots with & without them. Remember to check to make sure they are clean & go with what you are wearing.
Glasses or contacts - to see or not to see!
Either way - cool. If you wear glasses you will probably have glare, the best way to eliminate that is to have your eye doctor pop out your lenses or provide you with blank frames. This is especially important if your lenses are uv sensitive or have a protective coating on them. If you wear contacts, bring some eye drops. Sometimes the lights can dry out your eyes, we don’t want them to become tired or red. Sunglasses - can be a great accessory for your outdoor outfits, don’t forget to include them. Otherwise keep them handy for going outdoors.
