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Tips on
Senior
Photography
Getting Prepared
for Your Senior Portrait!
(you can print this page out by holding down the control key <ctrl> and pressing the letter "P" at the same time)
Highland Photography is rapidly becoming one of the premier studios in Eastern Iowa for photographing seniors! Our schedule fills up very quickly, so you should call and book your appointment early to make sure you get the time and date that you want. The morning sessions during the week, and our Saturday sessions, are the first to fill up. Morning sessions are the best for lighting, but also it is a cooler part of the day if you are going outside. The heat and humidity is usually lower then during the summertime.
EVERYONE READ THESE:
ARRIVE EARLY
Sometimes, Bill will be on location shooting when you arrive, so there may be a delay until he arrives back to the studio. We will get you checked in, have you fill out your information sheet and go over your outfits with you, so try to arrive a little early for your appointment, so we can get started as close to your appointment time as possible. Indoor appointments only usually last between 20 - 45 minutes. For indoor/outdoor appointments, we usually allow 2 hours, due to travel time to and from our outdoor locations. Please be on time! If you arrive late, then that will be time taken away from YOUR session. We will not run the next appointment late, due to you being late!......If you are more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, then we will have no choice but to reschedule the entire appointment.
CLOTHING
First of all AVOID STRIPES, POLKA DOTS AND PLAID!! Solids photograph much better! Also bring a variety of color, don't bring 5 blue outfits even if it is your favorite color. Avoid clothing that has wording on it except for your own school logo. Vary the style, all one look (like tanks) gets boring. Vary the dress level, bring some dressy, some medium and some casual. Remember, it is best to do one or two outfits that mom will like, then we can do the stuff YOU like.
The number of outfits you get to use, depends on the session that you choose. Bring several extra outfits, and Bill can help you select outfits, if you are having trouble deciding on which ones to use. Also, Bill quite often will have you add an outfit that he thinks will look good, at no extra charge...just for a few shots! But remember.......if you spend all day in the dressing room, you get less time in front of the camera! Most people can easily work in 3-5 outfits (usually 2-3 inside, and 1-2 outside).
Some shots are close up, others are full length. Plan outfits completely. It is hard to do a full length formal in your suit if all you brought was big old tennis shoes. Also, Bill loves to shoot the "barefoot look" with the casual outfits.
Also remember, as a general rule, light clothes look better on lighter backgrounds and darker clothes look better on darker backgrounds. So if you prefer dark, bring dark, if you prefer some of both, bring some of both.
Group your outfits together ON HANGARS. It is amazing how many people come in with clothes stuffed in a plastic bag and wonder why they are wrinkled! Make sure they are ironed. Although we have an iron for touch ups, we don't want to waste your time on ironing.
HAIR
Avoid changing your hairstyle or cutting your hair right before your session. Let it be natural. Quick easy hairstyle changes during your session are OK, but make it quick or you lose camera time. Artificially bleached hair is often not best, in 10 years you might say "What was I thinking??" Bring your hair care tools and products with you if need be. It IS ok to show up early in curlers if you need to.
Although Bill tries to help with hair, it is hard to know what your hair "is supposed to look like". So make sure you like the look or let Bill know your preferences. Hair style is ultimately YOUR responsibility.
We have had more and more requests by senior girls wanting to use two completely different hairstyles as of late. Meaning that they want their hair straight for one session....and then curly in another.....if you can do it quickly in our dressing room....then great...just remember that Bill shoots indoors first...and outdoors after that.....so plan accordingly......please remember.....you only get so much time for your session.....and the more time you spend in the dressing room....the less time we spend photographing!
If you are going to a hair dresser to have your hair curled and are planning on doing two sessions for your different look....then YOU WILL BE CHARGED for two different appointments!........so once again....plan accordingly.......
JEWELRY
Best tip here, keep it simple. We want the attention on you. Big, shiny jewelry can distract from the real subject, YOU. If you have different jewelry for different outfits, you might put each set of jewelry in a plastic baggie and hang it on the hangar with that outfit.
PROPS
BRING THEM!! Bring props that help define who you are. Some popular choices are: Sports equipment (soccer ball, football, hockey stick, hurdle, whatever), sports uniforms, music instruments (from school tuba to rock guitar), activities (dance leotard and shoes, swimming, hobbies, you name it!), vehicles (cars, trucks and motorcycles). If you are going to be photographed with your vehicle, please have the car washed and detailed ahead of time! We don't have time during your session to detail the car.
PETS
Pets are OK as long as they are house broken. It is a good idea to have someone bring a pet, then leave with them after. Or bring a pet carrier to contain them while you are being photographed without them. Treats can be helpful to hold a dogs attention. Bill has photographed dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, horses, cows and even two six-foot boa constrictors! The only rule we have for pets, is if your pet creates a mess....YOU are responsible for any cleanup....inside or outside. Also, if you are going to be photographed with pets (especially horses or cows, etc...) they MUST be groomed ahead of time! We won't have time to wait for you to groom them during your session.
GLASSES
Most glasses glare! Some prescriptions more than others. This is particularly true with outside photography. Also if you have the glasses that get darker outside, you have to think about that. Your best bet is to check with your optometrist. Most will "loan" you an empty set of frames similar to yours for your photo session.
SUNBURN/TANNING
AVOID SUNBURN! Sunburn and peeling skin DO NOT photograph well!! Tan, yes, burn, no. If you are a winter or spring session and your tan has faded, you might consider tanning. But don't overdue it so you look too "fake baked".
COMPLEXION
We retouch blemishes, so don't worry about minor breakouts. Blemishes will show in your previews, but they can be completely removed in your final prints.
TATTOOS, SCARS and BRACES
Just let Bill know if you want tattoos to show or not (this also includes body piercings....within reason that is!). It is that easy. Scars are not automatically retouched, but can be removed or softened at your request. Extensive work may have a slight extra charge. Braces? Don't worry. You could have the tops taken off for your photo session, or we can retouch them out by computer. But don't fight smiling, a braces smile is better than a dorky "holding back a smile" look.
FRIENDS & PARENTS
Friends or parents are welcome. They can be a help. HOWEVER, if they distract you, it is best to have them wait in the gallery. You can have a couple of shots with a boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend or sibling at no extra charge.
CELL PHONES
The invention of the cell phone was a great thing!......but when you come to the studio.....Bill requests that you TURN THEM OFF!!.......Just about everyone has a cell phone nowadays......but during your session.....both Bill and yourself have to be concentrated on the session itself.....It's very frustrating (not to mention rude....) to keep having to stop during the session so you can run to the dressing room to answer your ringing phone........you survived without your phone before you owned one......you can survive the hour and a half that it takes to photograph your senior session!!........
WEATHER FOR OUTDOOR PORTRAITS
Let's face it, we are at the mercy of mother nature. If it rains, fretting won't do anything about it, we simply have to reschedule the outdoor portion of your session. Don't worry about clouds, they actually HELP! Bright, overcast skies are the best for outdoor sessions! But rain falling IS a problem. If it does happen to rain, we suggest to still get your indoor session done, and we can easily reschedule your outdoor session.
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