Planning Your Portrait

A beautiful portrait is an investment that requires preplanning. It is the result of a desire to create a portrait that will be cherished for years. The clothing you choose is very important to your portrait's success. These guidelines will help you make important decisions about your portrait.

About Clothing, Color, Tone, and Style...

The goal of any fine portrait is to direct the viewers' attention to the faces in the portrait. When photographed against a dark background, simple garments in medium to dark tones of brown rust, burgundy, green, or blue are pleasing choices.
-- Proper clothing allows the face to dominate the portrait. All other elements should be secondary.
-- Bold stripes, plaids, checks, and prints are confusing and do not photograph well.
-- Darker shades are more flattering and slimming.

Light colors are appropriate against a white or pastel background or with a dark background when an interpretive "pictorial" study is planned.

Couples or small groups should choose simple garments within the same tonal ranges. Light and dark tones together create visual confusion, as one subject comes forward and the other recedes on the pictorial plane.

Clothing for Families

In a family group, proper clothing coordination is critical. Choose clothing in the same total range so that no single member of the family stands out because the clothing is too light or bright as compared to the rest of the family.

Tips on Clothing, Style, and Accessories

-- Very simple garments always photograph best.
-- Turtle necks of V-necks are flattering provided that neither is exaggerated in style.
-- If feet are to show, make certain shoes and socks are in keeping with the visual intent of the portrait.
-- Men should have their hair cut about one week before the portrait.

If you've managed to read all this, congratulations. It's a lot to read. If you just follow these simple steps, then you can rest assure your photographs will be amazing. See you soon!