The following is a paraphrased email that I sent out to a client prior to her portrait session with her three daughters. (18-23 years old)
They were in for their portrait session this last Saturday... I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW YOU THE IMAGES. We had so much fun. They wore black tops and blue jeans and then ... we did something very special ... where we wrapped them in chiffon. They had tank tops on and we wrapped the material so that you couldn't see the tanks. They were photographed from the waist up. These portraits will have a painted effect done to them. When I get the artwork done I will share them with you. I, myself, can already imagine the final image and I am just so excited. It is possible that I may go with a sepia tone. That will make the portrait even softer.
BEGINNING OF EMAIL: As far as clothing goes ... I would strongly suggest simple, simple, simple, simple clothing.
All four of you should be wearing the same color. Black. White. Ivory. Everyone should be wearing the same color.
Varying necklines and textures are good.
Don't wear bulky material. (adds weight, of course!)
Dressing in a dark color is slimming.
Dressing from head to toe in a same or similar tone is slimming. (White & khaki; black & dark denim)
White and denim is good. Very classic.
Don't worry too much about jewelry. Diamond earrings are okay. Don't wear dangly earrings. You can wear a necklace, but I may have you take it off.. (Why? Dangle earrings will get in the way when there are that many people in the portrait. Necklaces get cut-off in the photo or they are hanging lopsided)
Long sleeves or 3/4 sleeves are best because they hard the biggest part of the arm. If you have toned, skinny arms this doesn't matter so much.
Stay away from big, bulky belts - they just add weight where we don't need it!
Ultimately you want a portrait that concentrates on your eyes, faces - expressions - twinkles, dimples and smiles.................................. NOT THE CLOTHES.
The suggestions that I am giving you are good suggestions to keep the attention away from the clothing. You do not want a portrait about clothes! You want a portrait about how you look similar to one another. You want a portrait that shows all your beauty and love for one another. If the clothes are dominant - then they will steal the show from your faces, eyes & expressions. Your body is bigger than your face so if the clothes are dominant ... how will your attention be drawn to the expressions?
One more thing ... and this is VERY important... DO NOT WEAR FROSTED EYE SHADOW! I have had an epidemic of frosted eye shadow lately. The frosted shadow reflects more light and really draws attention to the makeup! It is not flattering.
Make this a very special memory for your girls. When they view the portrait they will always remember the whole story that goes along with it.
I don't want you to worry about hurrying to get to the studio and I will hope that you won't feel hurried to leave. Soak up and enjoy the moment. The more you are living in the moment the more it will show in your expression.
Come with your heart and leave your head and all it's worries, self-conscious thoughts and list of things to do at home. What is in your head will be in your eyes. Come with your heart and your love will show.
When this is all done ... I suggest that each person or at the very least you, the mom, write (not type) the story about this portrait. Everything about it… Why you are doing it… The date... Conversations that were included in the time frame before, during and after the portrait session. Then put that hand-written story in an envelope (don't seal it!) and put the envelope on the back of the portrait. Now that portrait, which on its own speaks a thousand words, is absolutely until-the-end-of-time ... priceless. END OF EMAIL.
I am very passionate about what I do. I love what I do. If you are interested in a portrait session please give me a call to talk about what ideas you have and what ideas I may have for you. As always, I will help you with tips on how to prepare for you session.
Have a most MAGNIFICENT day!
Denise
