Arrive Early | Clothing | Clothing Styles | Hair | Shaving | Accessories | Fingernails & Toe Nails | Sunburn/Tanning | Braces | Blemishes | Props/Friends/Pets | Friends & Parents | Rain | Do I need Money? | Driving Directions | Parking
Helpful Tips For Senior Guys
There are certain things guys should be aware of and watch for in their preparation. Follow these guidelines to make the most out of your Senior Portrait Session with Fitzloff Photography.
Arrive Early..
If you are scheduled from 3 - 4:30 and show up late or not ready, then you will have less time in the camera room. If you need to get ready here (hair) then please arrive early enough to be ready by your start time.
Clothing
First of all, AVOID STRIPES AND PLAID!! Solids photograph much better! With today's fashion of bold patterns and lots of color, don't be afraid to wear 1 or 2 trendy outfits. Just don't do all of your outfits that way! Also bring a variety of color. Don't bring 5 blue outfits, even if your favorite color is blue. Avoid large, bold brand names or words on clothing, except for your own school logo. Already a few big names from just a few years ago, you would not be caught dead wearing now. No need to make your portraits advertising billboards for a clothing brand or a band. Vary the style of your outfits. All one look (like t-shirts) gets boring. Vary the dress level also. Bring some dressy, some dressy-casual, and some casual. Remember, it is best to do 1 or 2 outfits that mom likes. Then we can do the stuff YOU like.
Bring a dark t-shirt to wear under dark shirts and light t-shirt to wear under light shirts. A white t-shirt triangle under a dark shirt sticks out like a sore thumb.
Our new sessions let you do unlimited looks within your time period. This means if you change fast, then you get more variety. Spend all day in the dressing room, your will have less time in front of the camera. Most people can do 3-4 outfits per hour. Bring double the amount of outfits that you think we will use. This way we have more variety to pick from for your session.
Some shots are close up, others are full length. Plan your outfits completely. It is hard to do a full length formal in your suit if all you brought were flip flops and old tennis shoes.
As a general rule, light clothes look better on lighter backgrounds and darker clothes look better on darker backgrounds. So if you prefer dark, then bring dark. If you prefer some of both, then bring some of both.
Group your outfits together ON HANGERS. It is amazing how many people come in with their clothes stuffed in a plastic bag and wonder why they are wrinkled! Make sure they are ironed before you come to the Studio. For quick touch-ups, you may want to bring wrinkle releaser spray products.
Clothing Styles
Make sure your clothing fits properly and is flattering. Clothing that fits too loose will give the appearance of extra weight. On the other hand. . . clothing that fits too tight will show the things you want to hide!
Hair
Don't change your hairstyle right before your portrait session. Let it be natural. Quick, easy hairstyle changes during your session are OK. But make it fast or you loose camera time. Artificially bleached hair is often not best. In 10 years you might say "What was I thinking?" If you need a haircut, then do it about two weeks before your session. This will give your hair plenty of time to grow out of the "freshly cut" stage.
Most seniors are picky about their hair, and that's the way we like it! Your hair is your complete responsibility. Make sure to check your hair each time you leave the dressing room. Be sure to bring hair products for any touch ups.
Shaving
Please, make sure you are clean shaven. Retouching stubble costs extra and still does not look as good as a clean shave. Got a goatee that Mom hates, but you love? Do your casual shots first with it on, then bring a razor and shave it off of Mom's formals. Then everyone is happy! If you keep your facial hair for all of your portraits, then please be sure to have it neatly groomed and trimmed.
Accessories
Best tip here, keep it simple! We want the attention on you. Jewelry can distract from the real subject, YOU. Be sure to keep your jewelry within the same style as your clothing. You don't want to wear a hemp rope necklace with your suit.
Feel free to bring hats! To avoid "hat hair", we will do those poses at the end of your session.
Sunglasses, piercing's and other body jewelry, watches, bracelets, and even tattoos are all great because they are apart of your look. Just know that your parents may not share the same view about these items. So be prepared to take some poses without them. Think of your session as an art of compromise. If you do some poses without the accessories that your parents don't like, then they will let you wear the stuff you like!
If you wear glasses all of the time, then you will definitely want to wear them for your senior portraits. To eliminate glare and the cost of retouching, check with your optometrist to "loan" you a pair of empty frames or have the lenses removed from your frames. This is the only way to avoid glass glare. If you choose to wear your glasses with the lenses, then keep in mind that removing glass glare from your portraits will be done at an additional expense.
Finger & Toe Nails
NAILS SHOW! If they are dirty or all chipped, then it will show. Many casual shots are done barefoot, so don't forget about those toes!
Sunburn/Tanning
Tan lines are not attractive in portraits. We suggest you vary your shirt and sock lines to minimize any tan lines. Remember not to overdo your sun exposure. Skin that looks like dark leather is not the most attractive.
AVOID SUNBURNS!! Sunburn and peeling skin DO NOT photograph well! Tan yes, burn no.
Braces
If you wear braces, then they are as much a part of you as your hairstyle or the clothes you wear. Don't be self conscious about smiling! You could have the tops removed for your session. It is cheaper and much more realistic to remove them then having us retouch your braces out of your portraits.
Blemishes
We retouch blemishes, so don't worry about minor breakouts. Any extensive blemishes, sun tan, glass glare, scars, etc. will require an additional retouching fee.
What about props, pets and friends?
Bring along your props, pets, friends, vehicle, sports equipment, or anything that you would like to include in your senior portrait experience. For pets, we do ask that they are freshly groomed, house broken, and current with all vaccinations. Do not forget your pet's favorite toys and treats. If you plan on having your pet stay with you through out your session, we do ask that you bring someone to help handle your pet and take him for walks as needed.
Friends & Parents
Friends or parents are welcome. They can help. HOWEVER, if they distract you, then it is best to have them wait in the Gallery. We will do tons of different poses that will show all the different sides of who you are. So it‘s ok to do a few poses that are "Mom and Dad pleasers". Chances are that your parents never had all of the variety of poses and styles that you will have for your session. Remember the art of compromise!! If you do the poses Mom and Dad want, then they will let you do the cool stuff that you want.
What if it Rains?
If the weather seems to be a problem, then please feel free to call. If the weather does not cooperate, then we will still do the indoor portion (if you signed up for it) and reschedule the outdoors on a different day at no additional charge. It is much easier to reschedule a small portion of your session than the entire session.
Do I need to bring money?
Yes, you will need to bring money to your session appointment to reserve your viewing appointment time. If you decided to add on to your session, depending on the amount of time available, then the additional fees will need to be paid at this time.
Reminder: your session fees must be paid within three business of scheduling your portrait session. Due to the high demand for our session times, if your session fees are not received within the required amount of time, then your session appointment will be deleted from our schedule and given to someone else.
How Do I find your Studio?
Simply Click here! If you have any questions or need assistance finding the studio please give us a call.
Where should I park?
You can park on Main Street. The parking spots in front of our building tend to fill up quickly. But there are plenty of spots available within a short walking distance. And we are more than happy to help you bring in all of your clothes, props, and accessories.