Arrive Early | Clothing | Clothing Styles | Hair | Make Up | Accessories | Undergarments | Fingernails & Toe Nails | Sunburn/Tanning | Braces | Blemishes | Props/Friends/Pets | Friends & Parents | Rain | Do I need Money? | Driving Directions | Parking
Helpful Tips for Senior Girls
There are certain things girls 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, makeup, etc.) 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 clothing that has wording on it except for your own school logo. Vary the style of your outfits. All one look (like tanks) 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.
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.
Forget the nylons! They are a hassle! Plus, they will not show in your portraits. So there is no reason to bring them.
Some shots are close up, others are full length. Plan your outfits completely. It is hard to do a full length formal in your dress 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
If you are even the slightest bit concerned with size, then wear tops with sleeves. Straps, halter-tops and sleeveless shirts will make your arms appear much larger than what they are. Today's styles are full of tops with straps or no sleeves. It's ok to wear this for 1 or 2 outfits, but bring other tops with sleeves.
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!
Wild to mild. We don't really tell you what you can and cannot wear. A little sexy is OK, but don't make ALL of your outfits that way. We photograph everything from prom dresses to swimsuits. What one person likes may not be appropriate for the next person. Our philosophy is as long as it is rated PG, then we don't care.
Clothes for black and whites. . . The black and white "glamour" look that is so popular is best with black or dark solid clothing. The contrast between the skin and the black is what makes them so dramatic. So bring some black or dark solid color, wild to mild shirts. Dark bottoms are also needed!
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?"
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. It is ok to show up early in curlers!
Make Up
Wear make up for your session! Even if you do not normally wear it, make up will enhance your appearance, smooth out your skin tones, and give your skin a polished look. Make up should only be slightly heavier than normal, like what you wear when going out in the evening. A good matte foundation will give your skin a satin-like texture. Be sure to define your cheekbones and eyes for the best results. Mascara should be clean and contain no clumps. So if your mascara is old and clumpy, then replace. Wearing lip gloss or lipstick will keep your lips from looking dry or rough.
Do not wear any "sparkles" make up or body spray. Glitter looks great on your skin when you are moving. But when you are still, glitter looks like little white specks or dandruff and would require an additional charge for retouching. Also avoid make up with SPF in it. Although it is good for your skin in the sun, the SPF tends to create a shine. Summer shine can be controlled by using translucent powder that knocks out the shine without adding additional color.
On the other hand, be sure not to go overboard with your make-up. We will do a lot of close-ups and special lighting to focus on your eyes. A heavy application of make up will look overdone and "cakey".
Accessories
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, then put each set of jewelry in plastic baggies and hang them on the hanger with that outfit.
Feel free to bring hats! Today's styles have a lot of cute hats that are awesome props for portraits. 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.
Undergarments
It is amazing how many times someone will wear flowered underwear and not realize it is a problem until they go to put on their WHITE PANTS! Or come in wearing a white bra and put on a black sleeveless shirt. Please, bring appropriate foundation wear for each outfit. Flesh colored is the best. Also, if you need a strapless bra, then bring one with you. When you tuck the straps down, it usually shows and looks bad. With today's thin fabrics, you will want to carefully select these pieces so they do not give unsightly lines.
Finger & Toe Nails
NAILS SHOW! If the paint is all chipped off, then it will show. Many casual shots are done barefoot, so don't forget about those toes! Avoid real bright colors. Natural, basic, or French tips work the best. We don't want to draw attention to your neon orange toe nails. And they may look really bad with your next outfit!!
Sunburn/Tanning
Tan lines are not attractive in portraits. We suggest you vary your swimsuit top or use a tanning bed to minimize any tan lines. Remember not to overdo your tanning. 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. If you are a winter or spring session and your tan has faded, then you might consider tanning. But don't overdo it so you look too fake-and-bake.
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.