When the topic of photo sessions comes up, immediate anxiety over things such as body composition/flaws, hairstyle/color, and correct clothing choices come to the surface. I want to say this: You can be photographed well! How? I'll discuss two important requirements: (1) Make certain the photographer you select knows how to position and shoot from flattering angles (do your research in advance, view a portfolio before booking a session, pricing shouldn't be the only determining factor because one can always save up in advance); and (2) Take the time to get you ready, and I'm not talking about just the day of your session. It's so important that you feel great, so take the time, you deserve it.
I think one of the top three, if not #1 in the top three fears or complaints I hear before a session is, "I don't photograph well" or "I hate pictures of myself". It's always coming out the mouths of women. (If men have this fear or complaint they never voice it to me.) So I've decided to address this topic directly and have gathered some helpful web articles and sites! (I'm not getting paid, none of these are affiliate links.) You can skip through by topic if you wish. I hope you can use this information to help you on the road to feeling and looking your best for your next photo session!
Clothing Choices by Body Type
We all come in different shapes and sizes (which most are familiar with): hour-glass shape, pear, apple, or more of a straight athletic build. This article, Dress to Flatter Your Figure from Real Simple gives some excellent pointers as to what to wear for these body types. I don't know about you, but there are many clothing styles I can't pull off for various reasons so I'm always glad for information like this!
Miscellaneous Dressing Advice
As an important side note, never ever let your shoe choice be an after thought for yourself or anyone else in the photo session with you. It needs to match the styling you've selected.
I have a Pinterest board dedicated to clothing color combination ideas. It's usually best to use a color palette of 3-4 colors. FYI, it's sort of outdated for everyone to be wearing the same color shirt and blue jeans.
If you have trouble picking out a great pair of jeans there is a fantastic blog post entitled 'Mom Jeans and the Dreaded "Long Butt"' that I read years ago about how to pick the perfect jeans! It's a hilarious read, and hands down the best advice for having your backside look great in a pair of jeans! Get a Great Pair of Jeans
Wear Make-up
Whether you never step out the door without your makeup, or vice versa, never put makeup on, you'll want to read and watch the tutorials by this amazing senior make-up artist, Regan Rabanal from MAC Cosmetics. If you don't want to invest in the products in order to do it yourself, find a reputable cosmetologist and pay to have it done for you. Here's the article from Buzzfeed: Here's How to do your Makeup so it Looks Incredible in Pictures
Hair Styling and Care
I find it worrisome when clients are fretting about their hair style or color choice at their session. Always remember that if you hate your hair color or style, you probably won't love your pictures. The rule of thumb is to have your hair cut and colored at least 2 weeks before your session. This gives your hair color a chance to tame out a bit, and for your hair to grow out a little so it lays nicely. If you are trying to find a color that is flattering for your skin tone check out this article, How to Pick the Right Hair Color for Your Skin Tone from InStyle. Want to find a new flattering style for your face type? All Things Hair has some great resources.
Living in a humid environment? Sunburn easily in your hair part? Want to add some shine? Hit up Oprah's website post about 7 products recommendations to help.
I feel like frizzy hair gets attention all of its own. It's a battle, lets face it. And Vogue has an article dedicated to giving advice on how to tame it! The Definitive Guide to Frizz-Free Hair
As a photographer, I really want my clients to feel as prepared as possible for their session! If you have other topics that you would find helpful please post below and I can consider it for future blog topics.
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Happy Styling!
