preparing for your portrait session
so excited!
I have scheduled my high school portrait with John Warren Photography.
now what?
We will be creating custom senior portrait art for you. Our goal is for your portraits to be unique pieces of art that you will love for years to come, and as you begin to plan the details of your session we want you to keep that in mind. Here are some important tips on how to prepare for your senior portrait session. Knowing and doing these things can make a BIG difference in how smooth your experience is and how amazing your portraits look. Trust us… we know!
schedule your hair and make up
The way you wear your hair is part of your self-image. We know you want to look like yourself in your portraits, so we discourage radical changes in your hairstyle prior to your portrait session. If you color your hair, do NOT forget to retouch your roots! Hair appointments for trims, colors or perms should be scheduled for a week prior to your portrait session.
For the ladies... consider scheduling a hair style & make-up appointment for the day of your portrait session. Although we retouch every image that is ordered, we highly recommend a professional make-up application. Make-up artists know how to accentuate your facial features so that you look stunning and photograph your absolute best!
Reminder.... we do offer professional hair and make up for an additional $170. Our hair and make up team are one of the best in Southern California.
GO SHOPPING & START PLANNING YOUR OUTFITS
Please don't underestimate the power of clothing when planning for your session! Your clothing choices are possibly the most important factor in determining the overall style of your portraits. Please bring along at least a couple extra outfits so that we can help you decide what will photograph best. The following are some tips and tricks to help you as you are selecting your outfits.
Think variety... styles, colors, textures... you’ll want clothes that fully express your personality. Remember that your portraits can represent all seasons. Bring a range of clothing despite the actual weather. shorts, capris, long pants, skirts, dresses, tanks, t-shirts, long sleeves, polos, sweaters, jackets...
Add a little extra fun to your session by assembling at least one outfit that represents your wilder side!
Be sure to bring at least one classic outfit .... this does not mean it has to be boring! Just go for a look that is timeless so mom can have something beautiful for the home that won’t be outdated in a year or two. Plan ahead where your portraits might hang and consider coordinating the color of your outfits to the room décor. Matching the color and formality of the room will give your wall portraits a decorator's touch.
Accessorize... those details such as socks, shoes, jewelry, hats, scarves, sunglasses, belts, boots, jackets, etc can make all the difference! A little bling adds a lot!
Instant diet tricks! If you want to look slimmer...
- choose darker colors
- opt for longer sleeves ... a good guideline to follow is the larger the arm the longer the sleeve
- avoid busy patterns - such as stripes and plaids - as they can add 1 to 2 sizes
- avoid outfits that are a combo of light & dark... such as white jeans with a black shirt
- avoid loose or bulky clothing
For the ladies:
- for skirts and short dresses, bloomers or boy shorts are recommended
- if you want to get wet, dress in layers and use solid foundation-wear so clothes don't go too sheer.
- let’s not forget about bringing your awesome prom dress!
IMPORTANT! Try on the outfits. Be critical of the way they fit and make you feel. Not only do you want your outfits to make you look great... you also want them to make you FEEL great! The more confident you are about the way you look and feel, the more fun you’ll have! As long as you love your outfits, we'll find or create the backgrounds and poses to make you look great!
got activities? start making your list now?
Bring your gear! These are things that define who you are... sports equipment & uniforms, musical instruments including drums, guitars, keyboards, trophies & medals, letterman jackets, collections such as purses & shoes, hunting equipment, skateboards, snow boards, skis…anything that makes you YOU!
1 to 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR PORTRAIT SESSION
Don’t forget about your hair appointment! For a well groomed look, consider having your hairstylist wax your brows while you are there too!
Quick, easy hairstyle changes during your portrait session are super, but start practicing doing such changes now so you’re sure you’ll like the result and so that they go quick.
Nails show... manicures and pedicures are a must! If you’re planning to have yours done professionally, we recommend calling now to schedule your appointment for 1-2 days prior to your portrait session.
Try to avoid sunburns, peeling skin, tan lines and farmer tans! Sun-kissed skin looks great, but don't over do it! If you are thinking about a spray tan for your portraits we highly recommend a trial run at least two weeks prior to your portrait session.. that way you can make sure your skin doesn’t turn orange and that you love the result!
Start gathering props on your activity list... don’t forget to check with your coach if you need to arrange to get your sport uniform and gear! Make sure to bring along your entire uniform & all of your gear (not just your jersey) so that we can create some awesome action shots!
Ladies, if you will be applying your own make-up, be sure you have everything you will need the day of your portrait session...
- Concealer: apply a small amount of concealer on blemishes
- SPF-free moisturizer and foundation: prevent reflections and enhance the skin's natural glow
- Translucent Powder: set your base foundation and further prevent reflections
- Blush: brighten up your face with a little color on the apples of your cheek-bones (like petal pink)
- Eye shadow: go glimmery to top off perfect eyes or go smoky for a dramatic look
- Eyeliner: brown is a natural alternative to heavy black
- Black Waterproof Mascara: enhance lashes with a fresh mascara that separates lashes and does not contain clumps
- Lip Stick: best in berries and browns... avoid frosty pink
- Lip Gloss: any berry color looks great
If you haven’t sent us your wall snapshots... please do it NOW!
A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR PORTRAIT SESSION
Consider having your optometrist remove the lenses in your glasses for your portrait session. If you can't, don't worry about it, but we may not be able to avoid all glare.
Do not overdo the tanning bed, sun or spray tans! Your skin will have a natural luster and color if you let it rest for a few days before your session.
Arrange your outfits and group them together...
- Try on the entire outfit - undergarments, accessories and all - just to make sure you don’t forget anything.
- Make sure any outfits you don’t want wrinkled are pressed. (Don’t worry though, we do have a steamer for last minute touch-ups if needed!)
- Use hangers to organize each outfit. Neat trick... to avoid ugly shoulder bumps hang knit fabrics inside out!
- Attach to each hanger... a little baggie for that outfit’s jewelry and accessories and a larger bag for that outfit’s undergarments, socks & shoes.
Don’t forget about your manicure & pedicure! Avoid chipped nails and overly bright colors. French manicures are a natural look that compliments most outfits.
Avoid chapped lips. Avoid sunburning your lips and use ChapStick.
DAY PRIOR TO YOUR PORTRAIT SESSION
Double check you have gathered all props on your list. Your car, truck or cycle is part of who you are, so include it in your session if you want. They just need to be clean (don't worry about them being spotless)…. unless you are going for a rugged look, then maybe go muddy!
Double check eyebrows are well groomed.
Make sure you are well rested for tomorrow... go to bed early!
IT’S YOUR DAY!!
Excited? Great we are too! Nervous? It’s perfectly normal. But try not to worry, as soon as you arrive to our studio we will do our best to help you relax. Before you know it you’ll forget all about your nerves because you’ll be having so much fun! A few tips before you leave home...
Give yourself plenty of time to get ready... you want to be able to enjoy today and not feel rushed.
Don’t forget to shave! Guys, if you want the clean shaven look, consider shaving just a couple hours prior to your session. What if you want a scruffy look, but mom wants clean shaven? Agree to disagree and bring along your shave gear. We'll start off with your stubble or beard and then after a bit clean it up for mom.
A ZIT now?? Just apply a little bit of concealer and then don't worry about it… we'll take care of it in retouching.
If you are applying your own makeup - please be sure to follow the tips discussed earlier.
Make sure you pack your make-up and hair preparation products before you leave.
Nails show! Make sure they are clean and well groomed. Ladies - double check polish is not chipped!
Double check you have all outfits w/ undergarments, accessories & shoes.
Double check you have all of your props, equipment & gear for the activities & interests on your list!!
Bring your ipod. We have a docking station in our studio so that you can have fun while listening to your music. If you don’t want to bring it, don’t worry ... we can play your favorite music on Spotify.
Don’t forget to bring mom along. She can help with quick outfit changes. Plus this is the perfect time to have some fun together. Tell her to look her best too… so that we can create an updated Facebook profile pic for her!
Not sure where we are? Maps or your GPS can help you, our address is 18003 Sky Park Circle, Suite K, Irvine California 92614
Remember... your high school portraits aren’t just about what you look like, they’re also about who you are. Don’t be afraid to make suggestions. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Be yourself. Have fun!