Tips & Ideas

We believe that having your portrait made should be a positive and unforgettable event. It is our desire to create an image that shows unique character and personality that will bless your life for years to come and be remembered as one of the best investments you have ever made. With all our heart we believe that God has created the light, as a portrait artist we have the privilege of capturing it. Planning is a very important part of your portrait. As you plan your session with our studio, consider the intended location where you will display your portrait. This is a key factor in selecting the colors and style of your final presentation.

Clothing tips:

White or pastel colors are perfect for lighter, high key, backgrounds. Casual outfits in earth tones work best for outdoor photographs. Middle, mid key, tones or deeper, low key, solids are ideal for formal portraits. Bright colors look great with our color Key backgrounds. Avoid large prints or patterns as they detract from your face. Choose long sleeved shirts or sweaters rather than short-sleeved. We are a proofless studio: All images are shown by projection.

When more than one person is to appear in the portrait, or when a special stylistic effect is desired, clothing and prop choices can make or break a portrait.

Whether working with light or dark complexions the objective always is for the face to dominate the portrait. Accordingly, skin highlights must be the lightest, brightest, or most intense areas of the portrait. So when a medium to dark background is used, all subjects photograph best in medium to dark tones, whatever the skin tone

Couples or small groups should choose simple garments within the same tonal ranges. When subjects appear in a mixture of light and dark tones together, there is a visual confusion - as the light color comes forward, and the dark color recedes. When this happens, one person becomes dominant and appears heavier than in reality.

In a family group, proper clothing coordination is critical. When decorating a home, a major concern is to coordinate the colors and tones of the walls, carpets, drapes and furniture. Similar coordination’s necessary when selecting clothing for a group portrait. Choose clothing in the same tonal ranges so that no single member of the family stands out because the clothing is too light or bright as compared to the rest of the group.

Proper clothing selection makes the difference between a portrait that appears to be a group of seemingly unrelated individuals and one in which every member of the family “belongs” to the group.