Family Portrait Preparation Guide
Items to Avoid:
Avoid glitter makeup
Avoid chewing gum
Avoid bulky items in pockets (wallet, cell phone, keys etc.)
Avoid tanning/Sun 3-5 days before your portrait session
Refrain from getting spray tans as they don't photograph well and can result in undesirable orange hues. Natural tans looks great but artificial tans do not. I also recommend avoiding tans from tanning lotions.
Avoid tan lines that will be evident. (Shoulders, sunglass lines, wrist watch lines, legs, etc.)
Avoid dry skin and chapped lips.
Avoid wearing shorts as well as avoid wearing tank/tube tops (The more covered the skin, the better the focus will be on the family's faces in the portrait. Exposed skin deters away from the face. The main focal point of portraits are the peoples faces). Avoid bare legs! Bare legs can distract from the main subject of the photograph. Instead of drawing attention to the person or scene being captured, bare legs might stand out unnecessarily, especially if they contrast sharply with the rest of the composition. This applies to both men and women. Often times bare legs have bruises, scratches, veins, mosquito bites, sock tan lines etc. If dresses or skirts are being worn I suggest wearing stockings/leggings with the dress.
Hats can be worn as accessories towards the end of your portrait session. However, it's important to consider that hats may shade the face and may not photograph as well when dealing with large family groups. So, for group photos, it's generally recommended to avoid wearing hats to ensure everyone's faces are clearly visible in the pictures. If a hat is needed to be worn it works best to go with a lighter colored hat rather than a darker colored one. Darker colored hats tend to cast darker shadows onto the face. I recognize that there are situations in which wearing a hat is necessary.
Avoid chipped fingernail polish, items on kids hands such as lagoon amusement park stamps, marker etc.
Avoid eyeglasses that are reflective and wearing transition eyeglasses.
Steer clear of linen attire; it has a tendency to wrinkle easily.
Colors to steer clear of in your outfits: Neon, Pastels, Red and flesh tones. Bright colors distract. Especially avoid wearing pink/orange pastels.
Steer clear of vivid red lipstick as cameras struggle to capture the intensity of red tones. If wearing lipstick keep it subtle. Less is more.
General Suggestions:
Pick simple, classic styles that won’t look dated in a few years. This applies to clothing, hair-styles and jewelry. Avoid large branding on clothing. Small brand logos such as the Ralph Lauren Pony, Lacoste Alligator etc. are acceptable and look great.
Manicured nails, shaped brows for women.
Trimmed ear and nose hair for men. Men, also pay attention to your eyebrows and if they need to be trimmed.
Women/girls, spray down all fly away hairs prior to your portrait session.
Clean shoes, new socks and/or stockings free of runs.
Arrive 15-20 minutes early. Prevent wrinkles by dressing upon your arrival. Especially if wearing linen! Linen is fine but keep in mind the seatbelt will wrinkle your shirt.
Bring water to your portrait session (April - September).
Bring eye drops and moisturizer. Apply before the session.
Shave immediately prior. Closely.
Be mindful that thicker and longer eyelash extensions might affect the visibility of your eyes which are the most vital element in a portrait. This can make it challenging to showcase the catch lights in your eyes, which are crucial for creating a captivating portrait. If you tend to squint when you smile, it’s recommended to opt for shorter and lighter eyelash extensions to ensure your eyes, the centerpiece of a portrait, remain unobscured.
Men, cut your hair 2-6 days before the portrait session. Cut to the length you want it to be in the photos. Neckline should be neatly shaped and clean.
Teeth clean and flossed. If you want to you can whiten/bleach your teeth 1-3 weeks prior.
If it is going to be chilly outside bring a coat and or blanket that you can easily slip off and on. Especially remember this during the month of October as the new season arrives upon us we often forget it can get colder later in the evening, especially higher up in the mountains. Even better if your jacket goes with your outfit and you can wear it in some of the photos.
Bring hairspray.
If one of you is sick before the session I suggest re-scheduling.
Factor traffic and rush hour into your travel. Check your gas tank in advance before your commute especially if we are all traveling a canyon for photos.
Layered clothing presents an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the eye.
Remember to wear your wedding ring (if applicable).
Utilizing Google image search can be a valuable tool for coordinating the colors of your outfit.
Steer clear of excessive matching in your outfits, such as having your children wear identical shirts. However, it's worth noting that an exception to this guideline can be made if you have young twins. Choose coordinating colors, not matching colors.
For portrait sessions during cold winter months please bring the following: Coat, large blanket, gloves, snow-boots.
If the photo location requires a lot of walking, when wearing high heels, it's advisable to bring a secondary pair of comfortable shoes that you can walk around in.
Refrain from drinking excessive water 2-3 hours before the photo session. Instead, ensure thorough hydration 5-8 hours beforehand.
If you decide to wear a watch, I recommend opting for a classic timepiece with a metal or leather band instead of a digital Apple watch. The latter can sometimes give a more sporty appearance, which might not complement your well-dressed attire. In my view, choosing a timeless watch will help ensure that your photos remain stylish even years later. Alternatively, if you prefer not to wear a watch, be mindful of avoiding tan lines on your wrist, as they can detract from the overall look.
For women/girls, it's best to keep the bangs away from the face for a more flattering look.
If you have children aged 3 and under, please consider clothing choices that won't reveal their diaper in photographs.
Eyeglasses:
You are welcome to wear eye glasses in the photoshoot. However, non-reflective lenses are highly recommended as they prevent unwanted reflections and glares that could obscure the eyes (this is non-retouchable in photoshop). If your lenses are not non-reflective, it's best to avoid wearing glasses in the photograph. Please refrain from wearing glasses with transitional lenses for the photos. Alternatively, you can choose to wear frames without lenses if preferred.
Clothing Suggestions:
The most important part of a portrait are the people. Clothing is secondary and should accentuate the person, not overpower.
Opt for darker and more solid colors as they tend to be more flattering. Example: Instead of wearing Baby Blue go for the darker color Navy Blue. Darker clothing can create a slenderizing effect. For a polished image, consider wearing long sleeves and pants. Avoid showing bare skin, as it can detract from the face. Dressing from head to toe is recommended, avoiding bare arms on the upper bicep/shoulder and bare legs. If you choose to wear a dress or skirt, consider pairing it with leggings, tights, stockings, or a similar covering. Lastly, it's advisable for men/boys to avoid wearing shorts for the photoshoot. Incorporating layers like a sweater or jacket adds depth and dimension to your photos.
When wearing a collarless blouse or sweater, draping a scarf loosely around the neck can beautifully frame the face. Opting for a neckline that comes up close to the neck is the most flattering choice for anyone. Wide-open necklines tend to appear thicker in photographs and should be avoided with the exception of Henley Shirts on men (the “v taper” of the shirt looks great). Pay attention to white undershirts; avoid showing the collar of the undershirt beneath the collar of the actual t-shirt. However, it's acceptable for a white undershirt to be visible under a button-down shirt.
If hiring a hair and or makeup stylist I highly suggest doing a trial run beforehand. If hiring a stylist make sure your hair is done well in advance to ensure you are on time. If you color your hair be sure that the roots of your hair and touched up prior to photos if this is important to you.
Avoid white tennis shoes, flip flops and sandals.
For children aged four or younger, it's common for them to sit with their parent during photos. To create the best visual impact, it's advisable to have the child's outfit contrast with the parent's attire. For instance, if the parent is wearing black leggings, it's a good idea to avoid dressing the toddler in a black dress and opt for a white dress instead.
Lay your clothing items flat to check them together, helping you identify any outfit issues. Feel free to share your outfit choices for my feedback.
It is advisable to avoid patterns in your clothing choices. While very subtle patterns may be acceptable, sticking to solid colors creates a more timeless and classic look. Patterns can sometimes lead to a "camera moire effect," where the fine pattern on your clothing interacts with the camera's imaging chip, resulting in an unwanted third pattern in the photo. Unfortunately, this effect cannot be retouched or edited, so it's best to opt for solid colors to avoid any visual complications.
Please be on time. Daylight waits for no one!
I always start right away with the entire group together since children tend to be most receptive at the beginning of a portrait session. When photographing extended families it is very important that each and every family be on time so that I can start right away with the portrait of the entire group.
© Brandon Burk Photography
Camera moiré is an optical issue caused by the interaction between a camera's sensor and repetitive patterns or fine details in a scene. It results in unwanted interference patterns, distorting image clarity and sharpness. Moiré often happens when capturing subjects with intricate textures, like fabric or certain screens, due to the alignment of the sensor's pixel array with the subject's pattern.
Family Instagram: @UtahFamilyPhotographer
