Creating a Timeless Portrait

A guide to making portraits that capture a moment, touch the heart, and truly become art.

Clothing for small groups

Couples or small groups should choose simple garments within the same tonal ranges. When people 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 and draws the eye away from others in the photo.   However, everyone choosing to wear a similar tone can create an exceptional portrait.

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 “belongs” to the group and in the photo.

Clothing for Individuals

The goal of any fine portrait is to direct the viewer’s eye to the face(s) in the portrait. All other elements should be secondary. For individuals, simple long sleeved garments in medium to dark tones of brown, gray, burgundy, green, or blue are pleasing choices when photographed against a medium or dark background.

Because darker clothing is slimming it often is a good choice for close-up, full length, or three quarter length portraits in which a medium to dark background is used.

*Bold stripes, plaids, checks, and prints are visually confusing and do not photograph well.
*Overly bright colors, such as pink and orange, will overwhelm the natural skin tone of the face and ruin the portrait.
*Colors that approximate your flesh tones will wash out your natural color.  This means that light skinned individuals wearing white or beige may appear even lighter than normal.  Individuals with darker skin tones wearing caramels, browns, or blacks will lose the definition in their facial features.   

Consider your choice of setting when selecting your clothing.  For example, casual clothing compliments portraits made in outdoor environments.

Creating Style and Personality

My goal is to create portraiture that is as unique as you are.   This can be accomplished through various styles, techniques, and settings that make each portrait a work of art.

Including pets, instruments, or specific backgrounds can be excellent ways to create an image that tells a story beyond your visage.

Best Face Forward

Close up Portraits

For head and shoulders or close up poses, dress in something very simple both in color and style.  Suits, sport coats, plain dresses, shirts or blouses with simple necklines and sweaters are all excellent choices. Long sleeves also help to keep the eye from being drawn to the skin of the arms.

Who You Are

Informal portraits invite much more variety in clothing, color, and style.   Sports uniforms, dress clothes, jeans, anything in which you are comfortable and in colors you believe bring out your best features. The possibilities are endless!

Black is a good choice for black and white portraits or for dramatic look in color.

Express Yourself

If you have a hobby, then bring it along! Musical instruments, art supplies, theatrical garb, athletic uniforms, skateboards, or pets can make excellent additions. Think creatively and you’ll have a portrait you will cherish for a lifetime.

Enjoy the Fun of an Outdoor Session

Bring a casual outfit that will blend with natural outdoor settings. Earth tones are an excellent choice. Also remember that simple styles photograph best.

If you have an outdoor hobby or interests bring your gear. We’ll be happy to photograph you with your car, bike, or motorcycle.

Planning for Your Session

Hair

Don’t try a new hair style just before your session.   IF you plan to cut your hair have your hair cut around a week before your session is scheduled.  This will give you plenty of time to determine how you want to wear it.

Skin Problems

Don’t worry if you develop a skin problem; finished portraits can be fully retouched to eliminate blemishes and soften harsh lines.

Glasses

I can remove glare on glasses, but tinted lenses can’t be lightened – even with art work. If your glasses are tinted or exceptionally thick, they can distort the way the camera photographs the eye. In this case, you should ask your optometrist for a pair of empty frames to wear for your portrait session. If you have any questions regarding your glasses please contact me.

Make-up

Makeup can affect the way your portrait looks.  Both fresh natural make up and “evening” makeup photograph well and you should choose what look will fit with the portrait you desire. 

Even if you typically don’t wear makeup, mascara and a lip gloss to bring out your natural lip color can create an excellent portrait. 

If you do want black and white photos, red lipstick or darker colors can create a dramatic look. 

Beards, Mustaches, & Facial Hair

Consider shaving right before your portrait sitting for a clean shaven look.  It’s much easier to fix a razor nick than to remove facial hair that you miss.  If you prefer to have a rough look make sure it’s all grown out the same all over your face, patches of hair are not a good look. If you have a beard or a mustache, make sure it is trimmed to your liking.

Paying for Your Session

On the day of the shoot make sure you bring cash/check/money order for the sitting fee of $20.00 (made out to Elizabeth King); if the shoot goes longer than the hour I will send you an invoice for the remaining setting fee.  I will also be sure to tell you when we are getting close to the hour time limit so that you can make an informed decision about the session.  I also agree to work efficiently with you to be sure we get the most out of your hour session.

Choosing a Site Location for Your Session

After you have booked your session we will talk either in person/ over the phone/by email about what ideas you have, what look you want, what is the occasion for the photos. We will come up with a great plan so you feel relaxed the day of your session and we will have some fun.

Start a list of ideas to have a photo shoot

Your favorite place on your campus
Friendship Square (Moscow)
Around the Cougar statue (Pullman)
Area Parks (e.g., Eastside, Robinson, others)
Sports fields
In front of your Sorority/ Fraternity House
Administration Lawn (University of Idaho)
Sculptures at WSU (University of Washington)
Next to farm machinery or other rural settings
Wheat fields (based on permission from owner of field & Season)
Many other local sites…the possibilities are endless.
If you have ideas you wish to add to this list please email and let me know the name and location of the site you wish to add.

Viewing Your Images

I will have a gallery of your images uploaded online shortly after your shoot.  Rest assured these images can be password protected so that only you have access to the images.  Once it is up I will send you an email notification that you can view your images.  After your shoot and you’ve had time to view your images online you can email me, call me, or set up a time to meet with me to talk about which images you want to order or any other changes or questions you might have.  Ideally we can find a time to meet in person so that you can see the photos on a color corrected screen without the ‘proof’stamp across the image.