Newborns: These sessions are usually scheduled before delivery. Baby should have a full tummy and be changed right before the session starts. Please plan to feed baby as we are setting up. Crank up the heat! Babies are best photographed unclothed | minimally covered, so make the environment nice and toasty. Many babies will eliminate waste (that’s a nice way to say it’s likely they’ll pee or poop!) during the session. We will be prepared for this! Newborn sessions often take 3-4 hours to allow for plenty of time for comfort between poses. Newborns are best photographed before 10 days old. Sessions after 14 days are considered a baby portrait session; poses possible with a newborn are not possible with older babies. We take baby’s safety seriously and always consider our babies’ safety first! Want to gift a maternity and/or newborn session to your favorite mommy-to-be? Contact us!
Toddlers and Children: Please stick to their usual nap and feeding times. Please feed your child and take care of bathroom or diapers right before the session. If you object to sugar bribes|props, please let us know! The outfit can really set the tone for styling your child’s images. For this reason, we like to be included in choosing and approving outfits. We are happy to come browse your child’s closet or send you links for ideas in the days before the session.
Families: Please make sure all family members arrive on time, waiting for latecomers means fewer photos. We love photographing families in their natural environments. We also know some beautiful natural and urban places – perfect for Iowa’s warmer days… or bundled up on Iowa’s colder days. Be prepared for our lame jokes and ice breakers!
If boyfriends or girlfriends come for the shoot, they may be asked to sit out for a couple of the portraits. Nothing is more awkward than a treasured family portrait with so-and-so’s ex-boyfriend in it. We state this up front to avoid any hurt feelings at portrait time. This is something we do at *every* family photoshoot, not to single out your relationship or say anything about its predicted success. We know he or she is probably a keeper!
Teens & Seniors: Senior portrait sessions usually take place at more than once location and with several outfits. Plan to bring a parent or friend to help with changes and location moves. Minors will need parent approval for sessions and locations. We love senior props! We’ve photographed seniors with cars, pets, guitars, athletic uniforms and best friends. Bring it!
Weddings: A pre-wedding consult will be planned for your big day! His and Hers Photography is available for destination weddings. Contact us for details.
What not to do before a session
The following things should be avoided immediately before your portrait or event:
a new hair cut, style or color
tanning
piercing
shaving the mustache you’ve had for 20 years
anything that involves bleach, dye, or permanent markers
What to wear
Comfortable and classic looks photograph best. Be your authentic you.
Avoid loud patterns. Neon, sequins, metal and reflective tape do not photograph well. In other words, have the bedazzle party after your session!
If you have a large family group, take your cue from the matriarch or patriarch of the family. If Grandpa wears a jacket and tie and Uncle Joe wears jeans and a concert t-shirt, it won’t look right. In the same breath, if Grandma wears khaki slacks and a blouse and Aunt Sally shows up in a cocktail dress and stillettos, the photo will look disjointed. Let the matriarch or patriarch set the tone. Everyone else follow suit. Think simple. Timeless. Authentic. If Grandpa wants everyone to wear matching track suits, feel free to talk him out of it.
Avoid clothes that restrict positioning. You may be asked to sit on the ground – especially if we have many people to get in a photo. We super don’t want to see anyone’s unders.
If it looks a little wrinkled in person, it looks a lot wrinkled on camera. Wrinkles cast shadows. This is very obvious on camera.
It is not necessary to match each member of the family. Unless your family typically dresses identically, this makes for an awkward photo. Coordinating is good. Matching is awkward. See Awkward Family Photos. “Wear black” or “Wear white” is fine. “Let’s all wear the same Old Navy flag t-shirt” is just uncomfortable for everyone.
Red and yellow stand out a lot in photographs. Avoid them or wear in small doses. (A red tie = good. A yellow blazer = not so good.)
Think timeless. Remember hammer pants and that one-sequined glove phase? You want to avoid anything that will look immediately dated. For example, be very judicious about the “I love Justin Beiber”, “Team Jacob” or “Palin in 2012″ shirt you were thinking of wearing. (Aw, c’mon… you giggled!)
Make Up & Grooming
Make up should be natural-looking. Now is not the time to experiment. We are happy to hire a professional make-up artist for your session. Contact us for pricing and details. This isn’t Glamour Shots at the mall! We want you to look authentically you!
Be attentive to foundation lines. Your neck and face should be the same color with no obvious transition lines.
Avoid over-grooming children. Helmet-like, hair sprayed heads will be something you all make fun of in 10 years. We want kids to look clean but natural. Children + makeup = unnatural.
Guys – shave if you normally shave, trim if you don’t.
Jewelry: think simple and classic. Include what you normally wear, don’t overdo it. We want to see you not your bling.
Most of all – HAVE FUN. Portrait sessions are a good time. We know you may feel self-conscious or shy. We do our best to make everyone feel at ease. After all, if you don’t look good, we don’t look good!
