For a Stress-Free Experience

I’m really looking forward to your portrait session on film. It means a lot to help you create photos you’ll treasure for years. As you pick your outfits, consider where you might display your photos at home. Neutral colors and classic styles usually look great with most interiors and help your portraits stay meaningful over time.

Mood

My portrait style is simple, romantic, and timeless. Film photography takes a bit more time and care, which lets us focus on great light, natural movement, and real connection.

Light

I photograph using natural light, which is softest and most flattering just before sunset or shortly after sunrise. For this reason, most sessions begin about two hours before sunset.

Arriving a few minutes early lets us make the most of every moment of beautiful light.

What to Wear

Dresses and skirts look great in photos because they add movement and soft lines. Long, flowy fabrics are especially elegant and stand out nicely against the desert background.

What you wear really does matter for my style of photography. If you like my work, it’s probably because it feels modern and refined. Simple, neutral-colored clothes—like oatmeal, beige, gray, taupe, ivory, cream, off-white, charcoal, khaki, sand, or slate—help keep the focus on you. Floral print dresses are also a lovely choice. Jewel tones like emerald green, sapphire blue, amethyst purple, topaz yellow, and aquamarine blue look great on film and complement the soft, natural colors in my photos.

Pick solid colors to help keep the attention on your faces and the emotions in the photo. You can add a pop of color with jewelry, scarves, or nail polish.

From what I’ve seen, everyone has something about their body they feel unsure about, no matter their shape. Knowing what is ahead of time helps. Picking clothes that flatter your shape and colors that suit you is the best way to make sure you love how you look in your photos.

Three-quarter sleeves, off-the-shoulder tops, or sheer sleeves can make arms look slimmer. You can also bring a nice jacket, blazer, or cardigan.

Heels are great for making legs look longer and really stand out in photos. Closed-toe heels work especially well because they elongate your leg line. These small details can make a big difference! But if you’re not comfortable in heels, it’s perfectly fine to wear flats or ballet flats.

Quick tip: Bring some easy-to-slip-on flats for walking between photo spots. Your feet will thank you!

Accessories

Adding one or two accessories to your outfit can add depth to your photos. Belts, bracelets, and earrings add nice visual interest, so pick one or two that don’t compete with each other.

Hair & Makeup

Film is an investment, so it’s worth looking your best. Most of my clients choose professional hair and makeup because it looks great on camera and takes away the stress of getting ready alone. This is a good time to treat yourself! If you’re using a makeup artist, ask them to apply your makeup in natural light if possible. That way, it will look fresh and not too heavy, and it will match the light I’ll be using for your photos. Aim for a fresh and natural look.

Many clients think their professional makeup looks a bit much at first, but that’s totally normal. Makeup for photos needs to be a little stronger than everyday makeup to look great on camera.

If you’re doing your own makeup, remember that film is soft and works best with lots of light. Add some extra color to your eyes and lips, since everyday makeup can look washed out in photos. Try false lashes like Ardell’s naked lashes and a bold lip color, such as Make Moves from Maybelline. Quick tip: Confidence is always your best accessory.

Styling for Him

Long, fitted pants and closed-toed shoes are the most polished and classic choices for men. They help keep the focus on the face instead of the legs or feet. For your session, it’s best to skip shorts, sandals, ripped jeans, or loose pants. Fitted dress pants or colored pants look best in photos.

If you look at mannequins in stores like J. Crew, you’ll see they often wear several layers. Layers look great on men in photos, even in warm weather, as light layering can add depth and interest. Blazers, vests, and coats can elevate any outfit. If it’s cool enough, try adding a V-neck sweater over a collared shirt and tie for a pop of color. Feel free to get creative with layers!

A lot of my clients like to mix a suit coat, blazer, or sport coat with pants in a different color. This adds visual interest and breaks up the colors. I really like this modern twist on a classic look.

Brown leather dress shoes go well with almost any outfit, whether it’s a full suit or a blazer with colored pants. Accessories like ties, bow ties, pocket squares, colorful socks, belts, tie clips, suspenders, vests, and hats all add a sharp touch. If you bring two outfits, you can start with a necktie and belt, then switch to suspenders and a bow tie for a different look. But if two outfits feel like too much, one is just fine! Also, be sure to steam iron your cap and gown, since wrinkles can show up in photos and are hard to edit out.

Most guys aren’t always excited about taking photos, often because they don’t know what to expect or why it matters to you. Spend a few minutes explaining why the session is important. Once he understands, he’ll be much more comfortable in front of the camera! Many men tell me they’ve had bad experiences with photos before and worry they won’t do well. But by the end of our session, they’re usually surprised by how quickly it went and how much fun they had.

Session Tips

Arrive a few minutes early
Bring some water
Touch-up makeup
Hairbrush & hairspray
Comfortable walking shoes
Outfit change
Fresh flowers, favorite toy, blanket, etc.

Children are naturally curious and full of energy, and that’s completely fine. Some of the best photos happen when kids are just being themselves. There’s no need for everyone to look at the camera the whole time. My goal is to capture your family as you really are.

After Your Session

Your photos will take about 2 weeks to process, and I will email you once they are ready. You’ll receive a curated gallery to select your favorite photographs and artwork for your home. My goal is for your portraits to live beyond the screen and become part of your daily life.

Portrait Style Guide