Shari Fultz Photography sessions are fun, memorable, and easy-going! For your experience to be even
better, please take the time to read through these very useful and helpful tips!
~ Do what makes you feel confident on the day of your session. Maybe it's getting your make-up/nails/hair (one or all) professionally done, working out, wearing perfume/cologne, a new outfit, or spending all day pampering yourself and getting ready. Whatever it is that gives you the happy feels, the calm, the confidence. ~
OUTFIT
* The right outfit allows your face to dominate the portrait, all other elements in your photo should be secondary. Here are some tips to help you figure out your perfect outfit/s. Pick out and try on your outfit a week before the shoot.
* I encourage you to use 1 neutral (jeans, whites, blacks) and 2 solid colors (or 1 color if using two neutrals) when planning for an outfit. I discourage busy patterns and bright colors in your clothing, they will draw the eye to the clothing instead of you.
* Long sleeves or sleeveless shirts are best for flattery. If you are concerned about the size of your upper arms, then, you’ll want to wear long sleeves. Three-quarter sleeves are great too...I like to roll the sleeves of a long sleeve, button-up to the forearm, or elbow.
* A short sleeve tee-shirt should give you a bit of shape and be used for casual pics...mainly guys. For example photographs of...sports, jerseys, uniforms, casual senior photos.
* White tops/outfits are alright for a few portraits but do know white tends to draw the viewer's eye, which draws their eye away from your face. The same is for bright white shoes...the eyes will be drawn to the feet. Also, wearing white is not the best when it is a bright day. White can become overexposed very easily.
* Choose varying styles of clothing. Shirts with different necklines, casual and dressy clothing, sweaters, scarves, hats, jackets...all give a completely different look when added in.
* Big logos across your chest may be distracting, and they also may date your portrait. But, If you want to "date" your image, perfect! This is a great way to remember what was "in".
* Short skirts or dresses really limit your posing options. It’s a good idea to vary your clothing styles.
* Ask yourself "Do I have a waistline, or does it all kind of run together...too big, baggie, too many layers?)
* Always pick out one outfit that is 100% YOU, regardless of guidelines.
* Wrinkles and Filth WILL show up in your portraits. Wash and iron your clothes, if necessary, and bring them in on a hanger. Your portraits are only going to be as good as the combined effort of me and you.
* Please try on your clothing with the undergarments that you'll be wearing. Boys, keep an eye on socks, especially when sitting. Girls, look for your bra straps, can you see through the sleeve of the underarm, and can you see the undergarments through the clothes? Watch for panty lines and for see-through skirts/dresses (especially in the sunlight).
* HEADS UP...
~ Lighter-colored pants with a darker-colored shirt, it may make your bottom half look larger than your top half.
~Big stripes/Large Bright prints may add the illusion of being larger than your size as well as distract from your face.
Glasses
* If you do NOT want glare on glasses. I highly suggest having anti-glare, anti-reflective protection on your lenses. You can also take the lenses out during the shoot. I do ask if you have transitional lenses, that you not wear them. They will be very dark in the pictures. If you feel more comfortable with glasses on, think about removing the lenses until the session is over.
NAILS & POLISH
Everyone should have clean and filed fingernails
* Remove chipped nail polish, it will show!
* If you do not want attention to your finger or toenails stick to clear, light, or neutral tones. Dark and bright colors will stand out in your image.
Makeup
* Wear what you are comfortable wearing. Example...If you are not normally a smokey-eyed person, then I don't suggest trying it the day of the shoot. If you really do want to try something different, do a test run at least a day or so before your session.
* Oily skin, especially on your face really is the enemy, oil will show up as unattractive shiny spots on your face in a photo, ( especially on your forehead). Wear foundation makeup that doesn’t have oil in it. If you do have oily skin, you could refresh your makeup with translucent powder during the shoot. Face blotters work well for oil while keeping makeup intact.
* If possible use a fresh tube of mascara so you don’t have clumps. Clumps will show up in the close-ups. Also, brush the top and bottom of your lashes...when you look down, you'll want them dark as well as when your lashes are up.
* Neutral tones for eye shadow colors, such as grays and browns are best. Avoid pastel shades and especially highly frosted shadows (the frost shows up as tiny white spots all around your eyes). Lotion of any kind, especially on your face it will show up as shine...once again, not the glow you want.
* Do NOT use makeup with SPF protection in it for your session. It has a reflective quality and looks shiny in photos...not the glow you want.
* NO to very little highlighter or anything that has a highlighter in it, the artificial glow does not work well with the glow of the sun. It will appear blown out in white in the specific spots you put it, and/or it will look like spots of white glowing specs.
* I am a huge fan of matte lipstick and reapplying when needed during the shoot. It will define your lips...even if it's a nice soft neutral. I highly recommend hydrating as much as possible, and using a matte chapstick if needed...helps prevent cracked lips and gives you a glow. Try to stay away from wearing super glossy lipstick or lip gloss because they make huge white spots from the shine on your lips wherever the light hits them.
* I discourage the use of glitter lotion...anywhere.
JEWELRY
* It’s always a good idea to include jewelry in your portraits. A few pieces make your outfit "pop" all the more, but be careful because too much/too large can be distracting.
* Pendant-type necklaces will be tough to keep in the proper place when you move around as you pose.
* Organize jewelry by putting it in baggies and slipping it over the coordinating outfit hangers so you won’t be hunting around for it.
HYGIENE
* Wear your deodorant. If you sweat a lot, think about an undershirt. Also, a few extra tops wouldn't hurt. Crazy as it sounds...another trick is to stick a super thin panty liner to the inside of the armpit of your shirt. This trick works best for minimal movement! LOL
* If you wear a plastic retainer or Invisalign...Please remove them before your session. They cause a not-so-pleasant reflection.
* BRUSH YOUR TEETH...nobody wants a forever reminder of what you ate for lunch.
SHAVING - GIRLS & GUYS
* If you shave, shave the night before or the day of your session. Poses may have your hands over your head, wearing a sleeveless top, dresses, shorts...stubble may show.
* Boys should make sure to clean shave or trim up their shadows/beards if you want a clean look.
* While you're at it, you may want to give your eyebrows/nostrils/ears/and anywhere else...some love.
* Not into shaving? That's cool too!
HAIR
* Wear your hair like you usually do. Try two styles...messy buns count!
* Don’t use a lot of hairsprays, gel, or other products in your hair. Your hair should move with you when you tilt your head and blow nicely in the breeze. Hair spray can be used to tame flyaways on top of your head or keep hair out of your face.
* Don’t get a last-minute haircut or hairstyle CHANGE. Get it done at least a week or two prior if you plan on changing things up so you have time to get used to it and know how to style it.
* Don’t forget to take your ponytail holder off of your wrist!
* GUYS, I also recommend getting a haircut a week before your session.
TANNING
* Sunburns are nearly impossible to fix or retouch. Suntan lines are also tricky, so plan your outfit according to current lines and/or watch your tan lines as you're tanning. Don’t spray tan the night before a session, it will photograph orange and it might be blotchy, and darker in the knees, elbows, hairline, and other dry areas.
WHAT TO BRING
* Bring an extra outfit...you never know! Be prepared to change outfits quickly. When on location, I do bring a pop-up changing room.
* Have a friend or family member come along to help fix hair and outfits.
* Bring props! Special memorabilia (something handmade like a blanket, special gift from someone who has passed, an 8x10 or larger framed pic of yourself as a baby/younger years, or someone special to you), Band-Choir-Orchestra (instruments, uniform, etc.), Sports (medals, letterman's jacket, trophy, shoes, jersey, hat, gear, ball, etc), HUNTING/FISHING (rod, rifle, camo clothes, antlers, etc), Cap and Gown (borrow ahead of time from your school), your vehicle, a cell phone, smoke bombs, etc....the list can go on and on.
POSING
* I will guide you in a way that is natural feeling and fun. If you have a Pinterest board and would like to get a few must-have poses in, make sure to take a screenshot of them, text them to me, or have them ready to show me.
PLAN AHEAD
* Anywhere special you want to try to go? Do you have anything special you want to include or try? Share your ideas with me.
* PLEASE, trust me and share with me what bothers you...your insecurities. I want this to be the best experience!
*** Seize your opportunity to have portraits that portray YOUR UNIQUE PERSONALITY.
Shari Fultz Photography will encourage you to have fun and most importantly, let you BE YOU!!***
