So you are thinking about booking an individual portrait session. YAY, I’m so glad! This is a journey that will lead you to find increased confidence and self-love. An investment into creating art out of your own image will repay you many times over, but how do you make sure that you are getting the most out of your investment? Here are my top 7 tips to help you plan and flawlessly execute your portrait session.
Find Your Photographer
Of course you want a photographer whose style resonates with you and whose art you adore. Equally as important, work with someone who you trust, get along well with and think you will have fun with. Portrait photography is a completely collaborative art, meaning it requires teamwork! You will get so much more out of your session with a photographer who takes the time to understand what you want, shares inspo, listens to your ideas and builds off them. As a photographer, I want to help bring your vision to life, but I also love helping craft the vision. Let’s put our creative minds together and make magic!
Location, Location, Location
The next decision you’ll make is where to shoot. Your portraits should tell a story and the location sets the scene, so ultimately it has the largest impact on what that story will be. Photos taken in the city streets surrounded by the gleaming skyscrapers say something completely different than a setting where nature dominates, such as a forest, beach or field. Location will impact every other aspect of the photoshoot, so deciding on it first will make it much easier to put the rest of the pieces together. I am a big fan of shooting outside and taking advantage of the amazing locations available in my city (Vancouver truly has it all), plus natural lighting is my jam. With that being said, indoor or studio spaces can give some amazing results too, while offering more control of elements, including lighting.
Light It Up
Photography is all about light. No, like literally, “photo” means “light”. If you are choosing to rely on natural light for your session, then the time you schedule your session will be the difference between night and day (pun intended). People gravitate toward golden hour for obvious reasons: it’s soft, creamy, warm and gorgeous. If you want your photos to have an undeniably dreamy look, then your best bet is to shoot during golden hour. However, don’t ignore all the other times of day and the unique looks that different lighting can create. Depending on your location and the story you’re telling, mid-day can offer something special. For example, in the forest the trees filter out the majority of direct sunlight making it a great spot to shoot in on a sunny morning or afternoon – unless of course you are going for a dark and moody vibe. If you really want to be unique, night time portraits can be epic. Your photographer will just have to get creative with light sources (ex. neon, ferry lights).
But What Will I Wear?!
When it comes to clothing and accessories, once again think about the story you want to tell. You essentially can go one of two ways. You may choose clothes that are totally your style and one-hundred percent true to you. If you simply want authentic portraits, then this is the way to go. Ask yourself: do I feel most like myself in jeans or a dress? sneakers or barefoot? showing a lot of skin or just a little bit?
The other option is to use your portrait session as a chance to embody characteristics that you admire or accentuate parts of your personality that you don’t always show. In this case, make a list of what those characteristics are (ex. powerful, brave, care-free, elegant, hyper-feminine, sexy) and then try to imagine what you could put on your body that would make you feel this way. You can also share your list of characteristics with your photographer and ask for suggestions on attire that will convey the desired emotions.
When it comes to styling, my recommendation is don’t limit yourself. Common advice is to avoid patterns, logos and bright colours in photos, but for individual portraits I say anything goes! One last pro tip: to get the most out of your session, wear an extra layer and bring accessories that allow you to quickly and easily change up your look.
Props to You
While props are not always necessary, there is no doubt that when used properly (pun not intended) they add to the images. Props can be anything, from something simple like leaf or piece of fabric, to something more obscure like an animal skull, to a sweet ride like a motorcycle or vintage car. The possibilities are endless. Your session might completely revolve around the chosen props, or they might only be used a few special photos. Again, it all comes down to the story. Another major advantage of incorporating props is that they help you decide how to pose. No body knows what to do with their hands, but having something to touch or hold makes it a whole lot easier.
Strike a Pose & Express Yourself
The way you move your body, the shapes you put it in and your facial expressions will all evoke emotions in the viewer – that’s the goal. Yes, I know I said the goal was to tell a story, but why do we tell stories? Answer: to make people feel something. Perhaps you want to share feelings of warmth, joy, freedom and reckless abandon. Great! Let’s see you smiling, laughing, dancing. Put your arms up, throw your head back, close your eyes, twirl, lay down in the grass. Now perhaps you prefer to bring the intensity, drama, or even pain. Practice your straight face, your blank stare, your pout. Make your pose dramatic by creating sharp angles with your body and letting your photographer capture different perspectives. We are alive to experience the full range of human emotion, so don’t shy away from expressing them wherever they fall on the spectrum. This is why we create art.
Just Have Fun
It doesn’t matter what emotion you are trying to evoke through your photos once they are finished, the process of creating them should be a hell of a lot of fun. Even for a more serious shoot, you shouldn’t take yourself too seriously. I want to see you laughing between shutter clicks. To bring the fun at portrait sessions I like to set the scene with music that fits the mood. Expect me to constantly be hyping you up and giving tons of compliments and encouragement. We will chat and crack jokes. It’s a safe space. Remember, a photoshoot should not feel like work for you, it should feel like self-care!
So, my friends, get ready to embark on a journey of self-expression and self-love. When you are knowledgeable and intentional about how the aspects of location, light, wardrobe, props, posing and facial expressions work together, then collaborate with a skilled photographer, magic happens. Together, we’ll create a collection of portraits that celebrate YOU and leave a lasting impression.
Are you ready to unleash your beauty and confidence? Let’s capture some breathtaking portraits!
