How to prepare for your senior session with AMP

Senior Session Preparation

 

• Be CONFIDENT!!!
• Wear a smile!!!
• Get a good nights rest!
• Come well organized & openminded!!!
• Bring a friend! I always suggest to bring someone with you that you feel comfortable around to help loosen you up in case you are nervous…Please remind them, pictures are not allowed as stated in your signed portrait agreements, so make sure they refrain from taking pictures with their cell phones during our session together…Thank you!
• Solids colors are best.  Busy, loud patterns or logos will draw too much attention in your photos, so solids are always a safe bet!
• If you wear eye-glasses all the time, feel free to bring them, but if you can do without your glasses or have contact lenses, this is a better option.  Eyeglasses can cause a reflection of the flash or nearby objects.
• Be careful not to get sunburned prior to your session. Just an FYI, you don’t want to be red as a lobster or have any crazy tan lines like I did in my wedding pictures…EEEK!!!
• Feel free to bring props that represent you – band instrument, sports gear like a volleyball or baseball bat, letter jacket, sunglasses.  Anything unique to your life, interests and/or personality. Follow this link for some prop ideas and inspiration (https://www.pinterest.com/anchoredmemory/props-for-senior-pictures/)
• If you are having a hard time choosing between outfits, I always suggest to bring them both, that way I can help determine which coordinates best with our backdrop…
• Come organized, place each outfit on separate hangers, hang accessories over the hanger for each individual outfit or place in individual baggies…Do not throw all your accessories or clothing in one bag…It takes away from our shooting time, especially if we are searching through a duffle bag full of clothes ,trying to find that one missing shoe, or  trying to untangling  multiple necklaces… Plus you don’t want your clothes to be all wrinkled anyway right?!?!?
• Iron your wardrobe!  I can’t stress this enough.  Every detail will show up in your portraits, so be sure to iron out any wrinkles, make sure there are no stains or tears.
• Accessorize!! That goes for boys and girls…Vests, watches, earnings, necklaces, rings, jackets, scarves, ties, or hats to name a few …Follow this link for some ideas (https://www.pinterest.com/anchoredmemory/accessorize/ )
• DON’T FORGET different shoes for each outfit…Seniors always forget their shoes!!! Don’t be that senior…Hahhaha!
• Moisturize any dry skin or lips (Some forgetful areas: Hands, Elbows, Leg’s, Knees & FEET if you are wearing sandals )
• What do I wear you ask? Follow these two links below…

Guys ( https://www.pinterest.com/anchoredmemory/senior-outfit-male/ ) ( Casual, Dressy, This is me, Sports or activity uniform)

Girls ( https://www.pinterest.com/anchoredmemory/senior-outfit-female/ ) ( Casual, Dressy, This is me, Sports or activity uniform)

 

For my girlie’s

• Hide those bra straps!  Wear a bra that hides well under your outfit and that are the correct colors…You wouldn’t want to wear a black bra under a white dress right…Makes sense!
• Same goes for undergarments, you don’t want them to show through your clothes, i.e. no black thongs under a white dress…If you are wearing leggings make sure your undies aren’t peeking through either 🙂 Thank you!!!
• Hairspray! – Be sure to spray all those fly aways down and bring your hairspray along with you to spray after each wardrobe change…  Most of my sessions are in the late afternoon (Golden Hour) this type of lighting can highlight any and all flyaway’s, so please spray your locks if you can…Trick: Bring dryer sheets to run through your hair, it will help reduce static in your hair…You can also bring your hairspray with you to help maintain!!!
• Manicure/Pedicure – It’s amazing to see all the detail that my camera can capture, so be sure to get a fresh manicure or at least a new coat of nail polish…Maybe even a pedicure, especially if you’ll be wearing open toed shoes or sandals.  Avoid extremely bright or fluorescent nail color. You never know when I will get that one shot with your hand on your face so please avoid chipped nail polish by any means…Hahahah!
• Be sure to shave those legs & underarms…Just an FYI, there will be a lot of poses that involve some arm lifting…
• Moisturize, legs, arms, hands, ELBOWS, heels, &  feet…I wish I could, but I can’t edit ashy skin 🙂 …It might be a good idea to just bring some lotion along incase you feel like you want to re apply…
• If you plan to wear a dress or skirt, try them on in front of a mirror, be sure to lift your arms up and down and ensure that the dress doesn’t ride up and show your booty…Hehehhe! Trust me, this has happened on more then one occasion…Like I mentioned before, there will be a lot of arm lifting & we want to make pretty pictures for mom & dad 🙂
• DO NOT COLOR OR CUT your hair a week before your session…If you plan to make changes to your hair do so at least a month in advance…DO, wear your hair down, as it gives us a lot of posing alternatives….Occasionally I may have you play with your hair for more natural poses…
• Makeup- If you are not planning on booking with our glam squad,please read some of the tips below 🙂
• Cheeks –  blush to add some color to those cheek bones.
• Eyes – Wear brown/black eyeliner and mascara to bring out your lashes…. False eyelashes look great, if you’re used to wearing them.  Be sure any excess glue is removed and FYI it is better to go with a more natural set of lashes, rather than something you would wear on Halloween….
• Eyebrows – be sure to trim & tweeze if needed. If waxing, be sure to do it a week prior to avoid having redness.
• Lips – any shiny lip gloss in a color like berries, reds, pinks or browns are great.   Avoid frosts or glitters that will reflect light. Bring your lip gloss or lipstick along for retouching!
• Face – Foundation helps smooth out the skin and cover any blemishes you may have.  The goal is for a matte finish, not a glowy or dewy look…If you feel you have shiny skin, brush a light translucent powder all over to cut down on shine.
• If getting any facial waxing, do so a few days prior to avoid having redness and/or swelling.
• Bring your makeup for touchups.
• Bring a mirror to check your makeup and hair during outfit changes.
• Bring water to stay hydrated, all the posing and walking around get’s you thirsty, trust ME!!!

 For My Guy’s 

• Be clean-shaven or have beards and mustaches trimmed.   For clean-shaven guys, you may think a little stubble won’t be seen on my camera, but it totally shows in close-ups, so spend the extra time to shave…Your 5’oclock shadow can’t be retouched FYI…So Shave and put your “handsome” on!
• Be sure to schedule a haircut at least a week before your session…
• Pluck and trim eyebrows and nose hairs as needed…
• Socks – Wear socks that match the color of your clothes. No brown socks with black pants….
• Don’t forget your under shirts if needed…
• Don’t forget different belts…
• Bring jackets (ie. Blazer)…
• Shoes – Wear shoes that match your clothing style.   No flip-flops with dress pants. No dress shoes with shorts! I suggest, dressy and casual shoes and always make sure they are clean and polished…
• Moisturize those elbows, hands, and your face…
• Wear chapstick to avoid chapped lips…
• Iron your clothes…
• Make sure finger nails are clean and trimmed…
• Bring water to stay hydrated, all the posing and walking around get’s you thirsty, trust ME!!!