Photo sessions may look like you need months and months of practice before hopping in front of the camera, but you really don't! As long as you're prepared of course.
If you haven’t already, please let me know a little more about you before your session!
before your session
wardrobe
Your photo session is the perfect intro to your story. Your photo session should showcase who you are, turned up a notch, so feel free to bring it when it comes to your personal style.
Pick a look that reflects your personality. Have fun with it and grab some killer pieces out of your wardrobe (or off a shopping rack if you’re so inclined). Add a belt, throw on a hat, throw on some rings and bracelets, style it up! Ask your most fashionista friend if you don't know what to wear. My photography style really shines through when your outfit choice is ah-ma-zing.
Sometimes people want to know what color will work best in photos. I don't want to tell you what I think will look best on you because really only you know. I will say that personally, I love to shoot solids + neutrals (black, tan, white, grey) with pops of color or personality in your accessories or makeup (belt, jewelry, shoes, lipstick color, etc). Patterns are fun for those confident enough to rock them.
look and feel
hair & Makeup
Looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. So now that you’ve got your amazing wardrobe picked out, lets talk about how you want to look once you are all dolled up. These photos will be epic, so making sure the vibe is carried out head to toe is essential. Ladies, your hair and makeup should reflect your outfits of choice as well as your personality. If a bold red lip is your thing, then rock it. If its not, now is not the time to try something new. You must be comfortable in your own skin, so make sure you look like YOU. And if you don’t do your hair/makeup on a daily basis, don't be afraid to call on a pro. Your professional photos will pop ALOT more with a polished face.
vibe
The vibe is everything we are planning put into one melting pot of awesome. Your wardrobe, the location, the time of day, and the creative direction. All of this will set the final vibe of your session. So what do you want your session to feel like? Fun? Boss? Vogue? Soft? Relaxed? Light? Dark?
Logistics
bad Weather + rescheduling
Clouds make for amazing light but physical rain is not so awesome. In a case of bad weather on the day of your session, your session will be re-scheduled if theres no good indoor alternative available. By bad weather, I mean it is heavily raining, snowing, sleeting, an earthquake has just taken place, theres a hurricane, mudslide or tornado warnings nearby, etc. less than 30 minutes before your session making it unsafe to both drive or shoot. Love ya, but please refrain from emailing me freaking out about the weather forecast a whole week in advance.
time management
So you want the most out of your session as far as time goes, right? Of course you do! So it should be no surprise that it is highly suggested that you arrive on time.
Tips to avoid showing up late:
Pack your bag the night before if you are bringing outfit/shoe changes, props, etc.
Booking a hair/makeup artist? Schedule your appointment minimum 3 hours prior to your shoot. Trust me.
Consult with Google Maps at least an hour prior to your session to see what time you need to realistically hit the road.
Give yourself an extra 15 minutes to find parking and walk to our meetup spot. It takes longer than you think…
For 9-5ers, don't assume the 'day of' that your boss is going to let you leave early from work. Clear it in advance.
Grace Period is 15 minutes.
Any later and your session may have to be rescheduled.
during your session
"What do we do with our hands?!"
Number one question I get when we start shooting. Everyone relax! There's nothing to be nervous about. You've seen my photos right? None of these people have a Ford Modeling Agency contract. You gotta cute outfit? Favorite lipstick? Great! Put your game face on and lets do this. Your energy can be read through photos. You don't really want to be there? It will show. Dont want to come out of your shell? Yep that shows too. Show up ready to have fun and your photos will turn out amazing.
For all the humans who say they dont want to look STIFF:
Well then...don't be stiff! You need to bring your personality to the session. If you don't, I will have to pull it out of you. When you are the only subject, you have to do a little bit more to carry the shoot by yourself. Most of the energy created during your session will actually be your interaction with me, which is why most of our session will be us laughing and joking, talking about dreams and aspirations, and just having a regular conversation like two new friends throughout the session. Remember your spirit animal that I asked you about? Bring it to the session. Laugh, smile, dance, twirl, loosen the f* up and have fun with it. For real though. If you feel like you cant achieve this on your own, by all means bring a friend if you think that will make you feel more relaxed.
AND ONE LAST NOTE...
Dont just 'act' like you want to be there, that is like the ultimate buzz kill. Really want to be there and we'll all have fun. You don't expect me to take photos like I'm a robot, so I don't expect you to be robots either.
Also, come with a positive mind and heart. Negative talks about our bodies, our "good sides", "Im too...", "Im not....." "I dont look like..." "Can you photoshop...." all that is not allowed. You're beautiful and thats the end of it. Everything's fine. Thanks in advance for loving yourself :)
Oh and to answer the actual question: do whatever the hell you want with your hands. Except put them on your hips. Dont. You. Dare.
Creative Direction + Posing
So that you don’t expect the entire session to be all candid’s and what-do-we-do-now’s, you should be prepared for the majority of your photos to be the result of creative direction that will move us from one epic scene to the next. You don’t have to be a full time fashion model to look like one, so don’t worry about practicing in the mirror (but you can if you want to). Candid shots are great and I will take more than you will even realize. There is no real prep for candid, because candid!
Your "Stuff"
If we are shooting on location, please leave your "stuff" in the car. Stuff like cell phones that you wont need (they make odd shapes in your pocket so do not leave them there), your sunglasses (unless you plan to wear them for photos), your purse (you DO NOT need this, where are you going??), baby bags with the world jammed inside them, pets with no third party pet sitter (seriously they cant be in every photo)....you get it.
If you have booked a session where you plan to change outfits throughout and may need to carry them along the way, please carry them in a bag you don't mind sitting on the ground because I cant carry my stuff and yours, too heavy, doll! I will carry your phone that you don't need and your car keys in my bag, but thats it. You've been warned......... :)
"How long will it take to receive my photos?"
Great question! 1-4 weeks.
Last but not least, please don't ask me for an update on your photos unless the above estimated due date has passed. I edit in the order that I shoot, so you are in the queue, promise!
When you post all your glorious images, please post the correct size so they are not stretched, blurry, grainy, looking all crazy, etc AND please don't put a filter over them as they are already edited.
Also, please tag me!
@xokelleyraye and @kelleyrayephoto