Engagement Portrait Recommendations  

• Try to keep your clothing simple. Solid colors are the least distracting and often the best.  Large or bold patterns and bright colors are distracting in a portrait. They draw attention away from your face.
• Sleeveless shirts and dresses tend to distract from your face as well. They also tend to make arms look heavier than they truly are. Sleeved and long sleeve dresses and shirts help draw attention away from your arms and focus on your face. 
• Darker clothing tends to have a slimming effect and acts to minimize body size while light tones tend to emphasize body size.
• Necklines – If your neck is short and your face is full then scoop or v-necks tend to be most appealing. If your neck is long and your face is slender then a turtleneck or high-necked garment is more flattering.
• Though the couple’s clothing does not have to match it is best if they are in the same style clothing. Do not mix casual and formal attire.
• Often it is appealing if the color of the subjects clothing matches or is similar.
• Mixing light and dark colors can distract from your face. 
• Save stronger colors and patterns for accent items like scarves and neckties.
• White or light pastel clothing looks best in portraits taken against a white or light colored background.  Dark clothing looks best photographed against darker backgrounds and creates a more formal mood.
• Glasses – If either person in the portrait wears glasses regularly then consider wearing the glasses in the portrait. However, if it is possible bring, a second pair of glasses without lenses for the portrait in order avoid glare and distracting reflections. Only have a trained professional remove the lenses from your glasses. If it is not possible to have a pair of glasses without lenses, do not worry. 

Wedding Portrait Recommendations  

• In the weeks leading up to the wedding, make sure that everyone’s outfit fits properly. Have any necessary alterations made to outfits.
• Avoid getting sun burned prior to your portraits. It may be best to stay out of the sun in the week leading up to your portraits just to make sure you do not get sun burned.
• If you must be in the sun in the week or so before your portrait, be sure to use a high SPF sun screen on all exposed skin areas but especially on your face. (My favorite is SPF 45. Contrary to popular belief it is still possible to get tan, and even sun burnt, while wearing it so be sure to apply it often.) Wear a hat while in the sun to further avoid a sun burnt face.
• Glasses – If you or anyone in the portrait wears glasses regularly then consider wearing the glasses in the portrait. However, if it is possible, bring a second pair of glasses without lenses for the portrait in order avoid glare and distracting reflections. Only have a trained professional remove the lenses from your glasses. If it is not possible to have a pair of glasses without lenses, do not worry. 
• Make sure all bouquets, hairpieces, corsages and boutonnieres arrive before the portrait session begins so they are passed out and on/with the correct people for the portraits.
• It is very important to be on time for wedding portraits. In order to get friends and family to arrive on time to wedding portraits it may be helpful to tell them that the portrait session will begin a half an hour to an hour before it actually does because not arriving on time or early will result in less time for portraits and a rushed session.
• The bride should consider having her hair and makeup done first. That way, if need be, she can have her formal portraits done while everyone else is putting on their finishing touches.
• If any portraits are being taken anywhere other than the ceremony site, be sure to plan adequate travel time and give everyone good directions.
• It is very important for all of the bride’s and groom’s family members to arrive on time for the portrait session. Sometimes family members, attendants and other special guests who are in the portraits also have things they have to do to prepare for the wedding (last minute finishing touches, get the cake, find nylons for someone, fix a last minute hem…) This can make it difficult to wait for a portrait but it is so important to have the portrait. Everyone in the family and wedding party will remember the important person who was missing from the portrait but people will probably forget that the runner was not rolled out before the bride walked down the isle.
• Family Members Typically Present in the Formal Family Portraits
• Parents
• Siblings
• Grandparents
• If there are other important people who should be in your family portraits, make a list of the people for the photographer and make sure they know when and where to be for the portrait. The photographer will try to fulfill these special requests.
• If there are any special photos you would like, make a list of them for the photographer. The photographer will try to fulfill these special requests too.
• Plan enough time so the pre-ceremony portrait session is over before guests arrive and are being seated.
• During some wedding ceremonies there is no photography allowed. During other ceremonies, the site is too dark to photograph without a flash or very high speed film so there are a few options.
• Take key ceremony photographs after the ceremony (This works best under either situation.)
• Use high speed film for the low light situation (These photographs will be very grainy and the customer will be responsible for the additional cost of the film and the film processing.)
• Use a flash to photograph the ceremony (if photography is allowed during the ceremony, if flash photography is allowed in the building, if the pastor does not mind flash photography during the ceremony and if the bride and groom do not mind flash photography during the wedding).

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