Treating yourself or giving yourself a portrait session is the closest you can imagine to an hour of meditation and relaxation. With a portrait we can fix in time a moment of our life, which can be happy, of change, of turning point but also of dissatisfaction or rediscovery of oneself. It is for all these reasons that I love to devote time and care to the shooting phase in order to transform our session into a pleasant and emotional experience. Over the years and with experience, I have formulated some useful tips that I share with my clients in the phase preceding the photo session in order to better prepare ourselves and create something beautiful and unique. These are the 5 tips that never fail:
WHERE DO WE SHOOT?
Deciding whether your shoot will be shot on set or outdoors (outdoor means outdoors or at your home) is certainly the first point to decide together and goes hand in hand with the style you want to give to your photographs. For those who are not particularly used to posing in front of a camera, a shoot on a set with a backdrop and lights could be a little “shock” but also a fun game if you feel like throwing it. A shoot made outdoors or at home will instead be perfect for a shoot where spontaneity, intimacy and small details prevail.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
One of the fun aspects of a portrait session is also deciding together what to wear that day. Two changes of clothes would be the top but the most important thing is to find garments with which you feel yourself (always and in any case) and that enhance you: never distort your appearance with the risk of not recognizing yourself in the shots. We will choose colors, fabrics and accessories together based on the mood of our photographs. If there is a flower or a tree, I am always happy.
MAKEUP AND HAIR
You often ask me if a professional is needed for make-up and hair: it is not mandatory but having a good base on the skin and an “invisible” but effective make-up certainly makes the difference. Same goes for hair, whether it’s loose or tied.
THE MOODBOARD
That is an ideal blackboard where you can write down and share inspiration and ideas for our shooting in order to arrive prepared and without last-minute surprises. If we are going to carry out a personal portrait session, I recommend not bringing “public”: I know from experience that being watched while being photographed is a little inhibiting.
ARE YOU MY IDEAL PHOTOGRAPHER?
Last advice but the most important. It doesn’t happen every day to treat yourself to a photo shoot and therefore it is good to ask yourself if the chosen photographer is really for us. Never decide why it is the most comfortable studio to reach or because its price is the lowest of all. Look at his portfolio, his style and his “philosophy” and only then decide. At this point, let yourself go and enjoy this beautiful and new experience!
