Your senior portraits are the most important photographs you will ever have taken.  This information has been written to help you prepare for your session so that you will look your very best, have a great time and get exactly what you want.

                       Please read the contents carefully. And don’t hesitate to contact us if you
                    have any questions that aren’t answered here. We look forward to meeting
                    you and helping you get the portraits of a lifetime!

Plan on arriving early.

   Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get here—you won’t want to be rushed. Plan on arriving about 15 minutes before your scheduled session time so you can get your outfits and props unloaded and situated in the dressing room.

                       We have the utmost respect for your time, and will do our best to start 
                    and  end on schedule. If you are late, we cannot run your session into
                    the next appointment’s time—it will only result in less time spent creating
                    your photographs. If for any reason you anticipate being more than
                    15 minutes late, please call to reschedule your session
                    (a $15 rescheduling fee will apply).  We appreciate your cooperation
                    and consideration.

   By arriving 10–15 minutes early for your appointment you’ll be able to look over the hundreds of samples here at the studio to get new ideas, as well.

                    Remember: the more we know about what you want before the start of
                    your session, the easier it will be for you to get the kinds of pictures you like.

Choosing the right clothing.

   When selecting your outfits, keep in mind that you will have two clothing changes per session. And while there are no "rules" about what to wear, here are a few suggestions on what to bring for each different session choice:

• Studio—Some seniors dress up a little more for their Studio portraits. But more important than the "formalness" of your outfit is the style. Simple, solid colors work best for this session. These are the portraits that most likely will hang on your walls for a long time, and you don’t want the outfit to overpower the image. Your Studio outfits might be a suit or sport coat (for guys) or a dress or skirt (for girls), or they might be jeans and a t-shirt. Either style (or something in-between) is fine, but remember that the simpler the better.

• Outside and Downtown—Outdoor portraits should be casual, and so should your outfits. This is the session for jeans, khakis, shorts, tanks and tees. The best colors outdoors are blues and earth tones (olive, green, tan, brown, etc.). Whites and reds do not work well outdoors.

• Digital—These portraits require outfits that are a little more on the edge. Here you can go with loud colors and patterns and more fashionable styles. Just about any outfit is OK for these sessions. Make a statement!

• Your Stuff—No rules here. Your activity might actually be your outfit (sports or band uniform, t- or sweatshirt) or it might just accompany your outfit (like a Metallica t-shirt with an electric guitar). If you’re bringing a vehicle, try to bring a shirt that matches the color of the car. If your cat is gray, bring a gray shirt. Try to coordinate your prop with your outfit—it makes a great look!

                    • Add-A-Friend—If you’re bringing a friend sibling or significant other,
                    keep your outfits in the same tonal range. In other words, you both want
                    to be in the same, rather than contrasting, colors. That doesn’t mean that
                    you have to have matching outfits. But with two or more people in
                    a photograph, similar colors tend to be less distracting to the eye.

What to wear to your session.

   It is important that you arrive dressed and ready for your first portrait series. We usually do the indoor portraits first, so if you have chosen Studio as one of your sessions, wear a Studio-appropriate outfit to the session. You’ll be able to change outfits as the session progresses.

What about my hair / makeup / glasses / zits / braces?

• HAIR—Schedule a haircut no sooner than five days before your session, to give it a chance to "fill in" a bit. And don’t try a radically different haircut or style—your hair should be the way your friends and family are used to seeing it.

• MAKEUP—Girls, apply makeup as if you were going out for the evening. Too little and you’ll look pale and washed out; too much makes you look "painted." Pay special attention to your eyes; that’s what everyone will see first in your portraits.

• GLASSES—If you wear glasses most of the time you’ll want to wear them in your portraits. To eliminate distracting glare and reflections, call your optician and arrange to either borrow a pair of empty frames like yours or have the lenses removed from your own frames. Most opticians will gladly do this for free if you give them a few days’ notice. This is the most important way to improve your portraits if you wear glasses. If you choose to wear your glasses the way they are, keep in mind that removing any glass glare from your photographs is done at your expense.

• ZITS—All of your finished portraits will be completely retouched, but your Portrait Originals (proofs) will not. To improve the look of your proofs, apply a small dab of coverup makeup to any noticeable blemishes. If they’re gone in the mirror, they will be gone in your photographs!

                    • BRACES—If you wear braces, they’re as much a part of you right
                    now as your hairstyle or the clothes you wear. Don’t be self-conscious
                    about smiling!   If you don’t like your braces in your portraits, they can
                    be removed digitally ( braces removal is $50).

Can I bring someone with me?

   Absolutely! Almost every senior brings a parent, friend, brother or sister along to help ease the "camera room jitters." Guests are invited to sit with you and watch through the camera, help with clothing, hair, etc. NOTE: Due to space and time considerations, we ask that guests remain in the studio or waiting area during the Outside session only.

How can I look more tanned?

                       Some seniors want to show off their summer tan. You can LOOK tanned
                    without having to BE tanned—just wear a white or off-white outfit. Light
                    colors make your skin appear darker in your portraits. DON’T overdo
                    it in the sun or tanning bed just before your session. It’s almost impossible
                    to remove a peeling nose, shirt or swimsuit tan lines or a bright red sunburn
                    (well, it’s possible, but it’s also expensive). We can enhance your tan
                    during the printing of your portraits, so too little is better than too much!

Do I need to bring any money?

   Because the session fee is prepaid to reserve your appointment time, you do not need to bring any money with you to your session. Reminder—if you are paying for your session by check, it must be received within five business days after calling. If we haven’t heard from you within five days, your time will be given to someone else. So if you haven’t sent it yet, please put it in the mail today.

When will my Portrait Originals (proofs) be ready?

                       Normal delivery time is 2 to 3 working days. When you pick up your
                    Portrait Images, a deposit of $100 is required, which simply goes
                    toward your order and is subtracted from your balance when
                    you place your order. Your Portrait Images cannot leave the studio
                    without your deposit.