What to Expect
The process typically begins with a consultation. It can be over coffee,
at the client’s home, or in my studio. The consultation is sort
of a “get to know you” session where we can discuss expectations
and desires. The consultation is helpful when it comes to the portrait
session itself, as it helps relieve some of the anxiety inherent when
posing in front of a camera. During the consultation we also talk about
the process, look through my portfolio, discuss ideas for the shoot, and
decide on a date and location. The whole process is designed to be a collaborative
endeavor.
The portrait session itself typically lasts one to two hours, although
this varies and to a large degree depends on the client. We can talk and
relax and have a cup of coffee before or during the shoot and work at
a languid pace, or get right down to business and work at a faster pace.
The client is welcome to bring along a friend if doing so makes them feel
more comfortable. In any case, we will keep shooting until both the client
and I are satisfied with what we have.
I typically suggest that the client wear solid colored clothing for the
shoot. As a general guideline, black, gray, or white tend to work best
with black & white, although there are no hard and fast rules as far
as color, patterns, or style. Whatever suits the individual is really
what’s best, and changing clothes during the shoot for a different
look is encouraged. Different clothes have a way of bringing out different
facets of a person’s personality.
Make-up and hair styling I leave to the client. I can certainly offer
guidelines as to what tends to work best with black & white photography,
but once again hair and make-up are a personal choice. If it helps, the
client can have someone else help with both hair and make-up if they’re
not comfortable doing so themselves. |
