Suggestions for Exquisite Portraiture

1. Harmony in colors is vital to your portrait. Dress everyone in the same tones, either all dark or all light. If one person has a light

2. Wear solid colors. Stripes and patterns are distracting. You want the viewer to be drawn to the subject, not the clothing. An exception is seen in the sample above where the infant twins are wearing a red & white patterned dress. This works because they are small and dressing them this way, sets them apart from the other family members. Harmony & balance remains. However, if only one person would have been in a pattern, harmony & balance would have been lost. And, if everyone was in a pattern, our eyes would be drawn to the clothing first.

3. Heavy turtlenecks give you a NO-neck look, V-Necks give you a slimming effect. Crewneck sweaters and an open white shirt are great for the casual look.

4. Do remember that your feet are important too! Wear socks in similar color to your shoes and avoid having logos on them.

5. Wear makeup for a flawless finish. Avoid frosted makeup.

6. Wear sleeves, as they are most flattering. Sleeveless blouses make the arms look heavy.

7. Do not use glitter on your body or hair: no lotion with glitter.

You must consider what you want to portray in your portraits: a formal or casual look. Easy casual looks are a solid colored shirt, and kaki pants or jeans. If you are holding your session at the beach, you do not wear shoes (one less thing to worry about).


Colors that blend well together:
Brown Group:----tan---rust---beige---gold---brown
Blue Group:----navy---purple---light blue---plum---blue grey
Red Group:----cranberry---plum---purples
Summer Colors:----off-white---gray---cream---beige---pastels
Fall Colors:----earthy tones---greens---rust---brown---gold---dark shades