Clothing

Whether you choose formal wear or casual, you should look relaxed and comfortable. Your clothing should reflect this by not being too

tight or too loose. Darker clothing will tend to slenderize. In contrast, light colors can add weight to the body. Darker clothing also helps

to blend a body with the background, so that the face is the most important part of the photograph. Bright colors attract attention

away from the face. Plain white shirts and blouses under a dark jacket work well. A scarf loosely tied around the neck also helps to frame

a face beautifully when a collarless blouse or sweater is worn. Neckties should be toned-down in color and have a minimum of pattern.

Avoid prints and patterns, short sleeve clothing and short pants. When arms and legs are exposed, there is more flesh in the image than

on the face. This can be a major distraction. Proper necklines for a portrait are important. A wide-open neckline tends to thicken the

neck. A neckline that comes up to the base of the neck such as a turtleneck or a v-neck top is the most flattering. It tends to slim down

the person and frames the face beautifully. Overall, try to select dark clothing that is below the waistline and lighter clothing for tops.

For example, dark jeans worn below a light colored sweater.

Hair Style and Makeup

Consider hair styles that are simple and off the face. Eye makeup should be blended with no sharp lines between colors. Too much color

above and below the eyes will take attention away from your eyes, rather than attracting the viewer to your eyes. Foundation makeup

should be blended at the jaw line, so that there is no demarcation between the face and the neck. Professional hair stylists and make-up

artists can be made available for your photo shoot for an additional charge

Jewelry

The fewer and smaller, the better.

Props

Using props can really add to your portrait, but they can just as easily take away more. Again, keep in mind that you don't want the

prop to be distracting or clash with what you are wearing. If you must use a prop, make it simple and be a part of the portrait,

not the main subject.