Portrait sessions can be exciting, but with a bit of prep work you can go from average looking shots to excellent, and save money on post processing. Spending a couple dollars on a few small items will make you look better, feel better and overall help you have a more enjoyable experience.
Here’s what I recommend bringing along:
1. Lint Roller - Lint, hairs and other materials catch easily in photos, even if it’s not apparent to the eye. This becomes especially apparent when wearing darker clothing.
Lint may appear invisible to the eye, but a camera picks it up easily.
2. Lip Balm - Dry lips stand out as off-color flakes look a bit off on a bright red background. A quick swipe of lip balm will make you look your best, saving your photographer hours in Photoshop.
3. Change of Clothes - Depending on the time, location and how fast you can switch outfits, a change of clothes will help you get more value out of your session. If you’re looking for ideas, use this Pinterest board to help you get inspired.
4. Props- Depending on your shoot and how you want to use your portraits, think about accessories that will help you tell the story you want to tell. If you’re a makeup artist, bring your brushes. If you do wedding decorations, consider bringing your flowers or lighting designs.
5. An Assistant - Photographers’ assistants are expensive, but friends are free. Bring a friend to hold your change of clothes, carry your lint roller and lip balm, and keep track of items you need to be comfortable. A friend can also help with lighting basics, such as holding a reflector to block unwanted light.
Let me know what you think should be brought to a portrait session in the comments. Or if you want to hear more, feel free to drop me a note.