Pre-Shoot Guide

Thank you for booking a portrait session!  Please take the few minutes to read through this guide.  When you’re finished you’ll know how to get the most out of your photography session, exactly what to expect, and what to avoid.  Know that I am committed to creating beautiful work that you and your family will cherish for generations.  My focus is to capture the personalities and emotions that your family shares. I’m honored to guide you through every step of the way.

Ashley DuChene

Photographer & Founder,  Ashley DuChene Photography,  Established in 2004

Everyone in the group can wear tan slacks and white shirts like you’ve seen in your neighbor’s family photo (from 1995) but I’d rather you didn’t. It’s best if I can capture your family’s unique style.

• Choose a common theme of color and formality.
• Choose 2-3 colors and have everyone wear at least one article of clothing in one or more of those colors.
• Choose clothing that makes you feel confident and attractive.
• No need to match each other, that’s not really a normal way to cruise around town right?
• No bold designs, wording or logos.  Think solid colors and subtle patterns.
• Think about style.  Are we doing an edgy city street shoot, a dreamy walk in a field, an artsy walk through galleries?  How would you dress to convey the story?
• Baggy clothing add bulk, seriously!  Trends can steer us in the wrong direction, beware of shapeless, blousy shirts and dresses.  Somewhat form-fitting looks much better in photos even if you have some extra weight around the middle, like me.

Clothing Selection: Wear a flattering solid color or a not-too-bold pattern in a dress, tank top, cute shirt, skirt or jeans.  If you don’t like your arms, consider sleeves.  Belts are great to define your figure and it’s best to avoid shirts or dresses that have too much fabric or boxy shapes. Always bring a sweater and/or jacket just in case.  We might only have time for one outfit so arrive wearing your favorite but it's ok to bring one or two alternates with you. If you are undecided I can help you choose.

Shoes: Photo shoots can be the perfect time to wear high-heels and boots but please bring a pair of comfy shoes, too, since we’ll probably do a lot of walking from place to place.

Hair & Makeup: Your nails don’t need to look fantastic but a clear nail polish looks nice.  I recommend foundation, under-eye concealer, powder, blush, liner, eye shadow, mascara, and lipstick.  I love how flowing hair catches light. Did you know that if you purchase fake eye lashes at Sephora they’ll put them on you in the store for free? And you can pre-schedule a makeup application appointment at Sephora and it’s free with a $50 purchase. Appointments can be scheduled on their website.

Clothing Selection: Jeans, nice pants, button-up shirt, sweater, etc. are always good options. No t-shirts with lettering please. Blues, grays, browns and dark greens always look nice on dads.  Pastels are okay on the beach but no white shirts please.  Also, avoid light green shirts as they reflect green onto the face making the skin appear green.

Preparation: Eye drops, whitening strips, and a fresh shave are always a plus.  Leave the sunglasses in the car as they leave marks on your nose and don’t photograph well.

Kids: Follow the directions above regarding choosing a common theme of color and formality to coordinate with the family. After the more formal family portraits we’ll have play time so feel free to bring some hats, tutus, or favorite toys.  And be sure to tell me about these before we get started.  It’s ok to bring some little candy treats as a reward for good behavior. Smarties or marshmallows are good, lollipops are bad because they last too long and tend to result in colored tongues and teeth.

Babies: Avoid bulky clothing. If you have your heart set on one outfit put your baby in it and let me know you love it.  With babies, I tend to focus more on their face than their clothing.  If you can’t decide bring two to four favorite baby outfits for me to choose from. No words, bold patterns or logos. Optional items include baby hats, cute accessories, and tutus.

Clothing: Good beach colors match the environment like browns, blues, tans, purples, deep reds, deep oranges, etc. I recommend that you steer away from bright reds or other bright colors. Rethink white shirts on men the beach, the camera can perceive white as “blown-out” in the bright sun which can end up messy looking as I expose for skin tones not clothing. That said, white dresses tend to work out just fine, it's men's white shirts that are a challenge. Black clothing doesn’t make sense on the beach, it’s too formal. Dresses on females look great in silhouettes on the beach.

Other Tips: For beach shoots, prepare to get your ankles and calves wet.  You’ll need to roll up pants or opt for dresses or shorts. At the beach, you will be barefoot. Hair doesn’t always behave on the beach, it’s windy.

Many people are concerned about looking heavy or bloated, I totally understand and will do my best to pose you in flattering ways. You can combat bloating by drinking a lot of water and cutting down on sodium for a few days leading up to the shoot. I’d much rather you arrive feeling healthy and not irritable so please skip the strict last-minute dieting. We offer slimming retouching, it’s $10 per photo and it’s typically focused on double chins, arms, and mid-section. We find it easiest to slim people who are wearing form fitting clothing.

Bring a towel, a leash in a color that somewhat matches your dog (as opposed to bright red), treats, some wipes for drool, and a few plastic bags for clean up. Anticipate that your dog will not be participating in all photos and may be tied to a tree at some point.