THE LAURA MATTHEWS
Headshot Session GUIDE
Thank you so much for booking your headshot session!
My goal with this Guide is to help you prepare for your session and get the MOST out of your experience. Your session is an investment and of your time with me is important…so it’s my job to be sure you're fully prepared! In this guide you will find suggestions for outfits, accessories, hair and makeup, ways to customize your experience, what to expect the day of your shoot, how your final gallery will look and everything in between! Please take the time to read it thoroughly to ensure you have all of the information you need to make your session the absolute best it can be!
Can’t wait to work with you!
I'm Laura!
Now that we've gotten to know each other, let's dive into the good stuff!
I've been a professional photographer since 2009 and began my business capturing milestone moments and portraits.
A photo session can seem daunting, but they don't have to be! I'm known for my easy and comfortable approach to photographing my clients. I love putting you at ease, which sets the stage for authentic and natural portraits...my signature style!
I'm endlessly thankful for my clients who choose me as their photographer and cannot wait to work with YOU!
in case we haven't met...
What to expect
Now that you are booked and things are officially official - let’s talk through the entire portrait experience, step-by-step! Your photography starts NOW, and I want you to know what’s around every corner as you begin to prep for your session day!
You will find all the information you need in this guide. I have included every single detail you may need to know for portraits! Please read it thoroughly in the weeks prior to your session and let me know if you have any questions. :)
this SESSION guide
the week before
The week before your session, you can expect and email from me with our meeting time, location, final invoice, and last minute instructions! If we have threatening weather, we will discuss as it gets closer to the date. Don't worry if it's overcast, those days are perfect...creating a soft blanket of beautiful light.
This is also the best time to prep and hang your outfit for portrait day!
SESSION day!
This section of the guide gets its own section! There are so many fun things to talk about for the day of your session! Let’s dive into what to expect and what's most important each minute of your session:
The importance of being on time
First things first: being on time for your shoot is VITAL. And I don’t just say that because of my time, I say that because we are on the SUN’S time, and the time of others. For Exclusive and Micro Sessions, I shoot multiple clients back-to-back on those days, so my schedule is super tight. So, try to plan to be a few minutes early for your session. That way, even if you hit traffic or a delay…it doesn’t eat into your shooting time! If you're late to your session, I can only work as long as your scheduled session time, which means I won't be able to deliver the fully gallery of portraits I promise and/or we may have to leave out key desired images.
the first Few minutes
When you arrive at your session location, we'll begin shooting right away! I will give you lots of direction on how to pose and I promise to put you at ease very quickly. The most important advice I give my seniors is to relax. I want you to be yourself and capture your genuine smiles, laughter, and personality. It typically only takes one or two photos to feel comfortable. You will see really quickly that a photography session is super easy and fun!
Posing & Shooting
The BIGGEST and most important thing that I want you to know about your session is this: I'm going to tell you what to do the ENTIRE time! You do NOT need to have any posing or modeling experience. Part of your investment in your portraits is my experience and ability to make you look (and feel!) your absolute best. So, there’s no reason to be nervous at all! I will guide you through every single moment and I promise the BIGGEST compliment I get is that I make it so easy!
When you arrive...
Parking & Location
I will send any pertinent instructions regarding our location in your reminder email the week prior to your session. If you're going to be late, have an emergency, or cannot find our location, please call me at (804) 620-PICS.
Now for the most frequently asked question: WHAT DO I WEAR!? Choosing what you will wear for session is a huge decision that can make or break your portrait session! This section will break down my best tips for what to wear and how to style your session outfit (and some great inspiration!)
What to Wear
1. Don't be afraid of color!
Bold colors that pop off the background photograph best! Most of my sessions take place outdoors where there are trees and green space, so avoid greens and browns.
2. be Comfortable
Keep in mind you will be sitting, standing, lying, etc. and your session most likely will be outdoors. Your outfit should allow you to freely move.
3. add layers
In the cooler months, adding layers to your outfits always looks STUNNING in portraits! A jacket, vest, scarf, etc. adds so much dimension to your images and makes for versatile! Even in the warmer months (spring + summer) you can add these layers + dimension by wearing a tank top with a cardigan or by throwing a denim jacket over a dress!
4. Dress to your location
Remember, the outfits you choose should reflect your personal style as well as go with the location of your session. For example, cowboy boot and jeans look great at casual, rustic locations, but probably not in an urban setting. Feel free to check with me regarding your specific location.
5. Please Accessorize!
6. Things to avoid
Adding accessories like jewelry, hats, fun shoes, etc. to your outfit adds a whole new layer of detail to your portrait gallery. I’m a huge fan of statement earrings, a bright lip color, colorful sun or winter hats or even a ball cap…ALL of these things give us so much more variety with posing + create such beautiful pictures!
No wrinkles allowed! Editing out wrinkles can take hours PER PHOTO...which can result in your images taking a lot longer to get back and require additional fees for extensive edits. Make sure everything has been steamed and I highly suggest hanging each outfit separately to prevent wrinkles! We will be doing a lot of moving around, sitting, walking, etc. at your session. If the material of your outfit easily wrinkles...you may want to be careful.
Undergarments! This is something that may slip your mind as you are planning your outfits…but it is SO important! Make sure your bra and straps fit properly and are completely hidden under your outfit. And wearing a neutral pair of undies is the best way to go to ensure it’s not showing through anything!
You will be doing a lot of moving throughout your session, so wearing pieces that have to sit just right or that are at risk of slipping aren’t a good idea. And, if pieces are super thin, tight, or sheer, it may be see-through in your photos or easily show sweat marks in the warmer months.
Hair and Makeup
If it is in your budget, hiring a professional for your hair and makeup can make difference in the quality of your photos. You're investing a lot in your portrait experience and want to look your best. However, if you're comfortable creating your own makeup look, go for it (read my styling tips below!)
my RECOMMENDATIONS
Here are some of the amazing artists I recommend in the Richmond area.
Radiant Reflection
RICHMOND MAKEUP ARTIST
- Plan to wear slightly heavier make-up than normal (remember heavier doesn't mean darker). A light foundation to even out skin tone, and well-blended blush and bronzer are key! Make sure to blend!!!
- A lipstick or gloss that are at least slightly darker than your lip color is a must, even if you don't usually wear makeup! Without it, the camera will wash out your lips.
- Make sure brows are neat and tidy. Unruly brows are distracting. You can use a clear mascara to keep them in place.
- I highly recommend powder if you have oily skin.
- For hair, I highly recommend working WITH instead of AGAINST your natural hair texture, especially in the warmer months. A heat and humidity finishing spray is your friend!
- Brush your teeth just before applying lip color to make sure your smile is super sparkly!
My STYLING TIPS!
I've got you covered!
Now, for the slightly less fun part...let's address a few quick things that could go wrong at your session. These are some frequently asked questions that I get about common problems that can pop up...and I want you to feel as prepared as possible!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are some questions that I get often, and what to do if anything goes wrong leading up to your session date!
Click to view the answers to each FAQ.
This is by far the most asked question I get about things that could go wrong, which makes total sense...because bad weather happens all the time! If there's unfavorable weather in the forecast for your session, rest assured I have options to reschedule! I typically wait until the noon the day of the session to make a final decision about weather because it changes so often. However, if it is clear there will be a weather event or there are scheduling difficulties, we may make arrangements earlier.
If you've scheduled a WEEKEND Exclusive or Micro Session and we have to reschedule due to weather, ONE alternative weekend date will be offered. If you cannot reschedule on the backup weekend date, a weekday afternoon/evening will be offered. So sorry, I have extremely limited weekend availability.
Possible Weather Scenarios:
If there's a 50% chance of rain or MORE or the radar looks threatening: My professional recommendation in these scenarios is to reschedule. Even if it doesn't end up raining, it's always better to be safe than sorry, trust me!
Wind: Sometimes, we can shoot despite the wind if we're strategic with WHERE we shoot. But if there are crazy gusts it will be difficult to create all the images I promise, so it may be best to reschedule.
Cloudy: I have a lot of clients who worry about cloudy days because they think their images won't be as bright and beautiful...but rest assured, that's not true. Cloudy days are actually AMAZING for photographers...because it means there are no harsh shadows and we can shoot anywhere! Unless it is a seriously dark grey day with storm clouds...cloudy days are our friend! AND they aren't as hot! :)
Heat: The humidity and heat in Virginia can be super difficult for many reasons. If it's particularly hot and/or humid (typically over 92 degrees at our session time), I often will choose to reschedule for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, sweating and red faces aren't flattering for portraits. Humidity can cause a hazy look to images, which I'm not particularly fond of in my work. And lastly on a personal note, I have a heart arrhythmia which is unfortunately triggered by extreme heat. Let's be safe on the super hot days.
Please be mindful of the sun leading up to your session. You want to avoid tans lines if at all possible as these can be difficult to edit. I can typically soften light tan lines and sunburn. Harsh lines and red sunburns will result in extensive editing fees for each image. This can be very costly. If you cannot avoid the sun, please make clothing choices to cover any tan lines or seek out the help of a spray tan specialist to help mask them.
My skin is breaking out like crazy...HELP!
We've ALL been there! Don't worry one bit. I'm happy to remove any blemishes in Photoshop - you won't even know it happened! Promise!
Can I bring my dog? sports equipment? Props?
I always welcome your dog (or any pet!) to your session as long as they're friendly, current on vaccinations, and our location allows pets. Be sure to bring along treats and water. Neutral colored collars and leashes are less noticeable in portraits. I’m generally not able to edit leashes out of finished images, so make sure they are “dressed” to coordinate.
Props are absolutely welcome! We won't have time to change clothes for a short session, but adding them in for a few photos makes for greatly personalized photos!
Gallery Delivery
I have a lightening fast turnaround time, but during prime seasons it may take up to 10-14 days to receive your completed images. I will give you an idea of my current workload prior to the end of your session so you know what to expect. You'll receive an email with the link to your full gallery as soon as it's ready. This is where you will be able to download, share and print all of your high resolution digital images. You can download individual images or the entire gallery at once. You can also individually save photos to your phone to start sharing on social media! The next few pages of the guide will walk you through how to use your gallery and the best ways to print and display your new favorite photos. Be sure to come back and reference this after your session!
Gallery delivery day is THE MOST EXCITING!!! I will send you the link to your final gallery in an email. This gallery is where you can easily download, share and print all of your high resolution digital files. Your gallery is SO easy to use, and beautiful if I do say so myself. It will remain open for one year. Make sure to save your image files on your computer, a cloud service, and a hard copy such as a USB flash drive. Place a copy in a safe deposit or fire proof box.
The Gallery Delivery
You will be prompted to log into your gallery with your email. This is for your safety and my records! This way, I know exactly who is viewing your gallery and downloading your images...and you know that random people can't get access to it without us knowing! Additionally, you can favorite images to note which ones you'd like to print, use for albums, wall art, or announcements.
Logging In
There are quite a few ways to download and save your digital images! When you are looking at your full gallery, you can click this button (the down arrow) to open the download menu:
Downloading Your Images
It will open a menu where you can download a folder of ALL of your images or just your favorites! You will need to enter the PIN number you were given in your gallery delivery email to download. You can click on the individual photos to view and download them one at a time, or download the entire gallery.
Printing Your Images
I truly believe so deeply in the power of printing your images and displaying them in your home. You took the time to invest so much money into your portraits session...why not print the images and have a physical way to cherish them and share them?
As you know, I do not have any purchase minimums or requirements in terms of printing your images. They are yours to share and print from whenever you prefer! But there is the option to purchase professional-quality prints and products through your online gallery. This is the ONLY printing option that I personally and professionally recommend in terms of quality and durability. If you print somewhere else, I can NOT guarantee that the quality of the images will look the same as they do online, or that the products and prints themselves will be durable.
My honest suggestion is this: if you want to print your images larger than a 4x6…the professional printer through your online gallery is the best way to go.
In the next few pages, I'm going to walk you through the "shop" portion of your senior gallery. This is where you can find prints, wall art, framed prints, cards and more directly through my professional printer!
accessing the shop
The Print Store is located in the menu of your online gallery. You can easily browse all prints, wall art, custom albums, announcements, and more! All products are shipped directly to you!
