How do you prepare for a portrait session?

The most common question before a portrait session is: what should I wear? It is also the least important question, but I understand it. If you do not know what to expect, you take hold of the one thing you can control.

Here is the honest preparation, without any nonsense.

Clothing

Wear something you feel comfortable in. It sounds simple, and it is. Plain colours work well in a photo because they keep the attention on you. Large prints or striking logos pull attention away from your face. If you are unsure, bring two or three options.

For a PAUSE session there is one more thing: wear something you would also wear on a relaxed Saturday morning. Not your presentation clothes, not an interview outfit. Just you.

Mental preparation

None. Genuinely.

You do not have to practise smiling in the mirror. You do not have to work out which is your best side. You do not have to have a story ready.

All I ask is that you arrive on time and give yourself a moment to settle. We do the rest together.

➡ Book your PAUSE straight away

What to expect

A PAUSE session starts with a conversation. No agenda, no list of questions. I ask what comes to mind and you answer what you want to answer. You ask what you want to ask. After a while I pick up my camera. You do not have to behave any differently from how you already were.

The session takes half a day, around four hours. There is coffee and tea, and no time pressure.

After the shoot

You look calmly through the photos we made and pick out a broad selection. At home you look again at your leisure in a private online album and choose your favourites.

You get your photos digitally, in black and white, minimally edited. I do not edit away what is there. I do not turn a photo of you into a photo of who you might be. I photograph you as you are.

If you are wondering whether a portrait session is for you but are not sure PAUSE fits, do get in touch. I will call or email you back and we can talk it through.

➡ See what a PAUSE portrait session looks like and what you get

Want to know more before you step in front of the camera? I listed the key points in my portrait photography checklist, and answers to common questions in the portrait FAQ.