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Bring two to three of your best fitting professional tops or dresses in solid colors or a quiet pattern. One that matches your eye color is a lovely touch. When in doubt, navy. Add a blazer or two if that is your look. I suggest one or two relaxed layers as well, such as a leather jacket, a mock turtleneck or a well-made plain tee. If you want full or half length portraits, bring head to toe outfits. Bring anything you love wearing.

Bring everything freshly laundered and pressed. I do not edit out stains or wrinkles, so pressed clothing is what carries the final image.

• Pieces that fit well. Too snug or too loose changes the whole portrait.
• Solid colors, which photograph cleanest.
• Tailored, fitted shapes that hold their line.
• Tops checked in bright light and a mirror beforehand, since studio light shows through thin fabric.
• Long sleeves, which usually frame better than short.
• A clean solid top under any blazer.
• Small, simple earrings.
• Whatever you love wearing. That feeling reads in every frame.

• Fake lashes
• Necklaces
• Patterns, plaids or stripes
• Loose short-sleeved tops
• Shiny fabrics such as satin
• Linen, which wrinkles quickly
• Jackets too small to button
• Pastels, white and off-white, which wash out under studio light
• Button-downs that gap or pull at the collar
• Bulky sweaters
• Anything stained or wrinkled

If you wear makeup, a light natural look photographs best.

• Keep mascara natural, not heavy.
• Match your base to your neck. Studio light shows any difference.
• Use an oil-free moisturizer and eye cream beforehand. Skip sunscreen with a white cast.
• Moisturize your face and lips for a few days ahead so skin looks fresh.
• A professional makeup artist is a beautiful option. I am glad to introduce you to one who meets you at the studio.

• Small blemishes are easily retouched, so set those worries aside.
• Stay out of strong sun for three to four days before your session.

Wear your hair the way that looks most like you. Style it as you normally would and bring whatever you use to smooth flyaways.

• Most cuts settle after about a week, so a fresh cut or color the day before is best avoided.
• A trim within three days of your session is best skipped.

Bring simple pieces that stay quiet in frame. We photograph with and without. I tend to prefer none, and the choice is always yours.

If you wear glasses every day, wear them in your portrait. If you switch between glasses and contacts, bring the glasses to try. Bring every pair you own so we see them all.

• Wax, manicure or tidy brows, nose and facial hair three or more days ahead in case of any skin reaction.
• Removing fine facial hair and exfoliating helps makeup sit smoothly and keeps powder from catching on stray hairs up close.
• A facial about a week before is a treat. A gentle scrub 48 hours ahead clears blackheads that otherwise show in close-up frames.