Senior Portraits: A One Time Opportunity To "Put Your Best Face Forward."

Your senior year is a wonderful experience. There is only one shot at it, so here are some ideas that will help when it comes time to take your Senior Portraits. Have fun, live a little and look your best for generations to come.

Both my boys when they were seniors enjoyed their one time experience to the max. Over the years, a portrait surfaces of their "punker look" (the 80's spiked hair, funky clothes and all) for their children to enjoy. Their children are amazed that the person in the photo is really their dad. I'm proud of my boys. They both are doing well in their careers and have wonderful families. Their portraits are receiving rave reviews too.

However, the times and styles change and sure enough the old photos will surface and be enjoyed, create well intended giggles and lots of conversation forever. So, enjoy your senior year "for once and forever."

I will list some portrait guidelines that have proved themselves time and time again. These guidelines will be offered in several installments and will apply universally to all types of portraiture. They are taken from an article by Marathon Press. If you would like to see the full article, please visit my website at: http://www.paulmarlinphotographer.com/ and click FYI. On the right side of this page you will see the article "Put Your Best Face Forward." Click, enjoy and create beautiful portraits.

For your close-up or head and shoulders portraits dress in something simple both in style and color. Boys can choose a suit, sport coat or sweater. For girls, a plain dress, sweater or blouse with a simple neckline is best. Years of experience have taught photographers that the following guidelines will help in creating a portrait that depicts the “real you.” Guidelines have been creatively modified and turned out well, so think things through and enjoy this opportunity to “Put Your Best Face Forward.”

1. Both boys and girls should wear long sleeves to keep the eye from being drawn to the flesh of the arms instead of the face.

2. Proper clothing allows the face to dominate the portrait, with all other elements being secondary. Against a medium or dark background, colors that photograph best are medium to dark tones of green, brown, rust, wine or blue. Darker shades are slimming.

3. Colors that approximate flesh tones such as beige tan, pink, white and yellow overpower the face. These colors also drain color from the face and make the wearer appear usually pale.

4. Bare shoulder or tops with “spaghetti straps” and "tank tops" often make the subject look heavier and take the eye away from the face.

5. Especially bright colors such as red, orange or pink overwhelm the face because of their intensity.

6. Stripes plaids, checks and bold prints also draw the eye away from the face and do not photograph well.

Go Ahead - Break The Rules. It's All About YOU! Be Creative and Make Beautiful Portraits for your children and their children to enjoy for lifetimes!