ADVICE

Good portrait photography is the coming together of a multitude of elements

As a mechanical level it is the combination of light and subject matter with the camera and its operator but on an emotional level it is so much more. Therefore we offer to you the following tips broken down by main categories of interest. We hope you find these tips useful for getting the best out of your special day.

• Portrait (General)
• Family
• Children
• Pet
• Celebrations
• Location Photography (Out And About)
• Boudoir
• Wedding
• Modeling

Portrait (General)

Book early

We take bookings for the studio up to three months in advance, if you know that you require photography done by a specific date (for example if you need a finished framed portrait for someone's birthday) the sooner you book the sooner you can rest assured that we will be available on that day exclusively to you.

Rest and relax

There is no point in trying to cram a photography session in between dropping the kids off at school and doing the shopping, likewise tying to avoid a ten o'clock photo-shoot after a big night out is probably also in everyone's interests! A session is normally only an hour but try to allow some relaxation time at either side so you can get parked easy and therefore don't arrive late and flustered. We always begin with the session by talking to you about your expectations and what you would like.

Do your homework

Having a clear Idea of what your expectations are can really help with the planning stage of any photo shoot. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Would you like an album, framed photographs or both?
2. How much space do you have to display your images?
3. Where in your home will the fame be going and are there any colours that would work better than others?
4. Would like to try a daring new style or something more traditional?
5. Who would you like posed with who? Think about different relationships within the people assembled...Father to Son, Mother to Daughter, just Mum and Dad, the whole Family, Best Friends etc.

Family

Size IS important

Our studio is equipped to handle up to six family members at once. If your family is bigger then this please remember to mention it, there are quite a few ways to work around this including moving to an outside location or family home (see out and about section for further details) or arranging for the family to be photographed in smaller groups but as part of a larger overall project (such as a montage of images in one frame or a photo book of all these groups combined together).

Suitable clothing

We want you to be able to relax and feel like the real you when you are in a photo shoot with us. It is worth mentioning though that you will normally be posing against a white background (or in some circumstances black) so a costume made entirely of the background colour is probably best avoided unless you want to appear like a floating head! Another good tip is to get together with the whole family and decided on a colour of clothing which you will all wear in common (i.e. Mum wears a red necklace, Dad picks a red shirt and the kids come in red shoes) this can allow us to do some really striking work in post-production.

Create a stress free call-back session

We politely ask you to bring as few people as necessary to the call-back session after the photo shoot preferably just the key decision makers. Kids look great in the photos on the day and we actively encourage them to run around and have fun; however this is also what children tend to want to do while you are trying to decide on pictures and framing options so maybe this is a bit of "grownups only" time.

Children

Choosing the right time

You know your kids better then anyone, you know their routines and temperaments throughout the day. We would advise you to take into account these factors when booking, ideally babies and very young children are at their best when they have just woken or been fed. Slightly older children are often better when they are a little tired already (well; they move a little slower anyway).

Let them know in advance

Visiting a white room with lights that flash on and off and being told to stand in-front of a complete stranger and smile could be enough to scare any of us. We have found that for children the best results can be gained from explaining what is happening and how much fun it will be. You could start by showing your child the pictures on our website where there are lots of people having a great time in our studio. Try telling your child that they will get to show off to our photographer with their new toy or in a new outfit, talking of which...

Teddies are always welcome

As are bikes, dress-up costumes, dolls, action men and anything else that holds your little ones attention. It is usually a good idea to arrive with one of these toys in the child's hand to break the ice and show us but also with a few more prized possessions in a bag, that way as attentions start to flag we have a bag full of new possibilities.

Pet

Grooming and toilet duties

It might be obvious to most people, but in the name of being thorough we should mention that we are a photography studio dealing with all kinds of work taking beautiful pictures of people animals and objects, if you can help us do our job by making sure your animal is clean and has been to the toilet before the shoot begins it will help ensure the studio will be as ready for the next customer as it was for you.

Not too many onlookers

You may be surprised to know that in our experience even pets can get stage fright! A whole family stood calling the pet's name trying to be helpful can often have the opposite effect. It is best to have no more then two family members in the studio with the animal that is being photographed unless of course you are having a family portrait that includes your pet or something similar.

Have treats and toys at the ready

Pets often need a little encouragement to perform as wished, one of the best ways to achieve this can be to bring along a favourite toy but, not initially show it to your pet, this way we have the option of introducing the treat to your pet if attention spans begin to flag.

Size can matter

Out studio is well equipped and offers the perfect conditions to capture your pet whatever the weather, however if it's sunny outside and your pet is big (maybe a horse for instance), we are more then happy to come and photograph them out on location.

Celebrations

Start your day with us

Saving some presents for your child to open in our studio can be the start of a fantastic day that will leave you with wonderful images full of genuine delight and excitement

Surprise birthday gifts

We are more then happy to go along with any surprises you have in mind, that's why we have a comments box in the booking form, just tell us the information we need before hand and we will be quite happy to ring up under the guise of the "repair man" or whatever, so we don't spoil the surprise if the recipient gets the message or picks up the phone.

Bring a bottle

We have no problem at all with you bringing along a bit of bubbly to make your day go with a 'pop'...Yes we even have a corkscrew!

Out and About

Set up times

It is important to understand that for many jobs we will arrive with not just the camera but a range of lenses, lighting equipment, tripods etc. This gives us the benefit of having much of the flexibility we have in the studio, but it does need time to set up. We therefore recommend if you need us to be taking photographs by a specific time that you arrange for us to come down about fifteen to twenty minutes in advance of that time. Similarly there will be packing up time at the end of the shoot (you will not be charged for this time but if we need to be away from the location by a certain time it is worth mentioning).

Rain stops play

This is Britain after all, and we are realistic about the possibility of bad weather on the day of your outdoor photo shoot. Our recommendations to you are obviously to watch the weather forecasts on the days preceding your shoot and if possible try to plan a secondary indoor location where we could potentially move to if the heavens open. If the worst does happen and you feel that the shoot cannot go ahead we ask you to contact us at least three hours before the intended shoot start time. We will be happy to reschedule to another date for you at no extra cost.

Boudoir

Friendly chat

We always begin this type of work with a consultation either in person or via phone or email. This will help you decide the nature and tone of the shoot, soft and natural or racey and fun, its all up to you (with our expert guidance), with Eskimo Soup Lifestyle you choose how much to reveal and what to keep tantalisingly concealed.

Bring a buddy

Feel free to bring a close friend. Many people feel more comfortable with someone there who they have known for ages, someone to do the hair and makeup duties and offer words of encouragement at the start when you feel most self-concious.

Prop advice

Always bring Props in the studio we will be shooting against either plain white or plain black backdrops as these are the easiest to personalise with props from home. Props can be anything from outfits to items such as feather and flowers to small and medium sized pieces of furniture such as a Chez Longe some ideas for outfits could be:

• Corsets
• Lingerie
• Bikinis
• Heels
• Suspenders
• Jewellery

Wedding

Choose wisely

There are many types of photographers offering an ever expanding range of styles and packages over a huge range of prices. It is important that you choose us because you feel our ethos and personality match and mirror your own. At Eskimo Soup Lifestyle we feel that we can offer a happy marriage of the "one man band" photographer and the efficiency of the larger companies. Our Photographer will work hard to build a personal relationship with you and the key members of your big day, so you know the person in charge of documenting the event knows exactly what you have in mind. Your photographer will also have the backup of the rest of the Eskimo Soup team so you can rest assured that your final package will have been appraised and enhanced by a highly skilled team of creative individuals.

Book early

We take wedding bookings up to two years in advance, if you know the date of your big day and you want to use us, the sooner you book the sooner you can rest assured that we will be available on that day exclusively to you.

Allow time for us to do our job

Be realistic about this, there's no point in hoping for fifteen different group shots if you want to be out of the churchyard in twenty minutes. As a rule of thumb allows five minutes for the creation of each group that you wish to have photographed plus ten to twenty minutes extra to all these shots for setting up and tearing down equipment and getting people assembled.

Modeling

Revise

The easiest way to pick up a skill like modeling quickly is to look at what imagery already exists in the world. Keep your mind broad not just fashion magazines but also design magazines, fine art publications and even magazines for specialist hobbies such as cars and sports.

Make a mood board

Before your photo shoot, pick at least ten poses you really like from fashion or glamour magazines, cut these images out and place them together on a large piece of card. Take time to practice these poses in front of a mirror until you feel you have mastered them and could do them without the mirror. The benefit is you will come to us knowing you look great doing these poses.

Hands and facial expression

Spend time on what to do with your hands and pay attention to facial expressions. A pose is virtually dead and unimaginative without a "look". You should be able to close your eyes, imagine a concept such as loving/sexy/sad etc then open your eyes and sell that thought. Practice this technique and your photos will come alive.

Build rapport with your photographer

At Eskimo Soup Lifestyle, we will always sit down before any shoot, look through your ideas, talk about your expectations and offer our own advice. We hope by working in this manner we will work as a team towards the goal of great photography.

Posing Tips

Keep your fingers slightly apart and pointed away from the lens. Let your hands fall naturally into position whenever possible. It just looks natural that way.

Hold your stomach in to give your abdomen a more toned appearance. If you have gained a few pounds stick out your chin a little to avoid the appearance of a double chin in your photos.

Don't hold your breath during a pose. Stay relaxed and your photos will look as if you just happened to be sitting this way when the photographer walked up.

In most pose situations you want your arms, legs, wrists, etc. slightly bent unless you are directed to do otherwise. Most people don't stand or sit with their arms and legs completely stiff. A good point to remember is, if it will bend, bend it.

You don't always have to smile. You should have a good variety of smiling and serious looks. But, sometimes you will want to give a large, open-mouthed laugh. If you are supposed to be happy, look the part!

Don't always look straight into the camera. When you move your eyes to the left or right, you create an air of mystery. When you look up and away, you are annoyed. Tilt your chin slightly down and look straight ahead for a sexy look.

Get into the habit of not paying attention to the flash and concentrate wholly on the pose, your body language, hand position, etc. and your images will come out as you expect.

When you look at your final images don't be critical of yourself. Find positive ways to improve your posing. Discover your strengths and weaknesses and always think positive and aim high.