I think this is a wonderful way to get the most out of your photos. Most of us (hi) are not pros at hair and makeup. Making that extra investment in having a pro primp you can help you to get the most out of your photography investment.

For NYC clients, I have a hair&makeup artist I work with. For all other clients, it's up to you to find your primping person. I'm working on building that network!

Should I get my hair and makeup done?

Don't be afraid to bring many options, although we won't use them all. That being said - don't bring your whole wardrobe. Think about what you want to represent, and be as specific as you can - what color should your clothing be? What style? What type of feeling do you want someone to get when they see you in your outfit? At the start of our session, I'll look through everything you've brought and we'll work together to create a fashion game plan. Bring colors that match your brand. Pay attention to necklines. Stay away from busy patterns - simple is best. If you have a piece you LOVE, wear a lot, or just really want to have your photo taken in, bring it!

What do I wear?

First of all, no shapeshifting here. I keep my editing natural and looking like you as you actually are (on your best day, of course).

Make yourself look as close to how you want to look in your final photos as possible. Please attend to things like brow waxes, wrinkled shirts, long bangs etc before your shoot. I will not adjust hairstyles (other than some flyaways/frizz) or recreate outfits in post-production. My editing work mainly focuses on skin, bags under the eyes, skin wrinkles (if you want), brightness, shadows, and color tone. I will always do my best to accommodate any special requests you have. 

What does retouching entail? Can you fix my bangs or eyebrows or shapeshift my face?

Props are key. This is the biggest piece of prep work you need to do. Some classic prop choices that work for almost all brands:
-Books relevant to your specialty, try to find some that coordinate with your brand colors
-A journal or notepad and pen
-A computer
-A cell phone

Other props you might want to bring include: small plants, flowers, candles, food, or whatever else you would usually have in your workspace OR is relevant to your unique brand. 

What should I bring?

Although I have ample experience with studio lighting and used to photograph in a studio setting all the time, I almost never bring out a light these days. I definitely will not be bringing a studio light set up into your home or office space. Why? Because I've been doing this for a while and have realized that natural light is my thing. I think it's more beautiful and although it's less predictable, ultimately as a natural light photographer I can shoot anywhere. Is studio light your thing? Awesome! I'm not the girl for you, but there are plenty of fabulous photographers in NY with endless styles. Keep researching and if you aren't seeing what you want in a photographer's portfolio, it means your styles aren't the right fit & you gotta keep at it.

Do you use those big flashing lights?

Absolutely, I do this all the time. However, it's essential that your home has plenty of natural light, and you'll need to do a major declutter and prep the space to suit your brand. It's a little bit of work on your end, but there's nothing quite like photographing in your own space.

Before I say "ok!" to a home session, I'll need to see photos of the space and/or jump on a video call with you to make sure there's enough space and light to create beautiful imagery for you.

Can we shoot at my home?