Xochitl Coronado Photography

What to wear

Wear what you feel good in!  Your personality is often represented with what you wear, for this reason, you do not need to match with everyone being photographed.  Solid colored clothing is best, but patterns can be really fun too; stripes, plaid, dots, flowers, etc…  Stay away from graphic t’s, bold letters and cartoons and characters because they’ll distract from the subject (you!).  For women, tops that cover the upper arms are very flattering, if you feel self conscious about a certain part of your body, wear something that flatters that, and let me know so I can keep that in mind when I’m photographing you.  Above all, have fun picking a wardrobe!   Below are just some ideas for choosing color palette.  

Other info:

Hair – If you’re getting a hair cut for your shoot, do so about two weeks beforehand, just in case you’re not crazy about the cut. For men, a fresh cut a couple of days before the shoot is fine. Bring bobby pins, hair clips, headbands or any other favorite accessories in case it gets windy and you want to put your hair up.

Glasses – If folks wouldn’t recognize you without glasses, you want to wear glasses in your shoot –

Red eyes – Visine is your friend, especially if you’re allergy prone or for an after-swim photo shoot.

Lips – You will probably wipe or lick your lips during your shoot, so bring fresh lip gloss or lipstick to do touch-up.

Make-up – A subtle application of make-up can really soften your skin and accent your facial features. Blemishes can be edited out.

Undergarments –Bring a set of bras and strap-adjusting accessories to work with any outfit you want to shoot in to keep those straps well-hidden.

Sun burns and tan lines – Avoid tanning a week or so before your photo shoot.

MATERNITY

Gather your props to bring along – ultrasound printout, alphabet blocks that spell your baby’s name, baby shoes, stuffed animals, flowers, whatever you’ve seen in other maternity photos that you like.

Wear whatever you feel comfortable and pretty in – long, flowy skirts, especially solids are nice. Tube dresses are great for showing off your shape. Bring a pair of regular jeans, not the belly panel ones. A button-up shirt also makes it easy to transition into showing your belly.

If you’re doing semi-nude/implied nude photos, bras and underwear will create noticable lines on your skin, so wear loose-fitting clothing to the shoot. You can add undergarments as necessary for photos later in the shoot.

Do bring your significant other! They’ll make a great prop for your photos, and greatly expand on the number of different photos you can make during your shoot.

NEWBORNS AND BABIES

Use a wash cloth to clean away flaky skin and eye boogers.

If your baby has flaky skin, cradle cap, or eczema, Aquafor works well.

Trim those tiny fingernails and toenails.

Book your shoot around your baby’s feeding and nap times, work with the natural rhythm of your baby. The perfect time to shoot is right when the baby would be laying down for a nap. If your baby normally falls asleep after a feeding, wait to feed the baby until you’re at the shoot. Baby photographers allot plenty of time for this sort of thing to set up the best situation for great photos.

Nothing is the best wardrobe for a newborn – no outfit fits a newborn well, and they often look swallowed in clothes. Accessories are good, though – little hats, dainty headbands, boys in crocheted hats, etc. Bring sentimental items like the quilt that Grandma made for the baby, a baby blanket from your own childhood – they’re great for the youngster to lay on.

If your baby takes a pacifier, bring it – if they’re bottle fed, bring an extra bottle to help put the baby to sleep.

CHILDREN

Clean, clean, clean – clean nails, clean hair, wipe away eye boogers, clean feet (sandals on kids = black feet!), wipe snotty noses, fresh-scrub teeth. The cleaner the kid, the better their photos will turn out.

If your child is still in diapers or pull-ups, tuck’em in or wear bloomers.

If your child is still of napping age, make sure they nap before the shoot.

It is perfectly okay to bring bribes to a photo shoot – given a stage and being the center of attention, it’s like our kids know exactly when to act their worst. Some cereal, or treats that won’t stain teeth can help a short photo shoot go by smoothly.

Avoid colorful drinks or lollypops within 24 hours of your shoot, don’t let them eat or drink anything that will stain their face, teeth or mouths.

Wardrobe – For girls, you can’t go wrong with cute dresses, rompers, and dainty hats or headbands. For boys, jeans and polos or a button-up shirt, or a T-shirt with a button-up over it can be very cute, as well as overalls on the right age and personality.

For siblings, the children don’t have to match perfectly, just coordinate. You can’t go wrong with dark, rich monotones, which drive the attention in photos to sweet faces and darling expressions instead of loud prints or colors. If nothing else, pick a color that compliments your child’s eye color.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

The biggest tips for seniors are to have an even tan, don’t get sunburned, clean and freshly-paint those nails, and go easy on the makeup.

Bring a variety of outfits – cap and gown, something casual, something stylish. Wear what you think you look best in, but take the opportunity to also try a new look, just to surprise folks.

Bring props that recall your high school years – band instrument, sports gear like a volleyball or baseball bat, your beloved (or cursed) high school car, letter jacket, sunglasses. Most of all, represent your style, whatever that may be. Your senior photo should be unique to your life and personality.