Preparation
When creating personalized art for your home, some planning and forethought are needed to create the feeling that you are trying to convey. Perfectly coordinated clothing further enhances the relationship between family members. It is important to choose only one or two main (theme) colors, with each person wearing identical or similar shades of those colors. A casual portrait is wonderful in whites, khakis or pastels. For a more relaxed look, blue jeans and a soft polo shirt work well together.
In preparation for your portrait session, we have listed a few suggestions that will help you capture that special moment in time:
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Use moderate amounts of hairspray or hair gel. With outdoor portraits on Maui, the wind may blow your hair out of place and you will be unhappy with the results.
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If you are using a hairstylist, make sure you are comfortable with the hairstyle. If you do not like your hair, you will not like your photographs.
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Make-up for outdoor portraits need not be heavy. Use only 10% more of what you would normally wear.
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Use a base or concealer under the eyes to reduce the shadows and bags under the eyes.
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Bare upper arms never photograph well. We recommend that clothing should come at least to the mid-arms and to the knees. This will keep the body looking thin and the focus of attention toward the face.
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Stay away from loud and bold printed clothing. Patterns will draw attention to the clothing and are often distracting.
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Horizontal stripes will make you look bigger; V-neck lines make you look more slender.
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Tired and hungry people usually do not make good subjects.
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Do not bribe the little ones with sugar; let the photographer use his expertise in working with children.
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The most favorable time of day to photograph your family portrait is within 45 minutes prior to sunset for the soft light. If you prefer the deep blue water colors of the ocean, then early morning is recommended.
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For wedding portraits, the ceremony should begin approximately 90 minutes prior to sunset. This is based on an average 15 to 20 minute ceremony. Refer to our Maui Sunset Times chart for year-round sunset schedule.
