Preparing for your shoot
CLOTHING
Clothing can make or break a shoot, yes… really! Please spend time thinking about your child’s outfits and bring 3-4 minimum looks to your shoot. Keep it clean and simple.
Tops: Simple t-shirts, no logos, well fitted, a variety of necklines.
Pants: Plain denim, plain leggings, well fitted, variety of colourings.
Tops: The majority of your images will be portraits (from waist up) so the top is the most important part of your outfits. Think about how the items of clothing frame the face, high necks create a striking look with the focus on the face, t-shirt necklines create a laid-back look with no fuss whilst textures and frills create an almost editorial look. Fabrics that always look fantastic can be denims, embroidered details, knits, cotton shirts and anything with a texture for the light to fall on. A blouse or shirt can be a delicate timeless way to frame a face. I would strongly recommend avoiding stripes, logos, wordings and reds. Please also think about how well the top fits your child. Although loose fitting clothing may be fashionable and work with tight jeans, actually a loose top can swamp your childs frame. I suggest making sure you have some slim fitting tops and some slightly looser ones.
Pants: If in doubt, go for denim jeans. Opt for something simple that will show their figure in a clean way. Jeans, leggings, simple pants or shorts will mean the focus stays on the face but shows off their body shape. I suggest going for one dark pair and one lighter coloured pair if you have them. Skirts are always pretty but mean your child can’t sit easily so I tend to steer away from them.
A Jacket: A jacket is an additional bonus if you have one. Jackets can make a child look a little older and so are great for their profiles so they can be booked for some older jobs. I suggest going for a denim jacket (avoid black if you can) and pairing it with a simple t-shirt.
* I cannot always guarantee that there is a steamer or iron available on site, so I highly recommend coming with clothes ready to wear so we can get started immediately.
There are more examples at the bottom of the page for clothing.
HAIR & MAKE-UP
Hair: Clean, soft and without too much product
Make-Up: Minimal, no mascara and a touch of vaseline on the lips
Hair: is really important when it comes to headshots, I’d recommend making sure your child’s hair is clean, brushed and neat for your shoot. For long hair, I’d always suggest starting with their hair down and then progressing into an up-do. Bring more clips than you normally need, extra hair ties and hairspray if you usually use it. For short hair, arrive with the hair styled as you would normally have it and avoid a hair cut the day before. If you require a hair & make-up artist on the day, I can put you in touch with an artist.
Make-up: on children should be minimal or none. Your agents and the casting directors want to see your child, they don’t want to see a heavily made up version of them. Keep it minimal and delicate if you would like to use make-up. You’ll notice most of my headshot images are natural skin, the lighting I use and the way that your images are retouched means that their natural beauty shines through without the need for make-up. Again if you need a make-up artist, please let me know.
Another thing to mention is clean nails. I’d recommend removing any nail varnish before your shoot and making sure nails are clean and tidy.
What to expect:
You’ll notice I work quickly and with lots of energy to ensure I get as much as I can out of the children in a short space of time. In order to do this I like to have a quiet studio so the children really really focus on me. Please refrain from loud music and try to keep quiet whilst I work, it really helps your child. I also usually ask parents to wait out of sight of their child whilst I’m shooting, this can transform the way a child acts and relaxes into a shoot and so forgive me if I ask you to sit to the side. I will ensure you can can always hear the shoot but please try to resist from peaking around the corner as I can miss a shot when your child spots you!
I will be fully booked on the day so please try to arrive on time and no earlier or later. It makes for a smoother transition for the kids if they are fresh to the studio and it's their space to enjoy with me rather than lots of over-lapping children. I also have allowed a little more time than required as I never want the children to feel rushed.
Preparing your child:
I once got asked, 'how can I prepare my child for the shoot?' Every child is different but regardless of their personalities I never want a child to feel pressure to perform, the shoot is about me capturing their personalities and so it has to be a fun experience for all. I'd suggest you make it sound like you think it'll be just a fun thing to do and that you're excited for it, that way the children arrive intrigued and looking forward to it. If they're refusing to wear that top you bought especially for it, then that's not a problem - bring it anyway and I'll see if I can work my magic. I'd rather your child arrive happy in the wrong top than frustrated and in the right top.
I’d also suggest trying to arrive with your children fed and hydrated, this increases the chances of them being full of energy and ready to work with me.
Scroll down to see some recent shoots with great clothing styled by parents
A soft minimalistic sweater adding a touch of light to the shot but without distraction.
I'd suggest pairing a simple look with something a little more interesting. This girl had shots in simple tops and then this one her little bit of "extra" to stand out.
A shot for film, dramatic but still childlike because of the dashes of white in the blouse.
A simple high neck, long sleeve or short, can create a really clean grown-up look.
A buttoned shirt always looks great on a boy. The soft blue compliments his colourings and the jeans show his leg shape well without being too tight
Simple but with a touch of detail. This works over and over again.
Textured knits always add a touch of depth to the shot. Here the soft pastel colouring of the sweater compliments his colouring.
Although not a "normal" headshot look, this girls personality exubes energy and fun. This look was an additional one at the end of the shoot that was something she wanted as a extra shot that showed off her personality. If you have something that is a little "extra" bring it along and if we have time, lets give it a go!
Delicate, interesting but not distracting. This top compliments the shot and the girls body shape without being "too much."
The plain white t shirt paired with jeans is a classic. A classic that works over and over again.
The blue backdrop here brings out this girls eye colour whilst the contrast of the yellow makes it young and bright. Note that the top is plain so it doesn't add a distraction.
Dressing a little one in jeans or leggings means they have the flexibility to move around without having to worry about a skirt or dress rising up. This means they can just enjoy moving without too much direction. I'd ensure one of your looks has something simple like this, jeans and a plain top.