From the Haugen Heart

There are a lot of things to consider when selecting clothing for a professional headshot, whether it is in Salem, Oregon or anywhere else, for that matter.  Here are some of the most frequently asked questions that I get from people scheduling a professional headshot at Haugen's Galleri. Should I dress like myself or dress professionally? I like to think of your professional headshot like going to an interview.  The rule of thumb is to dress up a little more than you might on a day to day basis.  I know that Salem (and all of Oregon, for that matter) is pretty laid back but you want to step it up a notch for your headshot.  If jeans and a t-shirt are the norm for you on a day to day basis, you might consider khakis and a collared shirt for the guys or a nicely tailored blouse and well fitting slacks for the women. This will vary depending on your profession, of course. Even in Oregon, male lawyers always wear a tie! Should I wear patterns or solid colors in headshot...

 

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to clothing for your portrait but planning does make a huge difference. The goal is to have an artful image on your wall. We want the clothing you are wearing to enhance the image, not distract from it. Usually, the goal is to keep the clothing simple so that the attention goes to the faces and the relationship between the people in the portrait, not the eye catching new outfit.   1. A color scheme is the number one thing to consider. Here are ideas:  Dress everyone in one family of colors or two complimentary colors. For example, light to medium blues work well and are easy to find in most closets. Earth tones are another good choice.  Put everyone in white shirts and jeans. It is easy (despite protests about being too "matchy") and works really well at the beach or with light backgrounds.   Swap out the white shirts for black shirts or sweaters. This looks great with a medium to darker background and it...

"What should I bring to my session?" Please bring your children! Seriously, what else do we need? I know what you are really asking. What about clothing, props and things to make them smile. I have lots of things for making them smile and a lot of props but here are ideas for clothing and other things that you might consider bringing to the session Clothing I have a small but growing collection of clothing just for children's portrait sessions: hats, vintage clothing are the focus at this point but I am adding more all the time. Avoid logos and bold graphic designs. Solid colors are best and if this is a sibling or family portrait, color coordination is essential. 0-12 months I have always loved naked babies so for the under one year crowd, I always believe the less clothes, the better! I love seeing their toes, rolls and that skin as soft as velvet. It is nice to have an attractive diaper cover available and it becomes essential once they start walking. I keep a f...