Guidance for Male Seniors

We have produced this separate guidance document because many of our male seniors do not come in ahead of time for consultations. Whether or not you choose to do a consultation, here are some things to consider.

1.    Most sessions begin with what we commonly refer to as a dressy head-and-shoulder portrait. Some choose to wear a tuxedo, or coat and tie. If you choose not to do so, we recommend NOT wearing a dress shirt without a jacket or sweater over it unless it is a very soft, dark fabric. The reason for this is a traditional men’s dress shirt shows wrinkles much more than a softer fabric. A good choice is a dark solid sweater (black, navy, etc.) with or without a shirt underneath.

2.    For a second, more casual look, anything that represents the senior’s everyday look is fine. We typically shoot these outfits in a more casual pose, usually at a ¾ length.

3.    A common third look is what we call a theme look. Examples include:

              Musicians- Many seniors bring in Guitars or band instruments. Please check our website under Seniors and Entertainers for some examples. They can be traditional or very dramatic, like often seen on CD covers and music magazines.

              Athletes- Many athletes bring in uniforms or gear. Some choose to do fitness shots in sleeveless shirts, tight t-shits, etc.

              Recreational Sports- Good props for photo sessions also include wakeboards, surfboards, skateboards, and other recreational gear.

Other wardrobe suggestions include uniforms, letter jackets, caps, hats, etc.

4.    Car/Truck Shots- Some male seniors want photographs with their car or truck. Let us know ahead of time if you want to do this. There are some issues that make these shots a little more difficult than they might seem at first. For example, if the entire vehicle is to be in the portrait, it may be necessary for the senior to wear sunglasses due to direct sun light hitting the face. Depending on the time of day it may be difficult to get the entire vehicle in the shade, and it is impossible to photograph people in the sun without problems with squinting. There are some related issues, so just give us a call and we will help design a shot for you.

Do’s and Don’ts

a.     Hair- Parents and seniors should decide ahead of time how they want the hair to look. The photographer will not know whether the desired look is to be neat and combed or a little messy, or how bangs are to look. Be sure to decide ahead of time if a hair cut is appropriate, or if you need to let the hair grow out before the session. Always allow some time between a fresh haircut and a photo session to ensure you are happy with the style of cut.

b.     Shaving- Beard stubble is extremely difficult to retouch, so decide ahead of time if you want a clean-cut look or a little scruffy. If desired, we can do some casual, scruffy shots first, and then shoot some clean-cut shots after shaving.