MELODY SMITH PORTRAIT
How to Prepare for Your Portrait Session at Melody Smith Portrait Studio in Petersburg, VA
What you need to know about planning
for your portrait session with
Melody Smith in Petersburg, VA
While some of the requirements to be photographed by me may seem "over the top" I promise I have your best interest at heart. With over 30 years of photographing clients of all ages I have learned a thing or two about what images stand the test of time and which ones don't. I have also learned about how to better prepare clients so that your images are not overly retouched to the point of being unrecognizable or one dimensional.
I hope by the end of this you will have a better understanding behind my process.
The Style Survey
Before your session you will receive a personalized style survey. This is where we begin getting to know each other creatively. You will share three outfits you wear regularly — not your best outfits, just your everyday ones — so I can understand your natural aesthetic and how you carry yourself. You will also take a blank canvas photo of yourself in something fitted with your hair visible, no filters and minimal makeup. This gives me a clear picture of your proportions so I can begin building looks that are specifically designed for your body.
The Wardrobe Checklist
Along with your survey you will receive a curated wardrobe checklist — a carefully considered list of pieces that work beautifully across almost every session. Think trench coats, wide leg trousers, jumpsuits, maxi dresses, fitted bodysuits, structured blazers and layering pieces. You review the list and tell me what you already own.
The Fit Request
Once I know what you have I will send you a Fit Request — a short questionnaire where you photograph yourself wearing the pieces from your closet that matched the checklist. I review every image and begin building your session looks around what you already own, designing three distinct looks with variety in mood, silhouette and styling. Many pieces can be layered or shot multiple ways to create even more range within your session.
If there are gaps in your wardrobe — pieces that would really elevate your looks — I will send you a personalized shopping link with specific recommendations so you have time to purchase and try things before your session day.
A Note on Color & Aesthetic
My work is highly editorial, moody and intentional. The wardrobe we build together should reflect that. The palette we work with is muted, tonal and monochromatic. Go for warm neutrals, deep earth tones, charcoal, olive, burgundy, cream and black.
Pastels, primary colors and neons are not part of this aesthetic.
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This is about creating images that feel timeless rather than trendy, and that keep the focus entirely on you rather than what you are wearing.
How in the world does
Spray tan/self tanner, sunburn or tan lines affect my photos?
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Can't you just retouch them?
​Let's address self/spray tans.
I have had many women arrive to my studio with a glorious golden glow only to have their tan reflect deep shades of orange, appear patchy and blotchy, and often times tinting the hair line, eyebrows, and more. The key thing to take in mind with this is that what you might see reflecting back to you in the mirror might not reflect the same way when you are being lit well and more importantly, in the camera.
Photoshop is never going to correct for this skin tone no matter
how talented I am.
"But Melody! I will look so PALE!"
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I get it, I LOVE my summer tan. My legs love it too....can you say cellulite camo?
Listen, if you really do want to have a deep golden tone, let's talk. It may require a longer planning stage to ensure that your tanning process does not leave behind redness which often is not easily concealed with make up let alone retouching.
"Ok, ok....so I spend a lot of time in the sun....tan lines?"
One of the most difficult things to retouch for any photographer or professional retoucher is tan lines and sunburn. The truth is, sure...I can edit it...but it is going to look edited or I need to spend a considerable amount of time ensuring it's quality. I am a fan of invisbibe retouching. I would not feel confident giving you something that looked unnatural or unbalanced.
But....how can I help it?
A few things:
ONE: Obviously, sunblock.
Esp. on the neck, shoulders, and chest
TWO: Wear a big hat when in the sun for any length of time
Three: Wear a cover up! Don't expose your chest/neck/shoulders/face at all!
Four: Plan your session for a time when you know you can avoid s
unburn & tan lines
Ok, I get it now. But what about this whole exfoliating/no moisturizer thing?
I promise you, you are going to LOVE this DIY sugar scrub. This scrub will remove dead skin, build up, and any residue left from make up or other products. Having all of this cleared from your face/neck/chest creates a VERY nice and SMOOTH canvas for make up application - particularly make up that we don't want to SEE on
the skin in person. Who doesn't want smooth even skin?
As for the no moisturizer deal....
This has to do with a conflict of interest with my cosmetics and your cosmetics. Not all moisturizers go with all make up products. This is a way for me to ensure that all of the products used on you work together.
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It's not about what you are using,
but more about
how it will mix with my products.
If you have a skincare routine, and want to use your skin care for your session, let's chat and see if it is compatible with my product line in the studio!
Spray Tan, Self Tanner, and Sun Exposure: What You Need to Know
for Your Portrait Session in Petersburg, VA
"My nails?
You can't be serious?
Nothing?"
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No gel,
no acrylic,
no polish.
I am absolutely serious. Listen, I have nails. I never take them off.
It's a whole vibe. I get it.....
However....most people do not know what do do with their hands, how to relax them, or how to pose them.
This is going to require a huge leap of faith....and I hope my explanation
below helps ease your suffering in this insane requirement!
Hear me out.....
I am going to start with the obvious: Color Matching. Look, I don't care what nail salon it is, you ask for a nude polish and every single tech is going to pull a different shade. And, let me tell you...not all nude polishes photograph nude. Many photograph white....yes, white...With thousands of colors to choose from, matching this to multiple colored outfits will prove impossible.
No doubt there will be looks that completely clash with whatever color you selected.
Secondly: Style Matching. Oh my gosh. Have you even seen how many different ways there is to create beautiful works of art on nails? But, I can promise you that there isn't one style that is going to match up perfectly with multiple wardrobe changes as diverse as what you will be photographed in.
"I don't care if my nails don't match every outfit Melody!"
I understand...but let me offer some other perspectives here.
The hands tell the eyes where
to look in a portrait.
Hands tell so much about a person...
if they are relaxed, if they are confident, attentive, even if they are flirting.
You may be someone who has stiff hands & while the polish & tips on your nails may make your hands feel more elongated and feminine in person it will only draw attention to your hands & will also make them appear to be bigger than they really are. With natural, unpolished nails, we can camouflage any awkward fist, claw, or thunderbird hands while keeping the attention right where it should be.
Finally, nails date an image.
While my session are definitely contemporary/fashion forward, a great deal of effort is made to keep the outfits timeless enough that when you and those who love you are viewing your portraits years they only see you.
On a technical note:
nail polish is reflective.
There is no way to avoid seeing my lights brightly reflected in your nails...
& because what is lit comes forward in art, your fingers will in fact
look bigger than what they are.
True Story.
Why Natural Nails are Required
for Your Portrait Session
in Petersburg and Richmond, VA
Why ALL THE FUSS over
how I WASH & DRY my HAIR?
I can give you the best set of curls/waves that you've ever had.
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But in order to achieve that, and ensure it last the entire shoot and even for some, several days, I need a good canvas.
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This starts with a good wash and condition. Take your time the night before and wash your hair TWICE with shampoo and once with conditioner.
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After you have showered, you can allow your hair to air dry up to 75% of the way
BUT:
You MUST blow dry it the rest of the way BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP!
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Wet hair weighs the hair down and also draws moisture from your scalp.
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This can often lead to a bit of oil residue on the scalp that will mix with your hair and you will lose so much volume. Blow drying it out also ensures that there are no kinks or matted down sections from your pillow that wont curl or stay curled.
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Blow drying your hair takes quite a while so if you do arrive with damp or wet hair, your session will be forfeited with no refund. We don't want to waste time blow-drying hair!
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As for adding in products and serums....
Don't. Again, this is about compatibility with my products and my technique.
I will use plenty of heat protectant and serums to style your hair in the studio.
If you have extensions, you need to let me know immediately. I will not be able install extensions for your shoot.
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If you have a specific way you want your hair styled for your session
please let me know!