1. Your wedding or engagement ring. This is always first and most prominent in the portrait. Many times women will tell me, the photographer, this is bad side, but I respond with, yes but your ring is on this side. A man will notice that ring in every shot. It is a must. It is a sign of commitment, a sign of being proud to be his spouse. Plus he is probably still making payments on it. This has to be the number one thing on this list.

2. Color coded lingerie. Think in terms of what is his favorite color. Most of our sets are neutral and monochromatic. Any color you can bring with you will work with our sets. Having same colored shoes to match your lingerie, or the fact that jewelry will work with that outfit goes for continuity in over all design of your portrait session and also adds to the fluid stream of the album.

3. Bring an idea in your head of organization. Have your outfits ready to go in separate bag with shoes, jewelry, and clothes. The more organized you are with the outfits, the more time there is to shoot and keep your hair and make up fresh. 3 to 4 outfits should work perfect but if there is a 5th one, with organization, we can get to it. Don't forget to bring props or at least to ask us if we have a particular prop. We have footballs, baseballs and bats, golf clubs, etc. But if your boyfriend played Jai Alai in college, you can believe that we do not have a wicker cesta. 

4. Don't forget to bring heels to your session. Heels can make the session even more sexy. It is a way to elevate the look. It also, makes you feel sexy and the elevation gives your butt a lift. Even if you don't wear them on a regular basis, bring them and you can put them on just for the shooting. If you don't own any, then borrow from a friend.

5. If you are bride to be, bring with you your garter, your bridal shoes, your veil. These are all personal items that can be incorporated into a great all white, high key portrait. Think soft and airy. Add white hose with a garter even though you know it is not part of the wedding ensemble. 

6. Bring something personal of your boyfriend/husband. Imagine black lingerie and single black boxing glove. Or his work shirt. His uniform or favorite tie. His fraternity t shirt or jersey from high school. If it is too big, no worries, we can clip it or roll it. Look for something that identifies with him. 

7. Have an idea of what your budget is coming into this. The best and most popular item is an album. They start at $495 and go up from there. You will be expected to put a down payment for the album of least 1/2. We have other products available but by far, the album is our #1 top product. It is also personalized, so you will have to think what you want to say on the spine. We have a list of suggestions from past clients, but you can come up your own or you can be inspired from our list. One past client wrote on the spine for her husband Juan, " you are my Juan on only" 

8. Bring your personality. Many times girls leave that behind and are just so nervous. Most girls come in with such a fear, 99 percent of the time, it is over within 10 minutes of starting. I always ask them after the first change of clothes, are you still nervous? They never are. It is hard to understand how it happens but with me there, I am so down to earth and if the make artist is doing the hair and make up, we just have a natural way of making you relax. Perhaps it is the fact that we have done hundreds of these sessions and 20 years of experience that makes you feel comfortable. If you can push that fear down, it can expose your personality. 

9. Besides your wedding/engagement ring, bring your favorite jewelry, especially if he has gifted you the piece. Nothing makes the guy more proud of a portrait than to have something that he has given you.

10. Bring your courage and confidence. It ties in with #8 on our list but is so important to the game. A sense of security and confidence in your body will go a long way in the success of your session. Not one girl ever showed up with the perfect body. You have to trust that with our expertise, we can minimize flaws but using lighting, posing, the use of props, and a final solution is photoshop. We like to make you as true as you are but sometimes we need that little bit of help via the fore mentioned means. You can bring to our attention areas that you consider less attractive or would like to minimize that exposure. Rest assured that always take out acne and scars. Without being said. 

I hope that this list is helpful and can benefit your session. Now let's rock this session. I can honestly say, I have never ever heard a client say she wished she would not have done it.