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Getting ready

Oh, hi! I’m so excited to be photographing you. I created this guide to help prepare for your photoshoot. Feel free to re-visit this page as often as you like.

How do you want to be seen in our all your images? Are your drawn to images that accentuates your body shape, close up portraits, editorial, fine art or fairy tale? Or you haven’t got a clue? It can be very overwhelming to decide on those things, so instead of asking you I’d like you to go to Pinterest and create a private board for you to share with me. If you’re not a Pinterest user, you can quickly create a free account and follow me here and then you can share your board with me or you can just send me your favorite images via email, however I prefer if you can create a board as it is much easier to visualize and have everything at hand during your photoshoot as well.

Once the step above is completed please create a Pinterest board titled “(YOUR NAME) Photoshoot”. It is very important that you name your board with your full name because otherwise I will have hundreds of boards named “My photoshoot” and I won’t know who us who. So please go ahead and start pinning anything that speaks to you and your style.

The purpose of this is NOT to find photos to replicate, but to be inspired and create something for you in the style you love.

Download Makeup Guide

What should I wear?

This is probably the most popular question I get and the answer is simple. Whatever you feel beautiful and sexy! My signature style involve a mix of Fine Art, Fashion, and the effortless chic girl next door, which, lucky for you, involves things you likely already have in your closet. A bodysuit, an oversized sweater, transparent blouses, anything with lace or sequin, cropped sweatshirt, high waist panties, a black dress, flow skirts, a robe, cardigan, blazers, jeans, jumpsuits, party gowns…

During a maternity or boudoir session some clients prefer wearing lingerie and many clients choose to do a nude set during their session. In a 2-4 hour photo session, you will typically have time for up to 5 sometimes 6 “looks” or outfits (yes, “nude” counts as an outfit). Don’t feel the need to run and buy all new things as I have a huge wardrobe with awesome pieces that you can wear. Plus I can do a completely versatile and awesome shoot with a single bodysuit, jeans, t-shirt, scarf, or a sweater. But I know, this could be also an excuse to go get that outfit you’ve been dreaming about! But otherwise, don’t stress about it.

Click here to view an Amazon list with lots of items that photograph well

Take a look at some wardrobe tips to inspire and help you decide what to bring

First and foremost, please do not bring anything that you don’t love. Some women get to their session and tell me they don’t really like the outfits they brought and say “I really don’t like the way I look at this one, but I’ll leave it up to you!”. Darling! It shouldn’t be up to me this should be up to you to decide. Ok, I get that you may need some help and I’m all about dressing you up (and I love it!), inspiring you with ideas on how I think you will look amazing, but please if you don’t like an outfit chances are you are not going to like the photos of you in the outfit, so please leave it at home.

For boudoir and intimate portraits

For women: Lingerie is not an essential item! Especially complete lingerie sets. Don’t be afraid to get creative! For a boudoir-style shoot, a garter belt and thigh-high fishnets would go great with a cropped sweater or t-shirt. A gorgeous bra can be paired with a long flowing skirt. Your favorite tank top can be paired with no pants. This is all about YOU and who you really are. This is not about being someone you aren’t. Also, a piece of fabric like some of the gorgeous real silk pieces I already have in the studio can be used for everything including when you are wearing nothing.

For men: Boudoir for men is also a thing and it is just as empowering for men as it is for women. Also, there’s no need to strip off of your clothes. Boudoir is all about the mood, the celebration of yourself in your most intimate way. You can do the wet white shirt look, slightly unbuttoned, or we can start with the James Bond look with the traditional black tie outfit and undress as we go, as long as you’re comfortable and that’s the look you want.

If you wanted to show some skin and create more intimate portraits, Calvin Klein underwear are known for being used in the most coveted portraits of men and women in the world, so you can’t go wrong with that. For the ultimate Greek / Roman God look, I have some luxurious silk fabric that can be used to drape over your body to create some epic Fine Art portraits.

We can also do steamy and tasteful couple boudoir portraits of you and your loved one.

For beauty portraits, personal branding, and glamour

For women: Structured and/or statement pieces work amazing. Your favorite blazer or jacket, a cocktail dress with an interesting neckline, a transparent top with a bra paired with pants or skirt, or just a bodysuit and jeans. I want you to look and feel like yourself (just like on your best day). If you’re in doubt, just bring your most loved pieces and let me style them for you. You can also send me photos of you wearing your favorite clothes via email or WhatsApp and I can help you to narrow it down.

For men: Structured outfits also look amazing! Your favorite blazer, polo, buttoned shirt, and tailored fit (pants, blazers, shirts, vests, etc) will definitely help bring out the best of you in your photos. A simple plain t-shirt and jeans, turtle neck, and some fitted pants are guaranteed to bring the GQ guy-next-door in you to life.

Don’t forget to fit your form

Women come in all sizes and shapes and there are certain outfits that accentuates our best bits and that’s what you need to look for. I personally love seeing collarbones and shoulders, so off-the-shoulder and sweetheart are my favorite necklines. I also love v-neck and turtle neck styles. Keep in mind that whatever you choose, try to make it more interesting than the basic round neckline. Fitted clothing that shows your shape works best for photographs and even more so when you are pregnant. Outfits should hug your curves, especially along your top half. Big, loose, and flowing skirts are really stunning as long as your bodice or top is snug. Tip: Certain necklines can evoke different moods. An off-the-shoulder top tends to appear vulnerable, while a square neck or high neck denotes power.

Do(s) & Don't(s)

Elegant textures like lace, chiffon, bead-work, sequins, or embroidery add a touch of finesse to your photos. Avoid high-contrast patterns or prints (stripes, flowers, garish contrasts), which are distracting and tend to date. Logos or graphics are definite “don’ts”.

For men, I often find that simplicity is the key to elegance as well. I always recommend men and women to bring an all-black outfit for their photos. Black is timeless and photographs incredibly well on every skin tone.

Monochromatic tones also work really well, light blue with dark blue, grays and blacks, and so on.

And let’s not forget blazers, if you want to look effortlessly elegant, a blazer over any outfit will really transform your casual look to a more dressy style. Scarves add a touch or elegance too if you’re into that.

Very important tips

If you’re doing your own makeup, remember that makeup for fine art styles is very minimal. Renaissance paintings didn’t have women with eyelashes, long varnished nails, and so on. Remember that less is more. I often recommend natural makeup look, just to enhance your natural beauty. So go easy on foundation, mascara, eye shadow, and lipstick. Take the IL MAKIAGE Quiz here to discover what foundation is best for your skin and get the perfect match by answering some simple questions. I did their Quiz and love the foundation I got for my skin. I opted for light, buildable coverage since I dislike heavy makeup on my face.

If you’re doing a mix of styles you can do a slightly more bold makeup look. Remember this shoot is for you, so choose a makeup style that you are happy with. If using fake eyelashes, the natural wisp kind by Ardell is great! View on Amazon.

For lipstick, I always find it handy to have some liquid transparent gloss. They add a healthy touch to the face and are subtle. View on Amazon

Avoid matte lipstick! While they may look cool and fashionable, they make lips appear cracked and unhealthy in photos.

Stores to help you shop

Lingerie

Fine Art Props & Clothes

To Do List

A few days before your shoot is a good idea to start preparing your body. Here I will list a few important things that sometimes go amiss and hopefully, this guide will keep you on track.

  1. Brush your lips: That’s right, it can sound very weird, but dry lips are very hard to fix in post-processing. In the days leading up to your photoshoot please brush your lips while you’re brushing your teeth as this will help to shed any skin. After that, you can use a lip balm to moisturize. Also please floss your teeth to make sure there are no leftovers in between your teeth. Here is the link to one of my favorite lip balms – This is not only great for lips but also other body parts and to add an extra glow on the skin if we need it during a photoshoot as well.
  2. Bring lip gloss or Chapstick: Lip gloss can be worn over colored lipstick and add a healthy and fresh feel to your appearance and look great in photos. Chapstick does the same thing if you’re wearing little to no makeup.
  3. Do laundry: Make sure all your outfits are clean and free from wrinkles. Remove lint, iron or steam if needed. Tighten all bra straps for some extra lift.
  4. Polish your jewels: Wedding rings and other jewelry should sparkle.
  5. Get organized: Group coordinating pieces of each outfit together on the same hanger. Example: Top + Bottom + Underwear + Necklace.
  6. Final touches: 1-2 days prior to your photoshoot, make it an opportunity to pamper yourself and schedule a manicure and pedicure appointment. Nails make a lot of difference in photographs. Dry cuticles and chipped nails are very distracting. You can DIY if you like even if it’s just a trim, cuticle removal, and a coat of clear nail polish.
  7. Hair removal: If you have sensitive skin avoid shaving the day of your shoot, and shave a day or 2 before. Alternatively, to shaving, you can try waxing and or a hair removal cream. Just make sure you remove any unwanted hair because the camera captures a lot of details.
  8. Drink plenty of water: Hydration is very important and you want to have beautiful glowing skin and be as hydrated as possible. If water is not part of your routine try tea or caffeine-free drinks. Add a reminder on your phone.
  9. Bring extra clothes: Bring a few extra outfits you love just in case. We may not even use them, but it doesn’t hurt to have extra options.
    Make a playlist: There is a Bluetooth speaker in the studio and you can connect your phone to it, if you have Amazon Music, you can share your playlist with me and I can have it ready for when you arrive.
    Makeup: If you’re hiring one of our makeup artists, bring a robe, or a loose dress to wear while your hair and makeup are being styled, and avoid anything tight that may leave a mark on your skin like jeans, socks, belts, etc.
    Essentials: Black and nude underwear (bra+panties) are great extra items to bring. They are handy items to have available and go well under most outfits. Seamless panties are great options too. These are not the lingerie for your boudoir shots, though they can be their purpose is to help your main outfit look good.
    Photoshoot day: Have a relaxing shower or bath. You have the option to hire one of our stylists to do your hair and makeup or you can use our guide and DIY if you are comfortable with it. Whether you DIY or our stylist does your hair, you must always wash your hair the day of your photoshoot or the night before, make sure it is free from oils on the roots and freshly cleaned. Wavy hair looks great in photos. Moisturize your skin head to toe with a non-sticky lotion, free from glitter and tanning. Pay extra attention to elbows, knees, knuckles, and feet.
    Trust me: I won’t make you do anything that will make you look bad. I’m a pro, I’ve shot several body types and people with all sorts of insecurities. I got you!
Click here to download and print the "get-ready checklist"

Don’t DO List

Here is a list with the things you should avoid before your photoshoot.

  1. Spray tan before your photoshoot: Also, no tinted lotions or moisturizer or anything that will artificially change the color of your skin. Trust me, even if you can’t see any unevenness with your naked eye, the camera will pick them up and that will not look good. I know that many men and women have been spray tanning for years and it is part of who you are right now and if you really must have a spray tan it is ok, I will still photograph you but just keep in mind that our photoshop retouching does not account for spray tan corrections.
  2. Party the night before of your photoshoot: it’s ok to go for dinner and have a light relaxing night. But please be mindful to not party hard because having a rested night will definitely contribute to you look your best the day of your photoshoot. So instead of going wild, have a spa day, do some yoga and take it easy.
  3. Get drunk the night before of your shoot: Trust me hangovers aren’t sexy. Dehydration from alcohol is real too and I would hate for you to waste your photoshoot not feeling or looking your best. Also, I know that having a glass of wine may be helpful to calm your nerves. So if you’d like to bring a small bottle of white wine / champagne or another alcoholic beverage that won’t stain your teeth if you think that will help you to calm your nerves that’s completely fine. At the studio we only offer non alcoholic refreshments.
  4. Get a new hairstyle or change the color of your hair immediately before your photoshoot: Now it isn’t the time to experiment with a new look.
  5. Forget to stretch: Many of the poses while they look effortlessly, are quite unnatural feeling. Take a few minutes to stretch your body the days leading up to your session especially your arms, neck, legs and your back! It’s not uncommon to have my clients the next day saying that they had no idea they had muscles in places where it never hurt before.
  6. Talk down on yourself: I don’t want to hear how you hate your belly, your hips, your breasts or any part of yourself. I want to hear how you love your legs, your arms, belly, booty, hair and so on. A great attitude will do wonders to your confidence and self esteem. However if there’s anything about your body that bothers your, just send me a message and let me know “I love my _____, but my biggest insecurity is my _____.” I will be extra careful to play down your “flaws” but also challenge myself to take the best image featuring your _____ so you have something else to appreciate more.

Our studio Hair and Makeup artist, wrote this guide to help you prepare for your photoshoot.

Let’s talk about skin prep!

I encourage you to gently wash and exfoliate your face and your lips regularly. I especially recommend you moisturize your face and lips before your photoshoot too. On the day of, I suggest a moisturizer that does not contain SPF because that can cause flashbacks in your photographs. A good lip balm will also help keep your lips comfortable under lipstick.  A well-prepped face will help makeup go on smoother and last longer. (I’m listing some super affordable products that are amazing for all skin types)

Obagi skin wash is super affordable & gentle. It also lasts forever and all the combined items below should all be under $40!

Trader Joe’s – Microdermabrasion facial scrub
Trader Joe’s – Gel moisturizer
Trader Joe’s – Hyaluronic acid moisturizer

Facial Regimen

  • Exfoliate: 2-3 times a week and def the evening before our session
  • Morning and Evening:
    • Step 1. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser
    • Step 2: Moisturize with hyaluronic acid
    • Step 3: Apply the gel moisturizer

Hair

For those getting hairstyling please show up with clean dry hair. This means washing the day before or the morning of the session.

Please note that it’s preferable you use a sulfate/paraben-free shampoo and conditioner. Certain products from the marketplace can add a coating to your hair which can cause it to be weighed down and very drab in photos vs. light and airy.

For those of you who have hair that doesn’t hold curl very well or tends to fall flat:
I strongly suggest a mousse prior to drying your hair. Some people use a root pumper.

Big Sexy Root Pump is amazing. Here is the link to buy on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Sexy-Hair-Resistant-Volumizing-Thickness/dp/B000EMDK38?th=1

Also, for the love of HAIR GODS no top knots after you have washed and blow dried your hair.
Low braids or loose low pony tail will make styling your hair so much easier. You may also put up in a claw-clip.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the studio

info@rmontagnini.com

Amy Frady - HMUA Vanity by Amy
Amy Frady, Hair and Makeup Stylist

Amy is an experienced professional hair and makeup stylist. On top of being a wonderful cheerleader by making you feel special, Amy is extremely talented and knows how to work with all skin tones and types of skin. She is the owner of Vanity by Amy and offers her incredible services to all Roberta Montagnini Portraits clients looking to have great hair and makeup for their photoshoot and beyond.