Your Guide to a Successful Portrait Experience

Preparing Yourself

Clothing: keep it simple. We suggest that you avoid clothes with logos or graphics, as these tend to steal attention away from faces, and faces are where the meaning and emotions live. Here are some good wardrobe suggestions:

  • Mid-range tones and textures are nice. Think knits, denim. Try to avoid lots of black / very dark colors, and white / pastels.

  • When in doubt, bring extra shirts or shoes for us to consider

  • Jewelry is up to you, but again, simple is good.

  • Since we may work on the floor, shorts and skirts can be awkward.

  • Your feet will almost certainly appear in some of the photos, so consider your footwear. Being barefoot is an option. If it rains, or if there's snow on the ground, please carry the shoes you plan to wear for your portraits.

Arriving For Your Sitting

  • Directions: We are located at 3417 Church Street, Evanston IL. You’ll find us at the SE corner of Church Street and East Prairie in Skokie/Evanston, just west of McCormick.

  • Please arrive on time, but do not arrive too early.

  • Come ready to go! We have a dressing room and make-up mirror for last minute touch-ups.

  • If it rains, or if there's snow on the ground, please carry the shoes you plan to wear for your portraits.

Preparing Your Pet

Be sure to take your dog for a brief walk after you arrive, especially if you’ve been in the car for more than a few minutes. Some light exercise is good on the day of the sitting. Here are some helpful guidelines for preparing your furry friend:

  • If you plan to groom or bathe your dog(s), please plan ahead and do it prior to the day of your sitting. Grooming or bathing before the sitting can be too much stress for them all in one day.

  • Ask your groomer not to trim nails at this visit.

  • If your pet has dietary restrictions, bring treats they can eat.

  • When arriving, keep all dogs on leashes, and cats in carriers.

After Your Sitting

  • Once we’ve wrapped up your sitting, we’ll ask you to sign our model release form (this is not required). You’ll have a little free time while we prepare your photos for your design consultation.

  • At your design consultation, you’ll be deciding which photos you love, and then we’ll work together to design personal and meaningful artwork for your home.

  • When we’ve finalized your designs, you’ll be paying for your order and it will go into production right away.