CLOTHING, COLOR, & STYLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

At Swartz Portraits, we understand the importance of capturing the essence of your senior year with stunning, high-quality images. For those in Chesapeake, VA, and Virginia Beach, VA, seeking exceptional senior photos, we offer a personalized and professional photography experience. Our goal is to ensure that your face remains the focal point of every portrait, allowing your personality and spirit to shine through.

 

We recommend wearing simple, long-sleeved garments in rich, dark tones such as green, brown, rust, burgundy, or blue. These colors not only photograph beautifully against our medium to dark backgrounds but also add a slimming effect, making you look your best. Our experienced photographers take great care to make you feel comfortable and confident, capturing those once-in-a-lifetime moments that you’ll cherish forever.

 

Choose Swartz Portraits for your senior photos in Chesapeake, VA, and Virginia Beach, VA, and let us help you create memories that will last a lifetime. Our expertise in fine art portraiture ensures that every detail is perfect, focusing the viewer’s eye on what truly matters – you.

Because darker clothing is slimming, it often is a good choice for full-length or three-quarter-length portraits in which a medium to dark background is used.

Bold stripes, plaids, checks, and prints are visually confusing and do not photograph well.

Bright colors, such as red and orange, will overwhelm a face and ruin a portrait.

Bare shoulders or tops with "spaghetti straps" often make the subject look heavier and take the eye away from the face.

INFORMAL POSES & SPECIAL STYLES TELL THE WORLD WHO YOU ARE!

Informal portraits invite much more variety in clothing color and style. Girls can choose a favorite casual outfit, dress, prom dress, shorts, jeans outfit -the clothes you really enjoy. Guys can go formal or casual as well: Anything from a suite to the clothes you live in every day, including a school or other jacket. Bring along extra outfits, and we will help you choose!

Black is a good choice for black-and-white portraits or for a dramatic look in color. Seniors who like our "white-on-white" portraits should bring a white or very pale pastel outfit.

HOW TO LOOK YOUR BEST!

Clothing helps to express your personality, and we want you to bring some of your favorite things. We hope these illustrations will help you in selecting clothing for your senior session.

TIPS FOR YOUR SENIOR PORTRAIT EXPERIENCE

Long gone are the days when senior portraits only included girls wearing a black drape and guys wearing a classic tuxedo. Today, senior portraits in Chesapeake, VA, and Virginia Beach, VA, are used to artistically capture a senior’s accomplishments and personality. This occasion only happens once in a high schooler’s career, so it’s important to make it memorable. At Swartz Portraits, we specialize in creating unique, high-quality senior photos that reflect your individuality and achievements, ensuring your senior year is captured perfectly.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

We will first spend some time getting to know you to ensure we capture images that fit your personality or style. We'll discuss your likes and dislikes, what makes you laugh and what moves you. We will talk about your favorite things, your hobbies, your favorite places, etc.

PICKING THE BEST LOCATION

At Swartz Portraits, we believe that your senior photos should reflect your unique personality and style. Together, we will pick the location that best fits the look and feel you want in your final images. As we get to know you, we will be able to narrow down the best locations, whether it’s a picturesque park, a vibrant urban landscape, a sports field, or any place that holds special meaning to you. Our goal is to create memorable senior portraits in Chesapeake, VA, and Virginia Beach, VA, that truly capture who you are.

PREP YOUR "PROPS"

Real life "props" are a great way to help depict your personality and remember the things you enjoyed as a high school senior. Maybe it is your guitar, or baseball bat, ballet shoes or your new car...if it's something that represents who you are today, let's plan on having it as part of your session. Just make sure it is camera-ready!

TEST YOUR HAIR & MAKEUP

If you're getting your hair and/or makeup done professionally, test the look before you have your photos taken. This way you'll avoid unwanted surprises the day of your photoshoot!

Even if you don't normally wear makeup, mascara and concealer are great ways to highlight your natural beauty. At the bare minimum, you should bring chapstick with you to keep your lips hydrated.

It's always a great idea to bring makeup or oil absorbing sheets on hand for some extra touch ups before you get behind the camera.

WHAT TO WEAR

Choose clothing that you feel the best in and that shows off your personality. Bring 4-5 outfits, so we can narrow them down together or mix and match.

Aim for a range of clothing options like casual to formal to create a variety of looks for your photos. Don't forget to incorporate different necklines, textures, and fabrics in your selection. If we're shooting in the fall time, consider layering your outfits! Just keep an eye out for stains or snags on your pieces and wash them accordingly.

For whatever colors you choose to wear, they should complement each other. Incorporating a color scheme for each outfit will give you a put together look with minimal effort. However, make sure your outfits don't upstage you. You're supposed to be the focal point of the images, so your outfits should enhance your looks not take away from them.

Plan your outfits ahead of time to avoid the stress of choosing the night before. Don't forget to actually try the outfits on too, so you can see how the pieces work together. After you're done trying on your clothes, remove the wrinkles and place them on a hanger so they are ready to go!

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ACCESSORIZE

Accessories are a great way to show off your personality! Hats, scarves, jewelry...keep accessories in mind and bring a selection with you. These can also be a great way to add a pop of color and interest to your images.

A FEW MORE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

Pack a comp or hair brush and any necessary make-up for the last minute touch ups. Bring some snacks and a water bottle, and please arrive on time.

We look forward to rocking this session together!

PLANNING FOR YOUR SESSION

HAIR

Don't try a new hairstyle just for your session; have it cut about a week before your appointment.

SKIN PROBLEMS

Don't worry if you develop a skin problem. Our finished portraits are fully retouched to eliminate blemishes and soften hard lines.

TATTOOS

Visible tattoos are part of you, so it's entirely your decision if you want a tattoo to show in your portrait. There is an extra retouching charge to remove a tattoo or piercing.

FACIAL SCARS

If you have a visible scar, please let us know whether you want to have it retouched or softened.

BRACES

Braces can be removed with artwork at an extra charge. However, some dentists are willing to remove braces for your session if you take the time to schedule the procedure.

TANNING

Removing tan or sunburn lines will incur additional retouching charges.

FOR GIRLS

Makeup can affect the way your portrait looks. Fresh, natural makeup as well as "evening" makeup photograph well. Call if you have questions.

FOR GUYS

Retouching or removing facial hair is never a good idea, it incurs extra charges and often facial areas cannot be retouched attractively. So make sure your beard (or lack of it) is exactly the way you want to appear in the photograph.

GLASSES

Problems with glasses can lead to extra retouching charges. We can remove normal glare on glasses, but tinted lenses cannot be lightened - even with artwork. If your glasses are tinted or exceptionally thick, they can distort the way the camera photographs the eye. In this case, you should ask your optometrist for a pair of plain glass frames to wear for your portrait session. If you have any questions regarding your glasses or extra retouching charges for unusual lenses, please contact us.

EXPRESS YOURSELF
& YOUR WORLD!

If you have a hobby, then bring it along! Musical instruments, art supplies, theatrical garb, cheerleading or athletic uniforms, band uniforms, stuffed animals, skateboards, pets, girlfriends, boyfriends, and buddies. Think creatively and you'll have a portrait to remember!

 

CLOSE-UP PORTRAITS

The goal of your yearbook pictures of other head-and-shoulders or close-up poses is to draw the viewer's eye to your face, so choose your clothing carefully for this pose. Select something very simple both in color and style. Guys can choose a suite, sport coat, sweater or shirt. For girls, a plain dress, sweater or blouse with a simple neckline is best. Both guys and girls should wear long sleeves to keep the eye from being drawn to the flesh of the arms.

ENJOY THE FUN OF AN OUTDOOR SESSION

Bring a casual outfit that will blend with natural outdoor settings. Earth tones are an excellent choice. Also, remember that simple styles photograph best. If you have an outdoor hobby or interest—backpacking or jogging, for example—bring your gear. We’ll also be happy to photograph you with your favorite set of wheels!

 

At Swartz Portraits, we specialize in creating stunning outdoor senior photos in Chesapeake, VA, and Virginia Beach, VA. Whether you love the beach, parks, or urban landscapes, we will find the perfect location to capture your unique personality and style. Our goal is to make your outdoor session fun and memorable, ensuring you get beautiful images that reflect who you are.

Q&A

WHAT TIME SHOULD I ARRIVE FOR MY PORTRAIT SESSION?

Arrive 10 minutes early. You'll be more relaxed, and your session can be completed on schedule.

WHAT WILL MY SESSION BE LIKE?

In a word...FUN! You might be a little nervous at first, but not for long. Our friendly atmosphere will have you relaxed in no time!

CAN I BRING A FRIEND TO WATCH?

Of course. If it will help you feel more relaxed, bring a friend or parent along.

WHEN DO I DECIDE WHAT PORTRAITS I WANT TO ORDER?

After you have seen your previews. Don't worry...you'll receive a complete explanation of our preview process and timeline.

WHAT IF MY PARENTS AND I LIKE DIFFERENT POSES?

No problem! We create plenty of poses to please both you and your parents. You can order from as many poses as you want.

CAN I ORDER ADDITIONAL PORTRAITS LATER?

Certainly. But be sure to order plenty of wallets with your initial order to avoid reorder charges.

MORE QUESTIONS?

ASK US
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