We understand that many people are a little concerned with different aspects of a sitting, such as clothing, makeup etc.

Below is some practical advice that we would like to offer to help in your preparations.

We know that careful planning at an early stage will help us to create portraits of very special value to you.

All subtle colours and greys are good. Black can be effective but rather difficult if made of wool. White can also look good, but care should be taken that it does not appear to be translucent, unless this is the object of the excercise. Red generally photographs well.

Please remember if in any doubt as to what you should wear, to bring extra clothes with you and we will help you decide.

Colours which co-ordinate well with each other are fairly important in a group portrait. This ensures that no one person dominates the pictures because of a clashing colour.

Try to avoid clothing with large worded motifs on the front as these sometimes tend to attract the eye more than the subject does !

Wear something that you know you like yourself in. Preferably long sleeved (unless it is a strapless evening dress or lingerie wear). Blouses, which are semi-translucent, do show the bra through and it is preferable that this is avoided. If such a blouse is worn, a camisole or full slip will look better.

Wear an evening style of makeup (heavier than daytime) as the softening in our portraits tends to diminish fine detail in features. Avoid very pale lipstick which tends to photograph almost white. Most important - wear a translucent loose powder over your makeup - this will set it and avoid any shine which would tend to look like perspiration on the portrait.

We can offer you a full makeup service if you wish, but please bear in mind this needs to be booked ahead of time.

Your hairstyle should be your own. It is a mistake to have a 'new' style specifically for the portrait. Anything new shouyld be tried out before the day of the sitting.

Suits or jackets with long sleeved shirts and ties always looks good. If the portrait is to be informal however, casual shirts with sweaters or cardigans are ideal.

Choose a time for your baby's sitting when he or she will not be hungry or tired.

Heavy knitted outfits tend to look too bulky in a portrait, therefore more delicate clothes should be considered.

Please on no account should you 'warn' your children to behave themselves either before or especially during the sitting. This only puts children under pressure and precludes us from capturing their true personality.

With over 25 years experience in portraying children you may rest assured that we have seen and heard everything from small children!

Most teenagers go through the same phases as their contemporaries and few if any of these attitudes are new to an experienced portraitist.

We suggest that teenagers be allowed to bring clothes of their own choice in addition to those, which their parents prefer them to wear.

Should anyone in your family be particularly worried about any aspect of the sitting or have a particular problem, please let us know in private either at, or preferably before the sitting. There are many techniques we can use to ease or indeed eliminate various problems.

Lastly, most people arrive nervous for the sitting but we pride ourselves, that most leave saying how much they have actually enjoyed themselves.