Preparing for your shoot - The Gold Package
The Gold package is about headshots and then also building a portfolio of images on top. We want to show off your childs personality, get creative and finish the shoot with a beautiful range of styles and variation. Clothing is so important for this so please feel free to ask Tilly any questions if you’re not sure. There is also an option to hire a wardrobe stylist starting at $600 so please let us know if you’d like us to check a wardrobe stylists availability for you.
CLOTHING
Lets start with headshots - Keep it clean and simple.
We need something young, light and colourful for commercial style headshots and we need something dark, rich and older looking for film and tv style headshots.
Tops: Simple t-shirts, no logos, well fitted, a variety of necklines.
Pants: Plain denim, plain leggings, well fitted, variety of colourings.
Tops: Headshots will be portraits (from waist up) so the top is the most important part of your outfits. Think about how the items of clothing frame the face, high necks create a striking look with the focus on the face, t-shirt necklines create a laid-back look with no fuss whilst textures and frills create an almost editorial look. Fabrics that always look fantastic can be denims, embroidered details, knits, cotton shirts and anything with a texture for the light to fall on. A blouse or shirt can be a delicate timeless way to frame a face. I would strongly recommend avoiding stripes, logos, wordings and reds. Please also think about how well the top fits your child. Although loose fitting clothing may be fashionable and work with tight jeans, actually a loose top can swamp your childs frame. I suggest making sure you have some slim fitting tops and some slightly looser ones.
Pants: If in doubt, go for denim jeans. Opt for something simple that will show their figure in a clean way. Jeans, leggings, simple pants or shorts will mean the focus stays on the face but shows off their body shape. I suggest going for one dark pair and one lighter coloured pair if you have them. Skirts are always pretty but mean your child can’t sit easily so I tend to steer away from them.
A Jacket: A jacket is an additional bonus if you have one. Jackets can make a child look a little older and so are great for their profiles so they can be booked for some older jobs. I suggest going for a denim jacket (avoid black if you can) and pairing it with a simple t-shirt.
* I cannot always guarantee that there is a steamer or iron available on site, so I highly recommend coming with clothes ready to wear so we can get started immediately.
There are more examples at the bottom of the page for clothing.
Now for more Lifestyle/ Modelling looks - Full length and something a little more curated
First Think Zara Kids, H&M Kids, Target. Simple quite classic commercial kids fashion looks with colour and layers.
Then think outside the box. Go for something a little more creative.
Usually we’ll start with these against a white backdrop. In these an agent is looking at how your child holds their body in front of the camera. We’re looking for movement and that sparkle of confidence and joy. I’d start by going on the Zara Kids and H&M kids websites and seeing what they’re currently showing. The outfits don’t need to be crazy, we just need simple looks that show off body shape and don’t distract too much from the face. Below you can see how simple pairing of denims and colours create a very commercial and lifestyle look.
Once you’ve ticked off the more simple lifestyle looks, go bolder. Go for the bigger shapes, the jacket, the bit of personality. We can mix up the hair style, add an oversized shirt and maybe some sunglasses. Think of this as a fashion shoot. Fashion stylists always add extra pieces and props and cool socks to the look and it elevates it from the lifestyle more simple looks I mentioned above. We can add a coloured backdrop and play with the mood and look of the image. For this part of the shoot I’d encourage you to just bring lots of options and then we can piece them together. It’s fun for the kids to play and feel like we’re creating something collaboratively.
HAIR & MAKE-UP
Wow well done, you’ve made it this far!
What to expect from your shoot;
You’ll notice I work quickly and with lots of energy to ensure I get as much as I can out of the children in a short space of time. In order to do this I like to have a quiet studio so the children really really focus on me. Please refrain from loud music and try to keep quiet whilst I work, it really helps your child. I also usually ask parents to wait out of sight of their child whilst I’m shooting, this can transform the way a child acts and relaxes into a shoot and so forgive me if I ask you to sit to the side. I will ensure you can can always hear the shoot but please try to resist from peaking around the corner as I can miss a shot when your child spots you!
I will be fully booked on the day so please try to arrive on time and no earlier or later. It makes for a smoother transition for the kids if they are fresh to the studio and it's their space to enjoy with me rather than lots of over-lapping children. I also have allowed a little more time than required as I never want the children to feel rushed.
Bring lots of options for clothing, bring a snack, bring some water. Bring anything you think you’ll need!
Preparing your child:
I once got asked, 'how can I prepare my child for the shoot?' Every child is different but regardless of their personalities I never want a child to feel pressure to perform, the shoot is about me capturing their personalities and so it has to be a fun experience for all. I'd suggest you make it sound like you think it'll be just a fun thing to do and that you're excited for it, that way the children arrive intrigued and looking forward to it. If they're refusing to wear that top you bought especially for it, then that's not a problem - bring it anyway and I'll see if I can work my magic. I'd rather your child arrive happy in the wrong top than frustrated and in the right top.
I’d also suggest trying to arrive with your children fed and hydrated, this increases the chances of them being full of energy and ready to work with me.
Scroll down to see some recent shoots with great clothing styled by parents
Start with hair clean, soft and without too much product. Start with minimal, no mascara and a touch of vaseline on the lips
Progress to something young a fresh like a half up, half down look
Then end with something totally different
This also applies for boys or people with shorter hair.
Hair: I’d recommend making sure your child’s hair is clean, brushed and neat for your shoot. For long hair, I’d always suggest starting with their hair down with a bit of shape and then progressing into an up-do. Bring more clips than you normally need, extra hair ties and hairspray if you usually use it. For short hair, arrive with the hair styled as you would normally have it and avoid a hair cut the day before. If you require a hair & make-up artist on the day, I can put you in touch with an artist.
For headshots we want that clean fresh look, we want the young look and the more serious grown up look.
For the lifestyle/ modelling shots we want something a little different, a little more styled and perhaps a little more playful.
Make-up: I’d always suggest that make up on children should be minimal or none. Your agents and the casting directors want to see your child, they don’t want to see a heavily made up version of them. Keep it minimal and delicate if you would like to use make-up. You’ll notice most of my headshot images are natural skin, the lighting I use and the way that your images are retouched means that their natural beauty shines through without the need for make-up. Again if you need a make-up artist, please let me know.
For headshots go minimal with a touch of vaseline.
For the lifestyle/ modelling shots we could play with a touch more make up if your child is a teen.
Another thing to mention is clean nails. I’d recommend removing any nail varnish before your shoot and making sure nails are clean and tidy.
A soft minimalistic sweater adding a touch of light to the shot but without distraction.
I'd suggest pairing a simple look with something a little more interesting. This girl had shots in simple tops and then this one her little bit of "extra" to stand out.
A simple white top and jeans with styled hair means we could use this look in multiple ways. It would work for a clean headshot and then also for the more lifestyle fashion look when shot with more body and from a cool angle.
A simple very Zara Kids styled look. Adding the hat and choosing jeans with some cool detail works so so well for that lifestyle modelling look.
A shot for film, dramatic but still childlike because of the dashes of white in the blouse.
A simple lifestyle modelling image. The striped shirt adds a pop of creativity paired with the little clips in her hair.
A simple high neck, long sleeve or short, can create a really clean grown-up look.
A buttoned shirt always looks great on a boy. The soft blue compliments his colourings and the jeans show his leg shape well without being too tight
Simple outfit but that extra layer of the jacket gives this teen a cool older look and really leans into the teen fashion side of things.
The blue backdrop here brings out this girls eye colour whilst the contrast of the yellow makes it young and bright. Note that the top is plain so it doesn't add a distraction.
A modelling lifestyle image. A simple figure hugging base with an oversized shirt gives us that editorial feel. That paired with the hair in a bun makes it look like something out of a commercial campaign.
Although these are sweatpants and a top, by having them in the same bold colour means we can make it look like an advert. Paired with creative lighting and wind in her hair, this became such a strong look.
Something totally different with a cool hair up look gives this teen a completely different look to her headshots.
Simple but with a touch of detail. This works over and over again.
Textured knits always add a touch of depth to the shot. Here the soft pastel colouring of the sweater compliments his colouring.
Although not a "normal" headshot look, this girls personality exubes energy and fun. This look was an additional one at the end of the shoot that was something she wanted as a extra shot that showed off her personality. If you have something that is a little "extra" bring it along and if we have time, lets give it a go!
Another 2 piece with bold shoes. Something bright and different.
Delicate, interesting but not distracting. This top compliments the shot and the girls body shape without being "too much."
Pairing patterns we'd never normally think of makes it more editorial. Go bold and look at how the colours compliment eachother but the patterns clash.
The plain white t shirt paired with jeans is a classic. A classic that works over and over again.
Simple pairing of clothing colours to a mobility aid makes it look like a complete styled shoot. Look at colours that your child has already and add to them.
Simple colourful lifestyle look that again ties into her prosthetic.
Dressing a little one in jeans or leggings means they have the flexibility to move around without having to worry about a skirt or dress rising up. This means they can just enjoy moving without too much direction. I'd ensure one of your looks has something simple like this, jeans and a plain top.
Simple denim outfit with a touch of detail from the blouse. An easy way to curate a lifestyle/ modelling look.