style guide-bri costello photography

S E S S I O N G U I D E For Portraits and Engagements

TABLE OF CONTENTS

i. when to book

ii. about the session

iii. location, location, location

iv. what to wear

v. faq

W H E N T O B O O K

Many factors play a role in the look ,

feel and general aesthetic of your

photos, but one of the most

mitigating factors will be the time of

year you decide to shoot. In the park

pictured to the left, for example, in

the top photo we shot in fallwhich

created rich, amber and neutral

tones. I went back in the spring to

shoot the photo on the bottom, and

just look at the difference! If you

have the luxury of shooting

anytime of the year, consider your

aesthetic and what environment you

feel most comfortable in.

For a city, you may want to book in

spring where you can rock a summer

dress or dapper draps for the boys. If

you are going for a session with

layers, color, and coziness, cooler

weather and a winter session will

allow you to achieve this vibe without

toasting in the summer heat. For a

light, fun feelsummer may be your

season. Or perhaps a campfire

session on the beach during the fall

where you can bundle in cool

colored, oversized sweaters speaks to

you.

The best light to shoot in is definitely

30 minutes after the sun comes up (I

knowI am not a morning person,

either!) or 1-2 hrs before the sun goes

down, depending on how long your

session will be. Light is the softest at

these hours and adds that gorgeous

golden tone to photos that we all

love. I am available to book evening

sessions on weekends, and I can do

morning sessions any morning

throughout the week or on the

weekend. The best thing about a

weekday morning session is that

streets tend to be less filled with

clutter and noise, parks have less

people, and sometimesjust

sometimesyou catch that

mysterious morning haze that adds

an undeniably zip to your images!

A note on booking. Photos tend to

take 2-4 weeks for processing, so if

you are wanting images for a Save

the Date, or engagement

announcement, senior picture

announcements, etc., be sure to

work back from the date you need

you images to ensure you book your

session with enough time to get

images back and still make your

deadlines. Any questions on this, or

last minute issues, always feel free to

contact me directly at

bri@bricostello.com.

A B O U T THE

S E S S I O N

The goal of our session is always to

capture you: where you are in life,

how you are, and what excites you.

Portrait sessions are a rare opportunity

to really capture your creativity,

expression, and individuality.

We aim to have a natural, yet stylish

and curated session that evokes the

beauty in each of us by creating a

comfortable and free environment.

For the most part, I will prompt you, or

you and yours, to act naturally. I may

position you here and there, or have

you try certain techniques and tricks,

but the goal is that when you strike

that golden laugh, that it is 100%

genuine.

If we are shooting outside, the goal

will be to use the natural light from

our surroundings. If shooting indoors,

we will be working with the window

light, and perhaps some lighting tricks

I bring along,

Depending on the portrait package

you book, I tend to like to plan for a

few different looks or feels. Think

about the different aspects of your

life or your relationship and develop

shoots that embody those moods.

Pick a spunky outfit and location that

helps you to show your playful side.

Another look could be soft colors in a

field to show the sweet or tender side

of you or your relationship. But you

get the pointcreate looks that

match your environment and fit your

personality. If we are changing

locations, be sure you have thought

through how and when you will

change. Travel time and setup is also

included in your session time, so try

not to get too intense with your

moves.

For wedding couples, an

engagement shoot is the perfect way

for you and I to get to know each

other! We can practice before the

wedding and figure out your style of

shooting before the big day. If there

is any feedback you have for me

after our shoot, always feel free to let

me know.

L O C A The best location will most certainly be

the spot that makes you feel most

comfortable and most in your element.

A good location will also be a clean

backdrop, not overly distinguishable.

You want to be the center of your

photos, not the statue of Sam Houston.

Also, consider the colors and texture of

your environment. Be on the lookout

for hidden roads, farm field, cool

hallways. You can even typically coax

a coffee shop in to letting us shoot in

their shop. Make a list of the things you

like to do, and think of places that

speak to that. If you love to play the

guitar, where do you play? If you go to

the same Farmers Market every

Saturday, set up your shoot then. Or if

you collect stamps or records, perhaps

hitting up a collectors shop or record

store could be up your alley. Speaking

of alliesthey can also be great little

hidden spots to set up a shoot. If you

tend to have a more modern vibe, find

a clean city street that has modern

storefronts. Ask a furniture store or art

gallery if you could shoot in their space.

T I O N Industrial spaces or old buildings can

sometimes have a lot of red tape to

shooting on site, but they are also

sometimes the most hidden gems.

Bookstores, libraries, or a study could be

a great location for a bookworm. Or

hit the pavement on your bikes and

lets find some magical trails. Love

riding in your vintage convertible?

Well heyso would I. Lets make it

happen!

I am pretty much always on the lookout

for the next great place to shoot, so if

you are needing some help

brainstorming, definitely just let me

know and we can start the brewing of

some ideas that you love and represent

you!

A final note to consider with your

location would be the accessibility and

liability of a space. Some locations

may require entrance fees, or may not

allow any professional shoots at all, so if

anyone owns the property you have in

mind, it may be a good idea just to

check with the owners and get a

confirmation that we will be okay to

shoot there in advance.

W H A T TO W E A R

To begin, as with every other aspect of

photography and planning your shoot,

you want to maintain a style that is true

to you. Now, that isnt to say that you

cant have some fun and push the

boundaries a bit to create images that

will pop and highlight you in a way that

may not include the baseball cap that

you wear every day! My most basic

advice is to coordinate, and NOT

match. Coordinating means colors that

are in the same tonal pattern; however,

this can be a bit deceptive, as the right

orange and green really can work

together! On the opposite page, the

couple is wearing bright blue and pink.

Given the playful backdrop of the Ferris

Wheel and fair, their colors pop and

mesh with the environment, while still

highlighting them. In a green, wooded

forest, creams, oranges and reds come

across beautifully. Caution colors are

shades of teal and coral. They

definitely can work, but it will likely be

with contrasting deep, bold or cool

crme colors.

Additionally, adding a fun accessory to

your wardrobe can also add that extra

ZING! Fun colored sunglasses, a special

lacey blouse, bright patent-leather

shoes, or suspenders all add to your

outfit and transform your look from daily

wear to magazine-ready.

When plotting your outfit choices, keep

in mind the weather and shooting

conditions. If there is a chance of rain,

bring along your mud boots and a cute

umbrella. If you are wearing those killer

heels, but we are walking from location-

to-location, pack and extra pair of flats

to get around.

For the boys, a standard shirt that you

like is a good start, but think of a way to

make it a little more than everyday.

Add a hat or suspenders. Maybe a

vest, or a tie with some pop. Roll up

your sleeves for a more casual look, or

add some colorful socks!

When putting multiple outfits together,

you will want to look like you are both

going to the same party. Try to avoid

one being in a long, formal dress and

the o