How to Prepare for Your Portrait Session

Choose a location and a mood

Start with the feeling you want the photos to have — natural and soft, urban and confident, colorful and creative, or dramatic and cinematic — then pick a setting that fits. The portrait location guides walk through what each San Francisco spot does best, and we'll choose together based on your style and what the photos are for.

Tell me the purpose, too: a personal milestone, your business and profiles, a creative refresh, or simply wanting good photos of yourself. It changes how I plan the pacing and the kinds of frames we prioritize.

Plan outfits and layers

Decide on your outfit a few days ahead so it isn't a morning-of scramble. Because San Francisco is often cool and breezy, bring a backup layer even when the forecast looks warm. The what-to-wear guide covers palettes and location-specific ideas.

Bring the essentials

• Water, and a small snack if it's a longer session.
• A backup layer for wind and cooler temperatures.
• Comfortable shoes for walking, sand, or city blocks.
• A quick wipe for glasses, watches, or phone screens that show in close-ups.
• Anything that tells your story — an instrument, a tool of your trade, a meaningful object — only if it genuinely adds to the photos.

Allow time and check the weather

Build in a buffer for parking and walking to the meeting point so you arrive unhurried — rushing sets a frazzled tone that takes a while to shake. I'll send the exact meeting spot beforehand so there's no guessing on the day.

Check the forecast the day before and dress for temperature and wind. Fog isn't a problem — it's soft, flattering light. If conditions look genuinely bad, we'll talk ahead of time and make a plan together.

Come ready to relax

You don't need to practice poses in the mirror. The most natural portraits come when you stop performing and let me direct — walking, small prompts, resets whenever anything feels stiff. The first few minutes feel a little awkward for almost everyone, and that passes quickly once we get moving.