Having your photos taken can be a little nerve-wracking, most of us hate the thought of having to pose for a camera! Like with anything in life how you come across depends on how confident you're feeling. And the key to confidence is preparation. So if you're a man looking to update your professional images it doesn't hurt to seek some help from a men's personal stylist to support you and help you feel prepared come shoot day. Considering the cost to hire a studio and photography fees, it's worth having peace of mind that you'll get it right first time and walk away happy with the results!
Luke W had the right idea - as he was looking to have some professional photos taken he knew it would be worth getting a mens stylist and mens personal shopper on board. Luke mentioned he wanted a career change and new business - so it made sense to have some modern looks put together by an expert eye, and images ready for his business launch.
Wearing complimentary colours and prints will make your face 'come to life'
I could see from the photos Luke showed me of his wardrobe that he would really benefit from having a few more pieces which reflected more of his personality and flattered his body shape a bit more. Luke is young, has a fun sense of humour and sophisticated - so it was important for this to be reflected in the styling. He's also quite built from his rugby days so finding the right fit in tailoring options was as important. He told me how much he disliked shopping because of the difficulty in finding the perfect fit so some store research prior to shopping was key.
I also sent Luke some notes on how to prepare for a photo shoot, including grooming advice. He followed all the advice so Luke's skin on the day of shoot was completely natural (he did not have to hire a groomer) due to his excellent skin care regimen starting the week before. I also recommended a trusted hair stylist who I knew would do a great job and make Luke feel pampered on the day of the shoot (a salon which offered complimentary cocktails didn't hurt!). I think the pampering paid off, Luke looked so at ease and confident in every look.
Smart casual looks show off more of Luke's personality
I also attended at the shoot to make sure the clothes were taken care of, putting the looks together so it was organised and we made most of studio time. As the studio was booked for half day Luke had a great idea to shoot professional as well as smart casual looks to really make the most of the session and show off the different sides to his personality.
Designers we used include Paul Smith for some subtle fashion prints and Peter Werth for more sporty heritage looks - he looks fab!
That's a wrap!
"I spoke to a number of stylists before picking Marika. She spent time and effort narrowing down exactly what I needed instead of simply wall papering me with her own agenda. It clearly paid dividends on the day, over delivering on my initial brief while being under budget. I was looking for no nonsense expertise and I got it, Marika's sweet and personable nature making her easy to spend the day with was just a bonus. I don't think there is more efficient and effective way to refresh your wardrobe".
Luke W, June 2016
If you're in business and would like to update your look, perhaps you would like to know more about the services of a personal fashion stylist? For more information please visit http://www.marikapage.com/personalstyling/ or contact me using the booking form.
Images by David Locke