This was the most beautiful UC Davis Arboretum portrait session ever! It’s an absolutely gorgeous pocket of the UC Davis campus. We walked along the river and opportunistically stopped to take photos in front of any flowers or trees we loved!! There are so many beautiful plants and even a mini-forest of redwoods trees along the river bank. There are even open fields just outside of the arboretum. I’m a sucker for photos in open golden fields!
Chiara (the curly haired goddess in these photos!) grew up in Davis, California and her mom works on the campus. It was so fun walking the campus with her – she knew all the good spots! I grew up in Sacramento, CA but the last time I was on campus was in 6th grade on a field trip! We had the absolute best time giggling, snapping photos, and blasting Justin Bieber on repeat.
For this session, Chiara wanted it to feel as casual as she is! So we worked together to make sure her outfit and the poses were a reflection of that! I especially love how the black t-shirt pops against the greenery! Plus the ripped jeans showcased Chiara’s edgy side perfectly. Most importantly, the whole session was super laidback and we had so much fun!!!
Here are a few tips for your portrait session!!
Dress like yourself! Whether that’s your everyday look or your date look or your fancy night out! Be any version of YOU that you want to see in the photos. When you feel like yourself, you’re comfortable and more confident! This will definitely shine through in your photos!
Hair and makeup -Again, whatever makes you feel the best! Whether it’s rocking your natural curls or styling your hair intricately- you do you! In general, I just don’t recommend trying something new for the first time for your portraits. However, this doesn’t apply if that’s specifically what you want or it’s a stylized session!
Music- Ask your photographer if they play music during their session! I always love it because it sets such a fun tone for the shoot!! I always ask my clients to share their favorite genre and artist with me so I can put together a fun playlist beforehand!
Most importantly, book someone who makes you feel super comfortable and is really upbeat!! You want someone who will bring out the best in you!!
UC Davis Arboretum portrait session by Rachel Christopherson
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