Before the image

A portrait doesn't begin on the day of the session. It begins in the days that precede it, with attention paid to yourself, to your clothing, to your state of mind. Here's how I work upstream with each of my clients, and what I ask them to prepare on their side.

Think of my preparation as that of a tailor adjusting a bespoke suit: every detail counts, nothing is left to chance.

Skin & energy

Preparation in advance will be your best ally.

In the days leading up to the session, hydrate your skin well, from the inside and from the outside. A light exfoliation two to three days before is ideal (the day before, there's a risk of small breakouts). Take the opportunity to visit the sauna or hammam, or treat yourself to a good massage if the occasion arises. It isn't a luxury at this stage.

Also remember to take care of your hands: hydration and well-groomed nails, it's a detail that counts for a great deal in portraiture.

The most underestimated, finally: rest. A session demands presence and energy. Good nights beforehand, a quiet evening the day before, and the quality of your images, your concentration and your availability of mind will all be strengthened.

What I need beforehand

A few elements to send me by email before the session. Some will be obvious to you, others less so, but I prefer to insist to avoid unpleasant surprises on the day.

A selfie

Taken facing a window, in diffused light (no direct sunlight). This allows my makeup artist to discover your face beforehand and to arrive with the right materials.

Your outfits

Photos on hangers, clean and pressed. If you show them to me worn, that's a real plus: a garment is better understood on the person. We'll talk about this together according to the register of your session: professional, artistic, boudoir...

Clothing is a language. Ideally plan two to three looks, in well-protected garment bags to avoid creases. One dressed with its shoes, another more casual for example.

Before coming, check that everything is still to your taste. A garment that pulls, a stain that went unnoticed, a piece you no longer feel comfortable in: these are details that can compromise a session, and I speak from experience. Better to think about it with a clear head.

The quality of materials shows in the image, and what is worn will appear all the more so in photographs. Garments containing elastane are particularly concerned: once the fibers are tired, nothing can hide it. Choose pieces in which you feel good, and which are still at their best.

Avoid visible logos and brands: you are the subject, your image takes precedence over that of a label. Same logic for stripes and checks, which create visual interference in the image. Favor plain pieces and discreet prints, in cuts that bring out your best without erasing you.

A garment that truly fits you makes all the difference. It doesn't need to be sophisticated: it simply needs to resemble you and serve your intention.

For actors, every garment is chosen with care, in coherence with what the character must convey. This is exactly how I envision your session: your outfits are an integral component of your portrait. The albedo of fabrics does much to give character to your images.

Your hair

If a cut is needed, this is the moment to plan it. A sincere piece of advice: avoid embarking on a register you haven't yet experienced. I've had delicate situations with sitters arriving with an unpleasant surprise from the hairdresser, and unfortunately that's not something I can fix.

Your accessories

Watch, bracelet, anything that resembles your daily self. These details are often what anchor and personalize a portrait.

Your intentions

The more I know about what you wish to convey, the better I can prepare for it. Don't hesitate to share words, references, nuances. Everything is useful to me.

Your musical preferences

At the studio, we work with music. It's part of the process, and it changes everything for relaxing and entering the right state of mind. Send me the tracks that do you good, that make you want to dance, to smile, to unfold.

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Thank you for sending this information five days in advance at the latest. Preparing your session also requires reflection on my part to adjust its coherence.

The time of the portrait

The session is a suspended moment, outside your daily life, outside urgencies. For a portrait to be true, you need to be able to be there, truly.

I invite you to arrive leaving the rest of the world behind you: phone on silent, mental agenda set aside. I take care of everything else.

My role doesn't stop at technique. What makes a good portrait is connection. That quality of shared presence which allows you to show yourself at your best, naturally. It's the most demanding part of my profession, and the one to which I devote the most attention.

For my part, I set my own concerns aside to offer you a space of trust, complicity and kindness. I simply ask the same of you: let yourself be carried. Trust me.

The most beautiful portraits are always born in relaxation and the pleasure of being there.

The art of portraiture rests above all on generosity. That of a benevolent gaze, of an offered presence, of a mutual disposition to truly meet.

This is what I seek to create at every session, in order to tell who you are, in image.

After the session

Once our appointment is over, the work continues on my side. I need a few days to make the selection and retouches.

During the session, you've already given me your first impressions, that's precious. But certain images only reveal themselves afterwards, and I make sure not to miss them: my selection goes beyond what caught the eye in the moment.

You'll then return to the studio to choose the images that suit you, in all tranquility. The final choice is made during the Reveal Session.

From ten images upwards, you have access to our Reveal Box, a refined case with fine art prints under passe-partout, a magnificent object of presentation in itself. Enlargements are also available according to your wishes.

A piece of advice: entrust us with all your prints. People don't always think of it, but we work with the color profiles of our own files, which makes a real difference to the final result. No one will know better than us what is needed to draw the quintessence from your images.

We also prepare ready to use formats for any purpose: social publications, press...

Looking forward to welcoming you to the studio.

Éléonore