Huntsville gazette., 1893-11-25
THE PERFECT PHOTOGRAPHS.
What to Do and What Not to DO to Get
Speaking Likeness.

THE PERFECT PHOIOGRAFn.
What to Do and What Not to Do to Get q
Speaking Likeness.
Here are some points for the woman
who proposes to have her own, or her
husbands or her children's picture
taken. They are the utterances OF one
who speaks with authority, photog-
rapher. And this is what he says:
BE adaptable Resign yourself with
as complete confidence in the artist
photographer as you would to the
artist-painter, and the result will be
entirely satisfactory. Disabuse your
mind of the idea that poses and express
sions which look well as practiced be-
fore your mirror will photograph well.
Before the camera they will generally
produce contorted features, distorted
bodies and monstrosities of hands Do
nothing; forget that you want to look
well and you will succeed in looking
natural
AS to your dress, any material that
falls in graceful lines is desirable.
Light colors are preferable. For soft
and dainty effects nothing is so beauti-
full as transparent materials such as
tulles, laces, nets Black silk can be
worn to advantage, and black tulle
and lace take beautifully. Woolen
goods define the figure best, being less
lab to wrinkle and crease than silk
or satin. Open work embroideries in
collars and cuffs produce exceedingly
fine effects. particularly in pictures OF
the Rembrandt style. Dark green and
red are the desire of the artist; large
plaids suggest comic pictures. Velvet,
plush and jet do not photograph well.
Close bands about the throat are to be
avoided; allow it to be free. The slen-
der woman may have perfect confidence
in the Rembrandt shading to produce
roundness of outline Rembrandt, as
you know, painted the broad side of the
face in shadow and the narrow side in
high light, with the result of a start
ling life-likeness in his portraits never
excelled. The woman who is thin
should drape neck and arms in delicate
gauze or lace, and half concealing, half
revealing, make herself doubly attrac-
tive.
of light-colored hues. Your boys
charming black or green velvet suit
will be Photographic failure. There
is nothing SO befitting boy in pic,
ture as simplicity. Never ask the artist
to make full-length picture of boy
in knickerbockers Boys feet are pro-
verbally large and loom up immensely
aff fn Ir- of 81 a
clad from ankle to knee in stockings
Girls need accessories and striking eff
fects-and, besides, are more graceful
than boys, Baby, OF course, must wear
white, with no lack of rufties and lace
to add to his charm. Mems clothing
should invaria bly, be dark
Don't tell the photographer that you
are the worst subject in the world to
photograph and never had a successful
picture. 1t is a stilted remark, result
ing from species of egotism which
simply means that no camera has ever
yet succeeded in producing the beauties
that you see in yourself.
Don't practice expression and SO sue
ceed in Disgusting yourself
Don't tell baby that birds and mon
keys will jump out of the side of the
gallery to amuse him His disappoint-
ment will make him cross.
Don't bring the entire family along
to keep the child in good humor. The
artist can do that much more easily,
and the baby is less likely to become
nervous.
Don't bring a friend along to pose
you. Trust to professional rather than
amateur skill.
Don't, if you are an amateur try to
instruct an artist of thirty years eXpe-
rience how to make successful photo
graph.
Don't grow angry if you can not
break the business rules of the studio
because you do not think they are
good. Louis Post-Dispatch.