How to Nail your senior photo session…
Woohoooo!!! You’ve made it! All the hard work has paid off and this exciting chapter is coming to a close. I know adulthood seems enticing but trust me (and your parents) when we say these are the best days and you will miss this!
Senior pictures are an opportunity to capture your essence at this very moment. The person you have grown into and the the person you are becoming. All of your favorite things and unique quirks. Gone are the days of generic, one size fits all photoshoots with stuffy posing and boring outfits.
In 10 or 20 years, you and your loved ones will want to look back at these photos and remember exactly who YOU are and what makes you YOU!
So what speaks to you? Are we eating a messy ice cream cone in the park? Jumping in the water at a peaceful lake in your best evening gown? Skateboarding down the road in your favorite hoodie? Maybe painting a picture in stained overalls in your driveway? The options are endless!
Our number one priority is showcasing who you are in all your unique glory at this very moment in time. Read on for tips and trick on styling, props and themes to make the most of your session :)
What To Wear…
So first thing is first… the MOST important thing you want to do is be yourself.
Do you never wear dresses and generally feel uncomfortable when all gussied up? Then don’t push yourself too far out of your comfort zone.
If you feel uncomfortable, that will 100% translate into your photos so make sure you feel like the best version of YOU in whatever outfits you choose.
Standard Senior Sessions allow for 2-3 outfit changes. Your first outfit should be something casual. Second a little more formal and third will be something that showcases your personality and interests such as a sport, activity or hobby.
Casual Outfit Ideas For Girls:
Jeans and a blouse with sneakers or boots
A casual dress with jacket and sandals
A cute T-shirt and shorts
Casual Outfit Ideas for Guys:
Jeans and a T shirt or sweater with sneakers
Shorts and a polo or open button down
A long sleeve T and jeans
Formal Outfit Ideas for Girls:
A dress and wedges
black slim fit pants and a nice blouse
Darker Jeans with a dressy top
Formal outfit Ideas for Guys:
Button Down with long pants
Sports coat
Crew or V neck sweater with darker jeans
Some important Do’s and Don’ts….
Do:
Wear something comfortable. You should be able to run, walk, sit, stand, lay and twirl in whatever you choose. If you can only stand still and walk in a straight line, we are going to be limited in what kind of photos we can get. This is important to keep in mind when choosing footwear as well. No sky high heels or sandals that give you blisters with every step. What would you wear to a concert? Keep with that same vibe.
Make sure your undergarments are hidden. We don’t want boxers and bra straps hanging out. There is a difference between free and easy and risqué. Let’s keep it classy ;)
Incorporate your personal style. What would you wear to a first date? Or the first day of school? Or a concert with friends? Put your best foot forward and dress up from your usual quarantine couch wear but make sure your personality shines through!
Keep the location in Mind. Is it fall and we are doing your session surrounded by brightly colored leaves? Maybe best to stay away from bright colored clothes or you will look like one of the leaves. Summer and we are going to be amongst the trees? Stay away from red or this will look like a Christmas card. While I want your personality to show, you are the main focus, not your clothes so make sure we can see you past the outfit.
Good rule of thumb when picking pieces is to stay away from patterns and super bright colors. Go for colors that compliment the surroundings or stay completely neutral and let your accessories be the supporting characters.
Accessorize! Think Scarves, hats, delicate jewelry or statement pieces. These kinds of things not only let you show off your personality and give tons of variation to your photos, they give you something to do with your hands which can go a long way to making you feel more comfortable in front of the lens
Don’ts…
If going with patterns, try to keep them small and neutral. Stay away from anything large or “bold”. And colors should compliment each other, not be match matchy.
While graphic tees can be a great way to show our quirky or cool side, I try to stay away from anything with words. Think of how it will look if we can only see a part of the shirt because you are seated or moving around in a photo. Really well known graphics like the Rolling Stone logo work great because they are recognizable without seeing the whole logo. Anything that will get lost in different poses is probably best to leave out.
On this same note, anything with labels or writing should be avoided as a general rule
Stay away from super bright colors unless that is the theme we are going for. Neutrals will allow you to shine through.
Hair/Makeup
Best rule of thumb… keep it simple.
Hair - You want to look and feel like the best version of you, but not overdone.
Keep hair loose and easy. Half up or a loose side braid are great alternatives to a tight and slick updo. Down, clean, easy and carefree are best.
For Guys, avoid using too much gel or hairspray so hair doesn’t look wet.
Makeup - Try to stay away from “trends” or anything too eye catching. concealer, blush, bronzer and mascara or lashes are best. Maybe switch up the lip color for some variation. No crazy highlighter or sparkly eyeshadow as these can transfer to other parts of the face and enhance texture on skin.
Also make sure foundation matches neck or bring it down to avoid discoloration lines.
Props/Themes
Sky is the limit here. The beauty of incorporating props and themes is it gives you something to do and focus on during your session. This can go a long way in making you feel more comfortable and getting you out of your head. It also helps bring your personality into your session and make the whole thing more memorable and fun!
Some cool ideas?
Pets! Bring our dog or bearded dragon! Just make sure you have someone there that can help.
Food. Ice cream, macaroons, tacos, cheeseburgers, pizza… whatever floats your boat!
You love to read? bring some favorite books. Paint? bring a canvas and some paints and let’s get messy! Remember, this is about YOU.
Instruments. If you play anything, for school or not, we can absolutely incorporate into your session! Show off those skills and let’s have fun with it.
Have Fun!!!
The most important thing to remember is to feel confident and comfortable. We can jump on a call to talk all about your ideas and vision and I will help bring it to life!
Questions about outfit ideas? Text me pictures! I want these photos to turn out perfect so I am happy to with in and let you know what will photograph best!
