How to Plan for your Session
Congratulations for reaching your senior year of High School! This is a huge milestone in your life - very exciting time! Thank you for trusting me to work with you to document and preserve this special time.
I know planning for your photo session can be very overwhelming. It's completely normal. However, proper preparation will calm nerves and make for a smooth and successful session. Please read the information below and let me know if you have any questions at all. I'm here to help so please reach out to me. I'm looking forward to our shoot.
Suggestions to consider -
Plan Outfits in their Entirety. This means every look should be styled head to toe including the proper shoes, undergarments, and jewelry/props.
Pick Outfits from Clothing You Know and Love. Senior pictures should be a true representation of your personality. There is no need to buy a whole new wardrobe.
Play with Layers. A denim jacket, blazer, or open button down shirt can help pull a look together. A well-fitting outer layer can enhance your body’s silhouette and photograph nicely.
Pick Simple Necklines. Simple neck lies elongate the neck drawing attention to the face that is very flattering in photos.
Plan Ahead with Hair. Everybody’s hair is different, but most haircuts look their best 1 to 2 weeks after the initial cut. If guys aren’t going for the scruffy look (which can photograph nicely), guys should shave the day of the shoot, but be careful with nicks.
Take Care of your Hands. Hands show up in a lot of poses, so ensure your hands and nails are groomed prior to the session.
Be Mindful of Your Shoes. Shoes, like hands, can show up in some of your favorite poses. Make sure to not only have the appropriate footwear per outfit, but also that shoes are clean and socks match (for the guys). Some shoes look best without socks.
Play with Solid Colors and Textures. Natural, solid colors like blue, greens, grays, as well as bold colors photograph best and work well with most backgrounds. Be careful with white, it can sometimes seal the focus during a shoot. The focus should be on you rather than your outfit. Various textures also photograph well (ex. solid tee with a bomber jacket and jeans).
Go for Classic Jewelry and Accessories. A simple necklace and earrings, or your everyday watch should be all the jewelry you need. Avoid wearing anything too attention grabbing. Again, the photograph should accentuate your face, eyes, and personality.
Apply Makeup Normally. You want your portraits to highlight your natural beauty. Avoid the temptation of going too glam and not looking like yourself. A little extra blush or eyeshadow can help from appearing washed out, but don’t stray too far from your normal routine.
Bring Translucent Powder or Oil Blotters. While in real life a bit of shine can give you a “dewy glow”, it can sometimes appear oily on camera.
Consider Glasses Glare. If you do not have a non-glare coating on your lenses, consider asking you optician to remove your lenses from the frame for the photo session. Most will do this at no charge, but give them plenty pf notice so there is no rush.
Personalize your Photos with Props. Have fun and show your personality in your senior portraits. This can be done through sports equipment, a music instrument, a hobby, or even a pet. (Be sure to check with photographer about pet beforehand).
Make Sure your Clothing is Pressed. All clothing should be ironed and arrive to the shoot on hangers. Wrinkles are very obvious in photographs.
Relax and Have Fun! These photos represent a wonderful time in your life and the experience of taking them should be just as fabulous as the finished product. When you are happy and enjoying yourself it will shine through in the photos.
What to Bring To your Session
Please bring clothing and accessories as needed. Additional clothing and accessories are encouraged to ensure we capture a variety of looks. High School seniors typically do 2 to 3 outfit changes during the session. Clothing suggestions are provided below.
Suggested items to bring to your session:
1) Please also bring chap-stick lip gloss (helps with dry lips since they are very hard to Photoshop)
2) Water to stay hydrated is important since nerves can create dry lips and sessions can be a little lengthy - approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
3) Belts, earrings, accessories. Feel free to bring a variety if you’re not sure which accessories to bring
4) High School Cap and Gown with accompanying accessories
5) If you’re college bound, feel free to bring college memorabilia.
6) In addition to the shoes you would like to be photographed in, bring an additional pair of shoes that are comfortable and easy to take on and off since there may be a lot of walking during your session (flip flops, slides, slip on tennis shoes, etc.)
7) If in doubt, bring it!
What to Wear to your Session
Clothing is such an important part of your session. It can bring the whole look of your session together making it more pleasing and overall more cohesive.
For Girls -
Jeans and a light colored blouse with white tennis shoes
A flowy sundress and a light denim jacket with nice sandals or a simple wedge.
If you are super into fashion, perhaps you want to pick a trendier look for your final outfit to really show your style of the time.
Sundresses and flowing skirts photograph very well. They give great movement in photos. I always recommend keeping the length in mind—remember, we will be kneeling, sitting, and moving from one location to the next.
Layers bring visual interest to photos and add dimension.
For Boys -
Jeans and t-shirt with a buttoned shirt on top, and unscuffed tennis shoes.
A pair of khaki shorts and a polo shirt.
Light pair of pants with a denim button up shirt with sleeves rolled up
Solid tee shirt paired with a bomber jacket and jeans.
Layers bring visual interest to photos and add dimension.
If you want a more formal look, I would suggest the following:
A crew neck sweater with a dark pair of pants
Dark denim jeans and a V-neck tee with a blazer
Black pants and a collared button up shirt
Make sure socks are no show or nice looking since they sometimes show in photos.
Bring MORE rather than less!
If you're unsure if you should bring it, bring it. Some people fill their trunks and we go through clothing, accessories and props before the session. Bring a few different looks. And always feel free to contact me with questions. 480-621-0138
