5 Easy Tips for a Successful Senior Shoot

Preparing for your high school senior pictures can seem a little overwhelming. In this blog, I highlight 5 easy tips to get you started on preparing for your session. Remember, your senior pictures should be a fun event, not something stressful. This is one of the biggest reasons I offer pre-session consults so we can go over all the details of your day and put your mind at ease.

# 1 MIX IT UP 

Bring a variety of outfits to your session. Dressy, casual, classic, BOHO. Use the rule of 3 Ts.

Trendy - For one of your outfits, go all out with something trendy and fun. Rock a chic two-piece pantsuit with a cropped top, a playful romper, or level up your accessories game. This is your moment to be bold, take risks, and let your outfit do the talking!

Timeless - This is the outfit where you will want to include neutral colors, like black, white, and shades of gray. A little white/black dress (ladies) or a black t-shirt (guys). This “T” is more about color scheme and pattern of the fabric, which, in order to remain timeless must be made to accentuate you, not to stand out on its own. 

True to You - Lastly, be sure to include an outfit that is unique to your style, hobbies, or personality. It’s so important to use the opportunity to capture not only your look, but your personality. Senior pictures after all are about celebrating who you are at this moment in time.

# 2 USE COLORS & PATTERNS 

Choose colors that complement your features. Picking the right colors can make or break your photo. Consider shades that highlight your eyes, hair, and skin tone. Jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, or ruby work universally well and look great in photos. Understanding what colors work best with your skin type is key to keep in mind when shopping or picking outfits. This goes for my senior guys as well. Avoid neon or overly bright colors as they can create a harsh look on camera.

Keep it simple with patterns. If you’re drawn to patterns, opt for subtle ones like small florals or plaids. Busy or loud prints can distract from your face, which should be the focus of the photo. I'm totally a pattern girl, so I get this balance of keeping it simple, but not too busy.

# 3 ORGANIZE 

Hang all of your outfits on hangers and group each outfit with the accessories in a plastic bag over the hanger. Being organized for your shoot will help things go even smoother. Rolling up your outfits and shoving them in a duffle bag is a sure way to make your session a dud. If you’re in doubt about something, bring it. I always tell my clients - it’s better to bring it and not use it, versus wishing you had brought something.

# 4 PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS

Girls - Your hands will be in pictures, so pay attention to what you have on your nails. Neutral colors are best. Even if you don’t wear nail polish, that’s okay, make sure your fingers are well groomed by cleaning up hang nails and your cuticles. 

If you get your hair colored, don’t let those roots show. Get a fresh color touch up a week before your shoot. 

Guys - I get it that facial hair is in. However, clean up your beard or goatee with a trim.

A fresh haircut, but not too fresh is important. Ideally schedule a haircut 5 - 7 days before your shoot

# 5 THINGS TO AVOID

If you wear glasses, avoid the glare by either having your lenses popped out of your frames, or buy a knock off pair that is similar in style and pop those lenses out. Glass glare is extremely difficult to fix in editing.

Girls - Avoid spaghetti straps as they can make your shoulders look wider. If you have tan lines, I can’t guarantee they will be edited out. Speaking of tan lines, avoid using self tanner. If tanning is a must, I suggest getting a spray tan, but ONLY after doing a trial run. 

There you have it - 5 easy tips to get the ball rolling on preparing for your session. I tell my seniors that preparation for a fun and successful session is key. Happy preparing!