How Should I Prepare for My Senior Pictures?
Tips for Securing a Stellar Senior Session
It's your senior year and more than likely, you're planning on hiring a photographer to capture images that represent your final year of high school. Perhaps the photos will be used for your yearbook photo. Or maybe they'll get enlarged, framed and proudly hung in your parents’ stairwell for years to come. My point is that they're kind of a big deal, and in some cases, a source of anxiety for both teens and parents.
But they don't have to be. With a little bit of preparation and some guidance from an experienced senior photographer, your senior photoshoot can go off without a hitch.
Gather Photo Ideas from Around the Web
Inspiration is everywhere. Social media. Advertising. Your classmates. Messages and images bombard us at all hours of the day and night. You might as well take advantage of the constant barrage and figure out what you like and what you don't. I love it when clients send me their ideas. It gives me a direct link to the creative part of their brain so I can see the exact vibe they want to capture.
If you want a bit more say in how your senior pictures are going to turn out, gather your ideas together and share them. I've found the easiest way to do this is via a Pinterest board, but it could really be as simple as sending a few images over email or phone.
If you want to see your voice in your senior photographs, then share it with your photographer.
I also realize that some seniors are pretty hands off. They just want to show up to their senior session, pose, and get the photo shoot over with. And that's OK too.
What Should I Wear to a Senior Portrait Session?
Ah, the age-old outfit question. And one that I have answered before in previous blogs. But the answer is fairly simple. Wear clothing to the photo session that fits appropriately, makes you feel comfortable and allows you to move. Consider the location where you'll be shooting, and dress in an outfit that you'd wear to that location if you were just visiting.
A few dos:
Prepare more than one outfit. Two to three is best.
Looks can be both casual or dressy, but they should reflect your personality.
Wear colors that work with your skin tones.
Consider wearing neutrals and build off of them.
Dress with your whole body in mind. Think about hats, shoes, and undergarments. They should complement your outfit.
Some don'ts
Don't wear neon unless we've discussed it. It doesn't photograph particularly well in a lot of settings.
Don't wear athletic apparel with large logos. Or any large logo. Except for band T-shirts. LOVE band Ts.
Avoid patterns with small stripes or checks as they won't photograph well either.
What Should I Bring to My Senior Picture Session?
It's a good idea to select outfits for your senior pictures weeks to days in advance of your session. Once you've done this, pack or prepare the outfits the night before and create a checklist of the other items you might need. These might include things like:
Comb or hairbrush
Makeup for retouches
Wrinkle Remover spray
Extra Outfits
Accessories (hats, jewelry, ties, etc)
Props (footballs, volleyballs, pom poms, instruments, etc)
Towel for sweat (the summer sun is no joke)
Varsity jacket
Pack your bag the evening before and double check everything before you leave for the senior photographysession.
Should I Do My Own Makeup for My Senior Pictures?
A makeup professional's job is to get you camera ready. They are up-to-date on styles and trends and have an in-depth understanding of the products best suited for photography. If it's in your budget, I highly recommend you utilize their services. But I do understand that some seniors would rather do their own makeup, and that is totally fine. For seniors looking to add a bit of polish to their everyday look, here are some easy tips:
Use natural light to apply your makeup.
Apply a primer before your foundation.
Wear a foundation with fuller coverage.
Apply a bit more makeup than your everyday look but keep it natural. Don't cake it on.
Stay away from bright lip colors that clash with your skin.
Pick matte makeup and avoid ANY makeup with a shimmer. It'll bounce light back to the camera and might not be flattering.
Practice, practice, practice
Should I Style My Hair for My Senior Session?
When prepping for your senior portrait session, it's best to stick to a hairstyle that you've worn often enough to know that you like it. Clients have made the mistake of getting a brand new color and style only days before their seniorpictures. While a trim is OK, I'd advise against a whole new hairdo. What if you hate it! We also want people to recognize you. If you do color your hair as part of your regular hair maintenance, please color it at least a week before session date so that it has time to settle in.
When applying styling products, remember that we want hair movement --- not a helmet.
If you are concerned about styling your own hair, I recommend using a professional stylist before the session. A number of professionals are educated in both hair and makeup and can come to your home to style you before your seniorphoto session. Stylists vary significantly in price, but I've found that the hair/makeup combo starts around $150 and goes up from there.
If you'd like to use a professional stylist, I'm happy to send you recommendations for hair and makeup artists in the Kansas City area.
What are Some Steps to Alleviate Stress Before My Senior Session?
This next part is going to sound like it came straight from the pages of a health magazine, but that's OK. Hopefully we're all smart enough now to know that a healthy you is a beautiful you.
Drink plenty of water, get enough rest, eat fruits, vegetables and protein. Don't drink alcohol or do drugs (tsk tsk) or stay up late partying or on TikTok (or partying on TikTok. Is that a thing?).
Make sure your bag is packed and list has been double checked. Just doing that will remove stress and jitters.
If you practice yoga or meditate, don't forget to add it to your routine that day so you can approach the session with a Zen-like mindset. Also, understand that at the beginning of a session, everyone has a bit of nerves -- even me. But after the first 10-15 minutes, we begin to settle down and relax. If you expect that initial discomfort, you'll be prepared for it and won't panic.
To Tan or Not to Tan
Not to tan. Suntanning can cause tan lines and using lotions or sprays might cause an uneven, blotchy look. Neither look awesome on your senior portraits. Plus, cameras see color differently than the human eye, and what might look good to you, might not look good through the view finder. Your natural skin tone is best. If you do want a bit of color, consider using a small amount of bronzer.
Contact Me
I'm a senior portrait photographer based in the Kansas City-metro area. For session inquiries, please contact me at liz@sunshineandshadowsphotography.com.
Liz Davenport of Sunshine and Shadows Photography is a high school senior photographer based in Kansas City, MO. She offers senior portrait sessions throughout the Kansas City-metro, including Leawood, Overland Park, Shawnee, Lenexa, Mission, Belton, and Raymore. Her sessions are fun and relaxed, using primarily natural light and a lot of movement. She loves to work in both rural and urban environments and definitely looks to her seniors for location inspiration, which means that she wants to hear your crazy ideas.