10 TIPS & TRICKS TO PREPARE FOR YOUR SENIOR PHOTOSHOOT

10 TIPS & TRICKS 

What To Wear For Senior Photos:

It’s a little overwhelming to dress for your Senior Photographs and make it all look good!   Here are 10 tips to think about when putting your Senior outfits together, as well as what to expect for your shoot.

1. Take Some Time To Plan It Out

Think about what look and feel you want your photos to have. Head over to Pinterest for inspiration and create a board to pin the things you like. Do you want a vintage look, or one more modern and simplistic? Do you want to be casual, dressy, or perhaps both? Our style usually leans towards a more dressy and modern look, so I go for clothes that have a lot of texture but have a lived-in and timeless feel. Local stores like Maurice's or Real Deals usually have shirts and jeans that fit the bill at reasonable prices. Or better yet, shop your closet! I often forget this one, but there may be a great outfit you’ve forgotten about and then there's no need to buy one!

2. LAYER, TEXTURe, & Tricks

For that Intimate Portraits look, this is one of our biggest tips. We LOVE textures! Texture, texture, and more texture. Lace, strips, ripped jeans, buttons, etc. all add great texture. Get that over-the-top Pinterest look and add a jacket to a shirt and jeans, or a cardigan to a dress, and create that layered look. By layering your clothing you will add depth to your photos. If you want that Pinterest look, this is the secret! 

3. PICK A COLOR SCHEME 

We have a certain style our clients are looking for and lend ourselves towards natural, timeless colors. WE LOVE ivory shades, grays, whites, blacks, tans, maroons, nudes, and natural greens. We often urge seniors to stay away from bright reds, turquoise, and hot pink of any kind. It helps to have complementary colors, so picking a color scheme you like works best. 

4. CLOThing  

We give you about 4 to 5 wardrobe changes, so bring some options. The more outfits we have to choose from, the better. This will give us flexibility in matching your clothing to backgrounds and the surroundings where the shoot takes place.

Group your outfits together on hangers. Make sure items are ironed and looking sharp. Hang your jewelry on each hanger with the outfit you want to wear it with. Have all of this ready to go! This will help us maximize our shoot time.

Plan on changing quickly. The faster you change, the more time we have to photograph and the more photo choices you’ll have after the shoot.

Make sure you’re comfortable in your clothing and that it flatters you. This will ensure that you like how you look when viewing your photos.

If you’re self-conscious about your arms, avoid sleeveless or cap-sleeve shirts and tank tops, as they tend to make arms look more full.

Solid colors generally photograph much better than busy patterns, although this rule can be broken. So, don't feel like you can't choose something with a floral pattern or stripes, just be careful in doing so. Adding a jacket will help tone down busy patterns as well.

Bring a variety of colors and mix the level of styles. Some should be dressy, some dress-casual, and some casual.

If you’re comfortable in dresses, bring them! They photograph really well and offer a nice variety from your other casual clothing choices. We can mix dressy and casual dresses for some great looks.

5. Shoes

Whether pumps or boots, dressy or casual, plain or sassy, shoes matter. However, tall grass will hide shoes, and sometimes are needed. So bring some boots to help you stay comfortable while shooting.

Flats can also work well if you mix them with the right outfit.

We will not photograph you in flip-flops. Yes, they’re comfy and we all love them, but they don’t photograph well.   

6. Hair 

Although we try to help with hair, it is hard to know what your hair “is supposed to look like.” Make sure you like the look or let the photographer know your preferences. Hair style is ultimately YOUR responsibility. However, if you book your session way in advance, we recommend you go all out and book with Philosophy Hair Studio. Any hair changes during the session should be quick and simple so you have as much camera time as possible.

Bring hair spray, clips, pins, and whatever else is needed to keep your hair out of your eyes if it’s windy. Also, bring a brush and mirror for quick hair touch-ups.

Do not make drastic changes to your hairstyle right before your photo session. This could add unnecessary drama to your life.

7. MAkeup

Makeup that is well done is one of the best preparations you can make for your session. It will even out skin tones and help give your photos that extra pop for a model-like look. Even if you don’t normally wear makeup or wear very little, take the time to do it well and your photos will look their best.  We always say, don't look like you're going to the prom, but maybe wear "date" makeup. 

Makeup should only be slightly heavier than normal. Mascara should be clean and not clumpy. Avoid makeup with an SPF because it tends to create a shine. Summer shine can be controlled by using translucent powder that knocks out shine without adding additional color.

Conture techniques are great, as we love those cheeks to be popped out. Natural light can and often will photograph flat, so popping out your cheek bones will add definition and help with the overall outcome if your images. 

8. Jewelry

Keep it simple. Big, shiny jewelry can distract from the important subject: you! If you have different jewelry for different outfits, you might put each set of jewelry in a plastic baggie and hang it on the hanger with that outfit.

All that being said, the proper jewelry can really complement your outfit. It’s nice to have a variety to choose from and it doesn’t hurt to bring numerous options with you. 

Chokers are super fun right now and are totally having their moment. If you have them, bring them, they are a fun and simple addition to any outfit. 

9. Animals 

Please make sure you have your animals groomed and ready to go. Horses often take a lot of time to get that "perfect" shot. So, please keep in mind when adding a horse, we do require a 2-hour session. 

10. Lighting 

Last, but probably the most import tip and trick we can tell you, is that lighting is key for any portrait session. Please keep in mind we are against time. When you change outfits we are losing our light. Please put your cell phones away and get ready to rock your shoot. Be on time and ready to go. Please know that we don't take the light for granted and have to work with what we are given.