What To Wear for Senior pictures
love the cut of your jib!
My number one question about planning a senior portrait session is what to wear. I am happy to provide specific input for your personal style and tastes, but here are some general guidelines that will get you started for stunning senior pictures.
bring Variety
Bring a variety of looks, from casual to dressy. The idea is to capture both the “everyday” you and also the zhuzh version. You could bring your prom dress or suit. Also bring a summer dress or shorts. A button up or blouse and jeans. Everyone wants to look their best in photos, so bring options. We can usually get you in about 3 outfits in an hour, but if you are prepared to change fast, we will try to get in as many as you want to bring! Be yourself but it’s okay to let mom/dad pick one outfit. We are going to take a ton of photos, so if they have a favorite, indulge them.
pop some color
Wearing clothes with color will ensure that your photos are vibrant and have a ton of wow factor. Let your clothes bring out the vibrance of your hair and eyes. Colorful clothes bring photos alive.
avoid logos
Clothes with big words or pictures can distract from your face. If you have a favorite shirt that is totally YOU, then bring it. Sometimes a great graphic is exactly what you want for your senior pictures. But it’s great to have the rest of your wardrobe be logo and graphic-free. We want you to be the star of your photos!
SHOES
While your senior portraits are mostly about your face, we will take a few full-body photos. Make sure you have shoes you like and that look cute. A couple caveats - if we are doing your portraits in tall grass or nature, chances are your feet will be blocked by the grass. It’s important to bring shoes that you can easily walk in while we do your portraits. If you want to wear special shoes that you don’t want to get dirty, or stiletto heels, consider bringing other shoes to wear until we stop for your photos. Remember shoes sometimes make us feel more put together, so even if they’re not in your pictures, bring shoes that make you feel great.
be MEMORABLE and stand out
Choose your outfits with your future-self in mind. What do you want to remember, what do you want to say about yourself or the times? And how do you want to be seen in your yearbook picture? Senior photos in most yearbooks are pretty tiny, so how can you stand out on the page?
LAYERS ARE YOUR FRIEND
Wearing layers in photos takes the simple image to the next level. Sweaters, coats, jackets, vests, shirts can add more dimension and texture to an image. Think shirt over shirt, jacket over shirt, vest over shirt, chunky sweater over shirt, etc. We can take things off, roll up sleeves, loosen up ties, this gives us a visual palette to play with. Bring something, you don’t even have to wear it, just hold it.
accessorize
Accessories can make a big difference in your senior photos. They can take an outfit from ordinary to unique, but they can also be props in your photos. So think about things like jackets (for layering), hats, jewelry, ties, headbands, and sunglasses.
dress code
Many schools require that yearbook photos meet school dress code. Some schools have specific wardrobe requirements for yearbook photos. If your yearbook does, or if you're not sure, make sure you bring one outfit that is dress code appropriate.
HAIR & MAKEUP
Decide in advance if you want to get professional hair and makeup services. I have a fabulous team of artists and can connect you with a professional who knows how to do makeup for photoshoots.
If you have colored hair, consider getting it retouched within 3-5 days of your portraits
If you have facial hair and sideburns, please have them trimmed and clean. Facial “scruff” rarely turns out the way you hope in your senior portraits. I strongly recommend coming with a clean shave unless you can grow a full beard.
Shiny and glittery makeup can sometimes make your face look greasy. Unless you are working with a professional makeup artist for that type of look, I recommend avoiding glitter or shimmery makeup.
Hands will be in some of your photos, make sure your nails are clean and polished if that’s your jam.
style consultation
All standard senior portrait sessions come with a session consultation. We can meet in person or virtually to review your wardrobe selections. You can also text me outfit options. I trying on every outfit in advance and experiment with doing some poses to see how the clothes work when moving your arms around. Take a selfie and see if you like how the clothes look and fit.
