Preparing for your Senior Portraits
I’m so excited for your senior portrait session and I hope you are too! I’m sorry that this is a lot of information to go through, but it will help us achieve the best possible photos and I think you are going to be happy in the end with the results!
BASIC PREPARATIONS:
Sleep + Food:
Try to get a lot of rest the night before your shoot. Don’t stress over it; trust me – we’re going to have a great time together! Make sure you eat before your session so you’re not miserably hungry. If you are bringing family or friends to your session, feed them, too!
Acne:
Don’t worry about having a few blemishes! These will be removed during retouching.
Hair:
Don’t try a new hairstyle the morning of your session. Play around in the weeks beforehand to see what works and what doesn’t. You might even want to have a professional do this for you. Go for a “timeless” hairstyle. Use a little extra hair spray, but not so much that your hair is stiff. Don’t do anything drastic that you might regret later! Especially a color change! Remember, you still want to look like YOU in your photos. So if you’ve had long hair for quite some time, now might not be the time to get a short haircut if you’re not sure that you’ll love it. Guys – consider being clean shaven on the day of your session.
Makeup:
Wear what you usually wear, but slightly darker than normal. Please use care while applying eye makeup (eye liner, mascara), as your eyes will be the focal point of many of your photos.
Nails:
Your hands will be showing in many of your photos. Be sure that if your nails are painted, the polish is not chipped. Please choose a neutral color. Same applies to toenails if you are wearing open-toed shoes. We might do some bare-feet shots also, so make sure your feet look their best! GUYS – this goes for you, too!
Shaving:
(Girls) I know it may seem obvious, but don’t forget to shave your legs and underarms if they may be seen in photos.
Scars/birthmarks/severe acne:
Scars and birth marks will be removed only at your request. Please tell me at the time of your session what your preference is. Severe acne may require extensive retouching. I will gladly do this for an additional charge.
CLOTHING
Depending on which session you booked, you’ll be able to wear a certain amount of outfits. We will start with the one that you show up in, so plan accordingly.
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 will enhance your body’s silhouette and photograph nicely.
I recommend bringing accessories such as jackets, scarves, etc. that can be added/removed for a different look. For example, some funky jewelry, a hat, leggings, a scarf, a belt, etc. Just be sure that the accessory is not so loud that it distracts from you. Mix up your clothing from dressy to casual – Fun stuff you’d wear to hang out with friends (jeans!), and something sophisticated that will work well for sending a photo in with your college applications.
Be sure to run your choices by mom and dad, or you might end up with photos you love that they won’t order for you.
Can’t decide what to wear? Bring lots of wardrobe choices, and between the two of us, we’ll make sure you look your absolute best!
Be sure to bring along shoes to match each outfit.
Try your clothing on in advance to be sure it fits comfortably and is flattering. Bend over, sit down, etc. and make sure that you don’t have skin showing where it shouldn’t be in certain positions and that you’re able to do such movements.
Make sure each piece of clothing is clean and wrinkle-free.
Bring a variety of colors – preferably not 3 blue outfits. Avoid horizontal stripes, loud patterns, and shirts with writing or big logos on the front. Solid colors work best. We want the clothes to accent you; not the other way around. If you intend to wear a “strappy” dress or light-colored clothing, be sure to wear or bring the appropriate undergarments that will not show in your photos. Do not wear baggy clothing that may give the appearance that you are larger than you really are and avoid tight clothing that you are uncomfortable in, as you may not be able to do certain poses this way. A very short skirt can also really limit the variety of poses that you will be able to do.
Remember that during outdoor sessions in particular locations, there may not be a place for you to change your clothes, so plan accordingly (wear clothes that you can layer or that can be changed in the car).
WHAT ELSE TO BRING
Props:
I love props and especially welcome the ones that are a part of who you are. They can add so much to a photo and give it more of a story. Ten or twenty years from now, you’ll enjoy looking back at these photos and remembering what you were like back then. Feel free to bring sports equipment (football, football helmet, ball & glove, batting helmet, bat, mitt, soccer ball, skates, volleyball, hockey stick, sports uniforms, trophies/medals, musical instruments, tap or ballet shoes, sunglasses, books, helmet, etc.
Vehicles:
Vehicles are welcome at outdoor sessions. I can also take photos of you with your snowmobile, quad, dirt bike, etc.
Pets:
Pets can be included in outdoor shots as well. Please try to let me know in advance if you will be bringing a pet so that I can come up with some really creative ideas on how to showcase you with them!
POSING/EXPRESSIONS
I know it sounds silly, but practice DOES make perfect. Practice different expressions and poses in the mirror before your session.
Here are a couple of things to try: Look in the mirror and form a smile with your mouth. Now try it again, this time thinking about whatever makes you happy, and try to let that smile reach your eyes. By this, I mean, do you see how when you naturally smile, the lines form around your eyes and they light up? THIS is what we’re aiming for – not a “deer in the headlights” look. Try some different expressions, such as the dreaded “serious face” or smiling with no teeth showing. See what you like and what you don’t.
THANKS FOR READING! I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A FUN SESSION!
