Senior Potraits {How to Prepare}

 Hard to believe your junior year is winding to a close and it's time to begin thinking about senior year and everything it entails.  It's time to start making decisions about what colleges to apply to, thinking about scholarships, and making the most of the time you have left with classmates before you all move onto the next great adventure in your lives.  Another thing to begin thinking about are senior portraits.  Senior portraits are a fun way to show off your personality and creating a lasting memory to share with friends and family.

To help you have the best senior session possible, here are a few tips to help make your session a great success:


Ladies, start by getting plenty of sleep the night before.  You want to look fresh and well rested in your portraits.  On the day of your portrait session, be sure to apply your makeup the same way you would on any other day.  It’s usually not a good idea to try out something new right before having your pictures taken.  We want your images to be a true reflection of you.  We recommend bringing at least two outfits.  Most senior girls change into three or four outfits during their session.  Select a wardrobe that can be coordinated together (for example, pants that look good with two or three different shirts, etc.).  Watch out for bra straps that might be hanging out.  Of course, be careful not to wear a dark colored bra under light colored shirts or other subtle outfit mistakes.  Be sure to choose outfits that flatter your body and select colors that look good with your skin tone.  Solid colors help keep the focus on your face rather than your outfit.  Consider choosing one main color, then select one or two additional colors to accessorize and give some added pop to your outfit.  Prints can be distracting, but can be used in more subtle ways (such as scarves) to accessorize and add flare to an outfit. 

Guys, consider getting a haircut a few days before the session. On the day of the session, make sure you are freshly shaved and your hair is looking great.  Get ready for the portrait session like you’re planning to meet someone important or special.  It’s tough to capture great senior pictures if you show up with “bed head."  Bring at least one extra change of clothes.  We totally understand that most guys don’t want to change multiple times, but you should have at least one extra shirt and pants on hand.  It is nice to have a balance between a more formal outfit and a casual look.  Many senior guys bring a button up shirt and tie for their studio portraits.  Then during their outdoor session, they wear more casual clothes.  Be sure when selecting your outfits, you choose items that are comfortable but still in good shape.  As much as you may love your ripped jeans and faded t-shirt, it's probably best you choose something a little nicer for your portraits.  These images will be the way your classmates remember you from your time together.  It's always nice to give a good lasting impression.  Consider bringing in items that reflect your interests while in school, such as your football jersey and pads, a baseball bat and cleats, or an instrument from band.

A reminder to all the seniors out there, there is still a little time left to sign up for our Class of 2015 Senior Model program and earn discounted (or even free!) senior portraits!  Check out more information here.