Hey there! Congrats on your upcoming graduation!

Let’s prep for your senior session. I get it – you’re a senior with a full schedule and lots of decisions to make this year. Don’t worry, this guide is not going to be another to-do list. I’m here to hopefully help make your life a little easier as you prepare for senior portraits. Filled with simple tips and ideas, let this guide help answer questions and inspire some creativity for your upcoming photography session.

5 Tips to Prepare for Your Senior Session

01. OUTFITS

Choose outfits you love and feel comfortable in. No need to purchase a whole new wardrobe! (I have even found incredible outfit options at thrift stores!) Add layers if you like, such as a denim jacket or sweater. Consider if you’ll bring a graduation gown or college apparel along. (Because the graduation gown is typically thrown on over an outfit, I don’t “count” it as one of the outfits included in the session collection!)

There are some colors that should be avoided. You’ll want to avoid bright orange, bright pink, neon yellow and neon green. They don’t photograph well and occasionally color casting occurs. Color casting is when you are wearing neon green clothing and the color casts onto you as well, which (you guessed it) means you now look green, too! Probably not what you’re going for in your photographs!

02. Accessories

When considering accessories, choose classic ones. A favorite necklace, minimal earrings or a simple bracelet or watch are all you need. Perhaps there is a meaningful piece of jewelry you’d like to include? You’ll want to avoid anything that might distract from the subject of the photograph, which is YOU!

Keep it simple. Trendy pieces have the possibility of making the photograph look dated in the future. Classic pieces serve a timeless purpose in your photograph.

03. Prep

A lot of prep can often go into senior photographs, and with that can come a lot of stress. I’d challenge you to remember the goal for your session is to naturally capture you at this memorable point in your life.

For makeup, wear what you normally wear. And, if you don’t usually wear heavy makeup, let a simple foundation, tinted chapstick and mascara be all you need!

Your shoes will, at times, be in the photograph. Keep this in mind!

03. Polish

For nail polish, know that at times your hands may be in the photograph. Consider a neutral color that goes with your outfits. No polish at all totally works, too!

Neat and tidy are what will serve you best, regardless of if you want to use polish or not. (Avoid really bright colors, as they will distract from your face in the photograph!)

05. JOY

This last one may not feel like it fits with all the other things I listed, but I’d say it’s actually the MOST IMPORTANT thing you can bring to your session.

When you are relaxed and joyful, it will SHINE in your photographs. I have photographed sessions on sunny days and on rainy days, at peaceful and crowded venues, on beautiful days and on chilly, cloudy, windy days. While I can’t predict exactly what the day will be like, I would tell you, that what really makes a photograph beautiful isn’t the perfect outfit or weather.

It’s you.

It’s joy.

And it SHINES.

Let’s Connect

That’s 5 ways to prep for your senior session. I love helping seniors plan a photography session with simplicity and style near Peoria, AZ and the northwest Valley of Phoenix. I’d love to chat with you!

Gratefully,

Kendra