I have been planning this post for a while now after I talked with some of our senior models about how hard it is to plan outfits for your senior photo shoot! You want to look & feel your best and choosing what you will wear for your photo shoot is a huge decision that can make or break your senior portrait session! I know that sounds dramatic…but, if you accidentally wear something that isn’t flattering on camera or something that you don’t feel confident in…it can ruin the experience for you! Part of my job as the photographer is to relieve as much stress as possible before the day of the session arrives, so that my client can fully enjoy their senior portraits so here’s some of my best tips on how to choose what to wear! 

1. Be comfortable! Choose outfits that you feel comfortable in. Don’t decide to try something new for the first time during senior photos.  We all have those pieces of clothing that we feel self conscious or uncomfortable in (for me, it’s tight, fitted clothing around the belly area), so be sure to leave those at home! Something else to think about is that we will be walking, laying down on the ground, sitting down during your senior session so you will want clothes that are comfortable for that. 

2. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box! I know this ones seems to contradict what I said about being comfortable but hear me out! On camera, solid black + white can make skin tones look very washed out and unflattering. So, when choosing outfits for your senior session, try to choose colors that POP and that compliment your hair + skin colors! Primary colors like red, royal blue and yellow photograph beautifully as well as emerald green, bright purples, pinks, oranges and any other colors that really POP!  For summer senior sessions, you have so many options with fun colors to add in! 

3. Play around with accessories! During a senior session, or any photo shoot, the more the merrier!! When planning your outfits, don’t forget to plan accessories!! Stacks of bangles, long necklaces, statement pieces, scarves, hats, bright shoes and other add-ons can make or break an outfit! Don’t be afraid to over-accesorize, either…it’s always better to have more than not enough, we can always take away! 

4. Mix it up! When planning your outfits, make sure that you have a VARIETY of looks! I tell all of my seniors to choose from these categories: casual, cozy, dressy, school-related, sports-related, preppy or edgy. I always recommend choosing 2-3 of those categories and finding outfits accordingly. This provides a beautiful array of looks during your senior portrait session, so each outfit looks dramatically different!

Don’t Neglect the Nails! And, one last tip!! In all of the chaos of senior session prep…don’t forget to pamper your nails! During your shoot, a lot of the poses we do will have your hands close to your face and in the frame, so make sure that your nails look just how you want! Try to avoid any chipped polish or crazy patterns. French manicures, light/natural colors and even nails with no color at all photograph best!!

Book your senior session now!