Creating Portrait Magic Starts With What You Wear
One of my favorite times of the year is during “Senior Photo” season where I get to work with soon-to-be-graduating high school seniors preparing for the next chapter of their journey. The energy high schoolers have is so electric and it is such a treat to get to be a small part of their upcoming celebration and accomplishment.
Uniquely, trends have changed significantly over the years when it comes to senior pictures. The trend used to be very formal, cookie cutter, and classic, whereas now, seniors are taking individualized approaches to their pictures with artistic and creative expression left and right. I’m here for all of it!
Because I have been doing senior portraits for years, I’ve learned a few things along the way that I’ve kept note of to help future sessions go smoothly and help my subjects have the best results and experience. It’s time I revealed my secrets for creating senior portrait magic - and that is ultimately that it begins at home in your very own closet!
5 Wardrobe Tips for Senior Portraits
1. # of Wardrobe Changes
During a 90 minute Senior Portrait Session, I always recommend 4 wardrobe changes. This allows for a diverse display of the student's style and tends to provide plenty of room to show off their uniqueness and special personality.
The types of outfits I recommend include:
A) A formal outfit - For all genders, a formal outfit could include something you would feel comfortable wearing to an interview, something that demonstrates extra professionalism, and / or something you would wear to a nice event. Don’t stress over the price tag or the quality, just aim for looking nice while still comfortable. This type of photo could be used in the future as a professional headshot.
B) A “typical-day” outfit - I always love having my seniors show me a “regular outfit” because that is often when they relax the most. This outfit should feel cozy, easy, and casual, without signs of wear or stains of course. Casual doesn’t mean lazy or sloppy, but it does mean that you feel GOOD in this outfit.
C) A personality outfit - Did you play a sport during school? Were you on the dance team or a member of a special club? This is your outfit to highlight your personality and involvement in school activities and extracurriculars. You could wear a jersey, dance uniform, or even bring in a prop, like a ball or a musical instrument, to show off your personality here.
2. Don’t Forget to Plan Your Footwear
I am always big on making sure my seniors know not to wear the shoes they mowed the lawn in. Don’t forget to plan out what shoes you will wear so that it matches the look of your clothing. If you’re in your formal outfit, bring more formal shoes. If you’re in a casual outfit, sneakers could work as long as they don’t appear about ready for the trash. For your personality outfit, don’t forget coordinating footwear that matches the extracurricular.
3. Keep Your Jewelry Simple
Jewelry is an excellent accessory to include in your senior photos, but I encourage you to keep it simple. While it can make an outfit all come together, the goal would not be to distract with jewelry but to keep the focus on your bright smile!
4. Get That Haircut In Advance
If you know you’re getting nice photos taken in the near future, it does make sense to consider a potential haircut or trim to make sure you are looking fresh. However, don’t schedule that haircut too close to your photoshoot. You could feel less confident if the haircut doesn’t go quite like you expected or your hair could be more difficult to style. Aim to have your haircut scheduled for at least a week prior to your senior photoshoot.
5. A Moment for the Hands
You’re likely aware to have your teeth look clean and brushed before a photoshoot, but what about your hands? It’s actually very common for your hands to be featured in an up close shot, so don’t forget to take a moment to clean up your fingernails and hands! Clip, paint, and/or scrub off any dirt so that your hands look nice and clean. Even consider moisturizing so they don’t look too dry.
Now that you are educated on these wardrobe tips for your upcoming senior photo session, you will be ready to create magic! I would be honored to be a part of it for you!
Learn more about my Senior Picture services and reach out if you have any questions!
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