Let’s talk Senior Portraits.. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind when planning your senior portraits so that you end up with images that you LOVE. I am going to list these in order of priority when planning, so pay attention!
1 – SEASON:
Believe it or not, you need to be thinking about senior portraits the summer between your junior and senior year! Why? If you have your heart set on Fall portraits, then you only have 2 months once school starts to take your portraits! And *NEWSFLASH* – your photographer is probably already booked out through the Fall if you wait until August/September to reach out! So before school starts, you need to determine what season you want your portraits taken in: summer, fall winter spring. Once you determine what season you want (even in it’s winter or spring), go ahead and reach out to your photographer! Even if you want schedule an exact date/time, they will have you on their radar for booking!
2 – LOCATION:
The location of your session has a major impact on the overall look and feel of your portraits! If you are a country girl, but decide to take your pictures in a downtown city setting, then your images are not going to resemble you well. Pick a location that has a special meaning to you or a setting that matches your personality and I guarantee you will like your images all the more! As a photographer, I have key locations that I offer for sessions, but these are not exclusive to you. One way to add exclusivity and uniqueness to your portraits is to pick a private location you have access to or a location that you just generally love! This may be family land, your favorite park, the beach/lake, etc. The options are endless!
3 – STYLE + BEAUTY:
This may be 3rd on the list, but that does not mean that it isn’t important! In fact, it may be the most important! It just doesn’t take top priority when it comes to the planning of your senior portraits! CONFIDENCE IS KEY. Selecting your outfits should not be hard! Pick pieces that you feel comfortable and amazing in, and your confidence will shine through in your portraits! If this is something that you already have in your closet, then wear that! Or head to your favorite boutique/store and select a new piece or two that you are just obsessed with! You do not have to buy new clothes for your senior portraits.. you just need to dress in what you feel most confident in!
Lastly, be sure to do your hair and makeup if you want to add an extra POP to your images! One way to add diversity to your gallery would be to change your lip color or hairstyle when you change your outfit. This may mean you just transition from all of your hair down to a ponytail or a half updo, it’s up to you! Just let your photographer know ahead of the shoot if you plan to do a hair/lip change when you change outfits so they can allow the proper amount of time!
