Are you about to embark on you final year of high school? Senior portraits are certainly on your list of "senior" things to do . . . but have you thought about the mark you want to leave when you're gone? What do you want your senior portraits to say about YOU?
Senior portraits are just the first of many landmark experiences for you in the coming months. They're supposed to be both memorable and fun. We want to guarantee you'll have great images that reflect the person you are right now- keep reading for our take on what will make your senior portrait session the best it can be . . . it may take a few minutes to read through, so stick with it to the end!
DO get your hair trimmed and touch up your color a week or so before your portraits.
DON'T experiment with a crazy new style the night before you visit us!
DO shave or trim your facial hair the morning of your portraits.
DON'T come with unkempt facial hair or a 5 o'clock shadow.
DO wear make-up like you do every day.
DON'T cake it on so that you don't look like yourself. The studio lights won't wash you out!
DO enjoy your summer, but wear sunscreen to maintain a healthy glow.
DON'T visit a tanning bed 10 times before your portrait session.
DO bring your favorite clothes, sports uniforms and formal wear.
DON'T bring just one plain white t-shirt . . . zzzzzzzzzzz.
DO avoid short-sleeved/sleeveless tops (unless you want your arms to appear bigger).
DON'T wear mini-skirts or plunging necklines.
DO remember to bring 2-3 complete outfits (more on that below).
DON'T bring clothes with busy patterns.
DO consider lots of accessories (ties, hats, jewelry, shoes).
DON'T limit yourself. If you're not sure, call us and ask!
1. Hair- We recommend making sure your hair is neat, trimmed and styled for portraits. If you color your hair, check your roots before you come in. Keep in mind that hair needs time to adjust after a cut, so give it a bit between your visit to the stylist and your session at our studio. This isn't the time to test out a crazy cut or color- you don't want to look back on your portraits and say, "what was I thinking?!" Stick with the style you're comfortable with and that is familiar to your family and friends.
2. Face- Guys, remember to keep the facial hair neat. Teen Wolf should not make an appearance at your portrait session. If you have facial hair, make sure it's trimmed. Shave that morning if you like your face bare.
Ladies, wear your make-up as you normally do. Avoid excess tanning, if you can. A healthy glow looks great, but extra visits to a tanning bed can lead to break-outs and your portraits won't look natural after you've paled a few months later.
3. Clothing- What are your favorites in your closet? Bring them! Still stumped? Here is a 'bare bones' list to help you get started:
GUYS- 2-3 tops/1-2 bottoms (slacks & jeans)
1 or more blazers, vests, sweaters and other layering pieces
GIRLS- 2-3 tops/1-2 bottoms (slacks, jeans, skirts)
1 or more blazers, vests, sweaters, dresses, etc.
Don't be afraid to think outside the box- sports uniforms, prom dresses and dance recital costumes (just to name a few) are great additions to the basics you bring.
4. Accessories- Don't forget these. It can be anything- hats, ties, jewelry, shoes . . . remember, your look should be complete from head to toe!
Last but not least: Stick with solids and keep away from busy patterns. Why? Patterns distract the eye from the most important part of the portrait- YOU! Also, you may want to avoid large brand labels on your clothing (e.g. big logos that stretch across the front of your shirt; don't worry about small ones). Your fave clothing label may be around now, but maybe not in 20 years . . . but your portraits will!
Keep in mind that photography sessions are interactive. You may be sitting on the floor, bending and even climbing on rocks outside. Consider this when picking out your clothing . . . a mini-skirt doesn't sound like such a good idea now, does it?
We highly suggest wearing 3/4 length or long sleeves for portraits. Short sleeves and sleeveless shirts can create lines that give the illusion of bigger arms. We especially recommend this to girls, who almost always want to look their slimmest. Guys, we understand if you want to enhance the results of your time at the gym, so we leave the decision to you.
and you should be excited to show off your portraits . . . if you're a senior about to be photographed or still need to schedule a session, give us a call and ask all the questions you like. We're here to help!
Jeff loves creating outdoor portraits all year long and after seeing these lovely results, never again will we doubt scheduling a session outside after October!
