Wondering what to wear for your senior pictures shoot? I've been doing senior pictures for over 10 years and I always get this question, especially from girls and their mothers. Having your senior pictures turn out timeless and elegant can depend a lot on styling. With my sessions, as apposed too many other senior pictures photographers, are not limited to clothing changes. I believe this can limit the creativity of the shoot in that the locations that we are shooting at will look better in certain colors or style of outfits, and it's always better to have more outfits to choose from than less, and it usually only takes a couple minutes to change. It is my job as a photographer to coordinate colors and style of outfit to the location we are shooting at to create a feeling. For example, if we are going to be shooting in grass fields, I like to suggest white or lighter colored pastel dresses or sun dresses, for a lighter more elegant look. But dresses are not great for laying down in the tall grass, so having a pair of jeans or shorts with a cute top can allow me to get the model into other poses sitting or laying in the grass and conveys a more fun easy going girl. Once they are in jeans, it's only takes a couple minutes to run to the car and change top for another look, and the more clothes I have to look at and I think would look great for this location the better. Before we leave my studio, I always ask to see all the outfits that they brought, so I can get an idea of what outfit I'd like to shoot at which location. I may not always use every blouse or pair of jeans, but it's always great to have that option.
When I book a senior, I will usually talk to the mother, and we have a discussion about the types of locations that she would like to go to, for example, grass fields, barns, railroad tracks, urban settings, beach, and if she plays sports or has a hobby she would like to incorporate into the shoot. I will also ask her what types of clothing she likes to wear, does she like to wear dresses, or is she a jeans and blouse kind of girl. If they are unsure and are open to ideas, I will ask them to visit my website's high school senior's gallery and copy some images and send them to me. This can help out the photographer tremendously into the insights of the types of images the girl likes and you can plan the shoot in the direction of what she is going to like.
With all this said, Let's get more into some specifics
Bring your favorite outfits, and be yourself
choose outfits that look great on you and represent your true personality, you should feel like you and feel comfortable. Choose flatting styles and colors that complement your shape and skin color. You know by now what these colors are!
Prep your clothes ahead of time, iron them if needed and put them on hangers. Many photographers may require additional retouching costs to retouch wrinkled clothing. A duffle bag of clothes is not the way to show up for your photoshoot.
Variety of outfits from casual to dressy and different colors
As discussed in the opening paragraphs bring a variety of outfits from casual to dressy. Depending on the time of year and where you live, dress appropriatley. Having some different colors will help the photographer coordinate colors with the background for greater photographs. Personally I feel solid colors work best, but subtle patterns can work well at some locations. For Beach photographs, and hopefully it's not fall, shorts and pastel shirts and blouses work great, and dresses can be a beautiful choice. If you look and feel great in your clothing you will feel more comfortable during your shoot.
Sports and Hobbies Pictures
This is a bit more straightforward. Discuss with your photographer what sports you would liked to be photographed in. I tell all my seniors to bring every part of their uniform or I'm sending them home to get it, well jokingly. If you're playing softball, bring a glove, bat, ball, hat, sun shade makeup for the black under your eyes, bubble gum, cleats, you get the point. Having a prop to pose with gives you something to do with your hands and will allow the photographer to put you into more exciting poses. I always ask my senior girls if they want a tough,competitive, gutsy shot or something more on the cute, fun side. It's hard to take a picture of a volleyball player without a volleyball to pose with, and let me tell you, they show up without it all the time. Don't be that person, it will affect your final images. And for hobbies, like playing guitar, discuss locations with your photographer that could be fun, and bring clothes that you might wear when playing. You might be a rocker, or play country music, so bring a cowboy hat and boots, or a leather coat, jeans, and some rockin boots!
Below are some examples
The image below works because the soft style and color of the blouse, which matches the color of the wildflowers in the field, and a pair of jeans conveys a summer day walk in the field.
White dresses will work in just about any rural location, it conveys a soft, beautiful, feminine feeling. Laugh for some, or not, can really change the feeling of a photograph. A dress can give you something to do with your hands. Grab a hold of it gracefully, scrunch it, twirl it and don't always look at the camera, a photographer is not there, it's just you and nature.
Mix in some shorts, it is summer! A pretty blouse with color and not to crazy of a pattern can create a great portrait. Let yourself relax, smile and laugh, and it will show in your final images.
Add a scarf for a splash of color, and a prop for your hands.
Props and hats will give you a little variety. You don't always have to wear the hat, but can once again, can give you something to do with your hands. Throw on your favorite pair of sunglasses for your senior pictures for some fun, hip images.
Busy prints can be fun and show your personality, but the background should be simple so they are not competing.
I know not everyone lives near lake Michigan, but I do. Almost every senior I photograph want to go to the beach. I usually plan the shoot to end up at the beach for the last location we hit just in time for the sunset. For beach pictures I do prefer softer pastels in pinks, blues, purples, they just always seem to go good with the sunset colors and the blue water. You can mix in subtle patterns, but personally I like solids the best, but be you!
For Sports senior pictures, bring everything you would wear when playing. And don't forget the ball! I will usually try to go to a senior's home field for soccer and softball, but sometimes will have to shoot at the sports fields in my school district, or at a non sports location. I will ask the senior what type of image they would like, gutsy and tough, or more subtle, below are a couple images to portray both.
Urban senior pictures can be fun and open up the possibilities of different outfits. Edgier, fashion style poses and fun, grungy backgrounds can bring out your personality. Dresses, tennis shoes, leather coats, shorts can all work with an urban senior pictures location. Bring all your favorite outfits, and let you imagination run wild!
Conclusion!
I hope this article helps you to prepare for your senior picture photoshoot. It's an exciting day and a little thought and prep on your part will help the photographer and you produce better images. Ask your photographer if you can bring extra clothing for him to choose from to help stylize the shot at a certain location. Hopefully he'll agree, if not sell him on the benefits, it is your shoot, and what you want. I think as a photographer, suggestions from the client will make them happier and feel more apart of the outcome of their final images.
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