You’ve finally made it to your final years of high school. Congratulations! Like a lot of high school Juniors and Seniors, you’re probably thinking about your senior portraits. You’re not alone. It’s a tradition to mark your graduation, and a large number of teens throughout the U.S. get them done each year.
So, ladies, how do you prepare for your pictures? How do you choose your location, hairstyle, outfits, makeup, and props? Don’t freak out just yet. Here are some tips for your senior portrait session.
Location
If you don’t have anywhere in mind, just ask your photographer. Odds are, he or she has done many shoots in your area, and can offer some advice.
Think about how you see yourself in your finished photos. Are you on a green, grassy hill? By a river? In a field of flowers or tall grasses? In a grove of trees? Leaning against an old building?
Just let your photographer know what you’re looking for. You can also use your good friend, Google, or old yearbooks to look up examples of senior photos. Check out the pictures from seniors in your area from last year and the year before. Where did they get theirs done?
Outfits
This is a big one for most females. You want to look your best, but you definitely don’t want to feel uncomfortable. Think about your favorite everyday outfits, like your favorite jeans and cute top. Your senior pics are all about you, so you’ll want to wear what you like the most, and what you feel cute in. Dressing up is fine, if you want to. However, try not to choose anything that has words or graphics on it, is cut too low or too short, or will make you too warm.
Although you probably want to look cute and sexy, it’s not a good idea to show too much skin. For instance, if you’re going to take some pictures where you’re lying on your stomach, do you really want to have to hold your shirt in place? And if you’re kneeling in some flowers, do you really want your skirt to be so short that your underwear sticks out? Probably not. Your senior photos are meant to be age appropriate.
Makeup
It’s easy to overdo this one. Ladies, remember the season. If you’re getting your senior portraits done in the summer and you’re going to be outside, make sure to go fairly light with your makeup. Also, bring a compact with you so that you can take away any sweat shine between photos. No matter the season, though, don’t go too far beyond what you put on every day. You want to look natural.
Now, what do you do if you wake up on the morning of your portraits and there’s a big red pimple in the middle of your forehead? Eek! Don’t worry. Just use a little foundation, or whatever you normally use. Most photographers now either offer touch-ups, or do them automatically. One click of the mouse will make that blemish disappear.
Hair
Choose your outfit(s) first, then think about your hair. If you’re going to get it colored or highlighted, make sure to get it done at least a week in advance, so that it has a couple days to relax. Play with your hair in the days leading up to your session to decide what you’d like to do. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Whether you curl it. straighten it, twist it up, or whatever, just make it look like a “you” hairstyle.
One thing to think about, though, is keeping bangs out of your face. You’ll be posing in different ways, and the last thing you want to happen is for your hair to block your face. An accessory can be a great addition, too, whether it’s a headband, flower, or pin.
Props/Accessories
Do you need a prop? No. This one’s completely optional and up to you. Some ladies choose to have pictures taken with their car, instrument, college gear (if you know what college you’re headed to), sports equipment, pets, or even other people. If something is important to you and you want to have it with you, then by all means, go for it. It can add a whole new dimension to your pictures, since the ones with your prop will be different from the rest.
Or, perhaps you have a best friend, pet, or family member who never leaves your side that you’d like to have in a couple of your pictures. Just make sure not to spend too much of your session with somebody else in the pictures with you, as they’re your portraits and should be about you.
Just Relax
When it comes time for your session, just relax. Don’t be afraid that you won’t know how to pose, because the photographer will be able to guide you. If you’re having fun during your session, it’ll show through in your final pictures. If you follow these easy tips, you’ll have plenty of great ones to choose from for the yearbook.
About the author: Jolissa Doornink writes for Cilento Photography, a professional senior pictures photography studio.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Chantel Beam.