Senior pictures are all about representing who you are as you transition out of adolescence and begin your journey into adulthood. While traditional portrait shots are an essential part of senior photos, an equally important part (my favorite part) are the photos that are unique to each person. There are so many ways that students can make sure that their personality truly shines through in their senior portraits, but today we will talk about three: wardrobe, props, and location.
Choosing Your Wardrobe
When choosing your wardrobe, there are three basic styles of dress that you should bring with you, a casual outfit, a more formal outfit, and a themed outfit. For your casual style, you should bring an outfit that you love. Something you would normally wear, and you feel comfortable in. Some examples of this would be a pair of jeans and a nice shirt with nice sneakers or a sundress with a denim jacket and a cute pair of flats. For your formal outfit, think elevated casual. You don’t have to wear a gown or a full suit and tie, but try swapping your jeans for a pair of slacks, and your casual top, for something with a bit more interest. Play around with layers and different textures to find a look that makes you feel good. You may choose to bring your sports jersey or other clothing related to your favorite physical activity for the themed outfit. Artists may choose to bring the clothing that they wear to paint, complete with a paint-splattered smock. You could dress like your favorite character if you’re into books and movies. When choosing your clothing for your senior pictures, there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind. Try to avoid excessively worn, dirty, or wrinkled clothing, but you shouldn’t feel like you have to go out and purchase a whole new look. Just make sure whatever you choose is appropriately cleaned and ironed for the best outcome. Opt for solid colors over many patterns or large logos. We want you to shine in your photos, not your busy top. Plan your outfit from top to bottom in advance so that you have plenty of time to get everything in order and make sure it fits properly and you feel good in it.
Choosing Your Props
Props are the perfect way to show who you are and what you’ve accomplished throughout your school career, as well as display your interests uniquely and artistically. The various props you could bring along to your portrait session are limitless. For those interested in more athletic pursuits, you can bring along any equipment associated with your sport (or sports) of choice, such as a football, basketball, baseball/softball, bats, cleats, swim gear, etc. We’ve had students who are musicians bring in their instruments such as guitars, sax, violin, and many more. If you want something to represent your favorite activities outside of school, we have seen people bring in skateboards, pets, books, hunting gear, and even their cars! Like we said before, the sky is the limit when it comes to props. The goal is to find the things that reflect who you are and what makes you proud to be you!
Choosing Your Location
When you're choosing a location for your senior photos, you should think about a place (or a few places) that hold some special meaning for you. Ask yourself these questions: “Where do I spend the most time outside of my home and school?” “Where is a place that I have had the most fun over the years?” “What place brings me a sense of peace and contentment?” “Where do I feel the most like myself?” Once you’ve answered these questions, you can start to create a list of locations to discuss with your photographer. We’ve had examples in the past, including the beach, sports fields, fields full of wildflowers, and the woods. If you are having a hard time coming up with a location that feels meaningful to you, don’t worry! That’s where your photographer can step in and help! In the planning phase of your senior sessions, you can discuss your various interests and hobbies with your photographer and what you want to represent in your photos. Together, you can brainstorm creative locations to create the look and feel you’re going for in your photos.
At Forever Memories, we want your senior portrait experience to feel like a moment that is all about you and celebrating your uniqueness. You’ve worked hard to get to this point in your life, and you deserve to be celebrated and to feel proud of who you are and what you’ve accomplished! If you’re a soon-to-be Senior graduating in 2023, the time has come to set up your senior portrait session!
Contact Us today to set up your appointment! We can’t wait to help you capture the perfect photo that you’ll treasure forever!
