How to Dress for Your Spring Senior Session

Throughout your four years of high school many pictures are taken, capturing fun filled moments you will remember for years to come.  Out of all the snapshots you will take and memories you will make, theres one kodak moment that will stand out more than the rest, one that is so meaningful, it will last a lifetime.  Your senior portraits.

Senior portraits are treasured photos taken by a professional photographer, they capture the pure teenage innocence and freshness, as its poised on the brink of adulthood, ready to enter college or begin a career.  Because senior portraits capture such a precious moment in your life, you will want to knock this photo session out of the park! Here are some helpful tips on how to dress for your spring senior session!

Plan on bringing more than one outfit.

You should arrange to bring at least 3-4 outfits to your photo session in a variety of colors, not just your favorite hue.  When choosing which outfits you want to bring, include different styles, such as casual, semi-formal, formal or outdoors. By having a variety of styles this will give you an opportunity to get creative and allow your personality to shine through!

Professional photographers have a great eye for color and lighting, so dont be afraid to bring an array of different hues.  Having a variety helps see what colors of your outfits stand out the most, depending on the location of your photo shoot. For example, if you are planning on having your photos taken in some of Humboldt Countys Redwood forests, wearing an outfit with a deep purple hue in contrast with some green redwood sorrel in the background can make for an exceptionally beautifully vibrant photo!

Remember to bring accessories for all of your outfits, from footwear to jewelry and hair accents.  Since several full-body images are also taken, make sure to check your socks and shoes! You will want the right shoes for the appropriate outfit and also want to make sure your socks match! You never know, that full body shot might end up being your absolute favorite pose.

Check your clothing prior to the photo shoot to make sure it isnt spotted or faded, and be sure to transport your outfits (you can wear one when you arrive), on hangers to prevent unnecessary wrinkles.

Visual simplicity with your clothing is important.

Its important to not bring outfits with words or designs, stripes or pictures, except possibly your school logo.  You want your face, eyes and true expression to be the focal point, not the words on your shirt.

Color is important.

Solid colors are highly recommended for most or all outfits of choice.  For outside pictures, think of spring and summer colors of sky blue, pale green, watermelon and dark peach to complement the outdoor setting.  Again, depending on the lighting and where your desired location is for your photo shoot, colors may vary.. Bringing a variety of different hues will help you and your photographer make the best selection of an outfit, for each destination location and photo op!

Help accentuate your best features with your clothing.

If you have a more slender build, spaghetti straps and short sleeves will accentuate that feature.  Turtleneck tops tend to look best on people with longer necks. If you have more of a round or square shaped face, square-neck tops will look great!  Thinner faces tend to look great with rounded-neck tops.

Be selective with the jewelry.

Try to avoid wearing attention-grabbing jewelry.  You want the photograph to accentuate your face, eyes and personality, not draw unwarranted attention to your jewelry.  Also, Jewelry can date a photograph very quickly. Classic jewelry pieces are best.

Apply natural makeup but with a little flare to it.

I know it can be tempting to get very glam when having pictures taken but this could very well make you look like a complete stranger in your senior portraits.   Be sure to apply some of your makeup as you normally look on a day-to-day basis. Its important to keep who you are conveyed in your photos. Adding a little additional makeup to dress things up and compliment who you are, is also okay and can really tell the story of who you are to who you are becoming.  Just try to find the balance of keeping your true self in your photos.

Be comfortable and confident.

Last but not least, be comfortable and confident on the day of your shoot!  Your outfits should reflect who you are and your style. Dont be afraid to be bold!  Feeling good about yourself is key to an amazing photo session! When we feel great about who we are, that is the energy that gets put out into the universe!  Positive, happy, confident, feel good energy gets portrayed in photographs through your smile, your body position and poses. Let your personality unfold and create snap-shots you will look back on and smile for a lifetime!