I am on a blog roll and you don’t want to stop that ol’ train once it gets going… So full steam ahead!
Schools back in session and this year I have been super busy with senior shoots. I have to say that I love them. Each girl (and of course the brave boys) amaze me with their poise, beauty and sophistication. It makes me think back to when I was a Senior and I wonder why I wasn’t blessed to look like that that back then! If you are thinking of having Senior Portraits taken, please think about scheduling them as soon as possible. As the Holiday season approaches I will have much more limited availability. However, if you have your session scheduled and are looking for pointers to make sure it is fabulous – look no further, the last part of this post offers great advise in preparing for that senior shoot.
Now here is a girl who has taken that advise and put it to good use. Maddie is one of my beautiful NNHS Senior Ambassadors. She is also one of my daughters BFF’s and so she has a special place in my heart. Maddie wanted a country feel for her senior pictures and on a hot, hot day this summer we obliged. What a trooper she was, you would never guess that the mercury was hitting triple digits.
Those boots were made for walkin’ but it also felt nice to cool off by the lake on this hot summer day.
This flower field was made for us!
What a stunner. I know good things are coming your way Maddie. Best of luck with your Senior year and beyond. You’ll always have a place in my heart.
OK, the tips for a successful senior shoot, are you ready to rock it? Then please read on…….
1. Plan several outfits to bring.
You should arrange to bring several outfits to your photo session in a variety of colors, not just your favorite hue.
Bring along four to five options– including different styles, such as casual, semi-formal, formal or outdoors, we’ll narrow it down to three that fit the location and type of feel we are going for with your session.
Remember to bring accessories for all outfits, from footwear to jewelry and hair accents. Since several full-body shots are taken, check shoes to be sure they are clean and that both socks match
! – that full-body shot could end up being your favorite pose.
Check your clothing ahead of time to make sure it isn’t spotted or faded, and transport your outfits (you can wear one when you arrive) on hangers to prevent wrinkles.
2. Keep your clothing visually simple.
Don’t bring outfits with words or designs, stripes or pictures, except possibly your school logo (if needed). You want your face, eyes and expression to command attention, not the words on your shirt.
3. Give consideration to color.
Solid colors and small prints are recommended for most or all outfits. There are no rules for colors. Choose colors that work best with your complexion. Bright colors always look great and ad a pop to your images.
For outside pictures, we recommend spring and summer colors of sky blue, pale green, watermelon and dark peach to complement the outdoor setting. For fall, consider wearing red, gold, deep orange, emerald green and dark green.
4. Use clothing to accentuate your best features.
High neck tops look best on people with long necks. Round and square faces look good in a square-neck top, while narrow faces or sharp chins are attractive with rounded-neck tops. Wide belts look best on people with long torsos while thin belts look best on short waists.
5. Go easy on the jewelry.
Avoid wearing attention-grabbing jewelry. Again, the photograph should 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.
6. Apply makeup normally.
It’s tempting to get very “glam” when having pictures taken, but this could very well make you look like a stranger in your senior portrait.
Apply your makeup as you normally look on a day-to-day basis, but bring your makeup with you and let us know you have it.
If we feel you need a touch more blush or eyeshadow, we will let you know.
Avoid glitter or sparkly anything (powder, eyeshadow, blush) – it tends to reflect the flash and leaves white spots.
Our studio does offer hair stylists and air brush make-up artists to add to the glamor of your senior session. Having these artists at hand during your session will help add a new look to each of your clothing/location changes. This will add a diverse selection of images for you to choose from. Not to mention that it makes the senior session feel much more like a model shoot. When you feel like a model it’s much easier to let your inner diva out during your session. Trust me it will show in your final images. Attitude is everything!
7. Bring powder.
If you have it, bring along some translucent powder. While in real life, a bit of shine to the face gives you that “dewy glow,” it unfortunately can look like “too much glow” in photos.
We will direct you if you need to dab some powder on your forehead or nose. If you’ve added a make-up artist to your session this will all be taken care of for you.
8. Go with practiced hair styles.
Getting senior portraits done is not the time to leave your hair uncombed for that “natural” look. Also, avoid experimental hairstyles.
In general, friends and family prefer to remember you as you looked most of your senior year, not just during the period when you had your pictures taken. We suggest working with your desired hairstyles a few days before the photo shoot to get the look you want in advance.
Get a haircut at least a week in advance to give your hair a chance to adjust and look natural. Girls having their hair styled for a formal picture can, of course, wait until the photo session day to get their hair done, but they should practice with their hair stylist beforehand so there are no surprises on picture day.
If you’ve added our hairstylist to your session we will be sure to change your styles between clothing changes. We will want to try your hair down in some images along with some creative up-do’s for a glamorous look in others.
9. Guys need a fresh shave.
A fresh shave for guys is recommended, and mustaches or beards should be neatly trimmed.
10. Don’t worry about blemishes.
Don’t worry about a blemish or bruise. We will present your images as finished beautiful portraits.
11. Don’t worry about braces.
Your braces are a part of the high-school “you” and shouldn’t be avoided or hidden. However, if they really bother you, or you only wore them a short time, we can work magic to make them disappear. Please ask us ahead of time if this is an issue for you.
12. Stay away from tans.
Don’t overdo the tanned look. For one thing, it looks unnatural. For another, your pictures could reveal peeling skin or a cherry-red nose.
13. Help your glasses avoid glare.
If you wear glasses either buy or borrow a pair of suitable frames without lenses to prevent glare and reflections from the glass. Or you can ask your optician to remove the lenses from your frames for the photo session. Most will do this for you at no charge, but give them plenty of notice so there is no rush.
14. Make sure your hands are presentable.
Like shoes, hands can show up in some of your favorite poses, so be sure to take the time to make them presentable – guys should trim their nails, and girls might need to touch up their manicure.
15. Practice your facial expressions.
Before you go to the photo shoot, practice your facial expressions in front of a mirror at home. You can try various smiles, serious but relaxed looks, and animated expressions for action shots (with sports gear, for example).
16. Work on your poses.
Although we will arrange your standing and sitting positions for a variety of shots, you can try out different stances and positions at home, in front of a mirror, or by asking for feedback from a friend or family member.
The overall goal is to appear natural and upbeat. Searching through magazines is a great source for unique poses.
Full body pictures are taken, as well, showing a person standing, sitting, or crouching in a relaxed manner. Outdoor shots typically make use of background fences, trees, and attractive or interesting doorways. Varying your poses within these natural and architectural settings will give you a diverse selection of images to choose from. Never worry. I am always guiding you through the posing and helping with expressions.
17. Personalize your photos with props.
We invite you to bring favorite props to the shoot, such as balloons, books, musical instruments, or hobby items. You can even bring a favorite portable piece of furniture, such as a lightweight chair or stool.
18. Bring someone with you.
We welcome you to bring a friend if that person can help make you relax and take a natural picture.
That person can also help with clothing changes and “double check” you while you’re being photographed to make sure your clothing hasn’t taken a turn for the worse or that your hair hasn’t come all undone.
19. Become comfortable with us.
Have a look at our website and the blog for location and posing ideas which might reflect the real you. Don’t be shy about asking questions, even during the actual shoot. If you don’t feel comfortable with a certain pose, say so.
20. Only take the photo if you’re feeling your best.
When the big day comes, if you’re not feeling your best due to a bad cold or too little sleep, call and cancel your photo appointment. We understand how important it is to look your best and will simply set up a follow-up time.
Other seniors who have had their pictures taken already can offer senior picture tips directly from their experience. If you know Maddie, (or any of our Senior Ambassadors) ask about her session plus she has a special ambassador savings code to share with you. The bottom line is that you should plan ahead to take photos that will make you look and feel your best. Try on several outfits at home before deciding which ones to take. As you become more familiar with us, the studio and our shooting plans, you can relax and enjoy the session. Your level of comfort will show in facial expressions and bodily tension (or lack of). Planning ahead will make the busy day more manageable and arm you with the confidence you need to take outstanding senior pictures that you can be proud of the rest of your life. Now you see how easy it can be, you can get your session booked as soon as possible.
Gosh, that was a marathon blog post, the longest yet I think. I better lay down to recover!
See you soon,
Alicia.
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