7 Tips to Look and Feel the Absolute BEST at your Senior Photo Session

There's a good chance you won't meet your photographer in person until your shoot. But that doesn't mean they have to feel like a stranger. 

Get to know more about them (and let them learn more about you) before your session. Here are some ideas for how to do that:

👉Read their About page on their website

👉Browse around their blogs

👉Follow them on social and interact with their stories + posts

👉Join their email list

👉Fill out your senior questionnaire with plenty of details

👉Ask them for advice on outfits, locations, planning, etc.

When you do this you will start to feel like you know each other. That will make the entire vibe of the photo session fun and relaxed...which then leads to amazing senior pics!

Is what you wear in your pictures really THAT big of a deal?

Not be dramatic, but yes. 🙃

The clothes you wear not only affect if your pictures are blah or stunning to look at. They also affect how confident you feel.

Your photographer can guide you in posing all day long, but that can't overpower you feeling uncomfortable in your clothes. 

🚫Don't choose outfits that don't fit right. 

🚫Don't let what's trendy pressure you into wearing something that you're not comfortable in.

🟢Do choose outfits that flatter your body type and you can move around in comfortably.

🟢Do choose colors that pop against your skin tone and eyes.

Do this, and your outfits will make you feel beautiful...

then your confidence will be through the roof...

then your positive energy will come through in your photos and you will be radiant. 🤩

"The best way to ruin the perfect outfit is to have chipped nail polish."  -a famous quote I just made up

But for real. Don't overlook all the little grooming details like hair, makeup and nails. These little touches will make you feel more beautiful and put together for your pictures.

➡️Seriously consider hiring a pro to style your hair and do your makeup for your pictures. You will feel like a pampered princess going into your shoot.

If that's not possible, at least get a fresh haircut/color and put some thought into styling and makeup. Watch some YouTube tutorials, or have a friend help you who is good at those things.

💄Do a practice run of hair and makeup a few weeks before your session and snap a few photos to see how you like the look.

💅Make sure your nails are freshly manicured. 

👗Be sure to steam or iron your clothes.

You know that "I just came out of the salon and I'm going to wave like a beauty queen because I look so stinking pretty" feeling? 

Show up for your photo session feeling the same way and you are guaranteed to look and feel so great!

Don't ruin your photo experience by forgetting to bring something with you for the pictures. There's nothing more devastating than going to change into your second outfit only to realize you left it at home! 😭True story: one of my clients did this and it was soooo sad!

Please keep that from happening to you. Here's how:

➡️About a week before your session, make a detailed list of everything you will need for your photos. This includes props, athletic gear, instruments, special objects to include, etc. 

➡️The day before your session, go down the list and gather up everything into a designated place and pack it. 

➡️Try on each of your outfits the day before, including undergarments. Double-check it all looks good. Then, as you remove the items for each outfit, pack all of it directly into your bag and put it with your props to grab the next day.

When you're leaving the next day, you won't be running around trying to find everything, potentially running late or forgetting something, and showing up to your session red-faced and stressed. You can simply grab your pre-packed stuff and go, knowing you've got it all right there.

They don't call it "beauty sleep” for nothing.

Obviously, getting plenty of sleep all the time will help you look and feel your best.

But especially the night before your senior pictures, make sure to get plenty of sleep. 

You'll be sharper mentally, feel great emotionally, and look your best physically. 

💫Bye-bye dark circles and hello bright eyes and gorgeous pictures!

Let’s be real. 

No matter how much you plan, sometimes crazy things happen that you don't expect. 

But that doesn't have to ruin your pictures! 

Do your best to have plenty of buffer time the day of your session. 

Think it will take an hour to get ready? Allow an hour and a half.

GPS says it takes 35 minutes to the location, leave at 45-50 minutes before meet-up.

You get the idea. 😉

Running behind and stressing is the last way you want to start off your photo session. So do as much as you can to prevent that.

Real talk time: don't bring someone along with you to the session who makes you feel self-conscious or nervous.

Just don't.

➡️If you're going to have someone walk along with you as photos are being taken, they need to bring out the very best in you.

Be super honest with yourself as you think about this.

Sometimes keeping it one-on-one with your photographer is the best option.

Disclaimer: Most photographers want you to bring a parent with you to the shoot. But you don't always have to have them walk right along with you as you take pictures. 

This is a personal thing and everyone is different. 

But honestly think about this because it will seriously influence the way you feel at your session. Trust me.

I hope these tips for how to look better in your senior pictures were helpful.

All it takes is a little thought and a little prep work to look and feel your best and to have an amazing senior photo session experience!