What to Wear to Your Senior Photos
Your senior’s photos should be more than just nice pictures. They should capture who they are in this once-in-a-lifetime season. As a mom, I know how quickly these milestones come and go, and how much we want to remember our kids just as they are right now.
You want images that reflect your child’s personality, confidence, and the incredible young adult they’re becoming.
That’s why planning outfits ahead of time isn’t just about clothes. It’s about creating a relaxed, fun experience where your senior feels comfortable enough to let their true self shine. After 13+ years of photographing seniors, I’ve put together these styling tips to help you choose looks that not only photograph beautifully, but also feel authentic to your senior! I want you to walk away with portraits you’ll treasure for years to come.
Pick 3 Diverse Outfits
The first outfit should be a casual style.
The second outfit a more polished look.
And the third outfit should be centered around your personality (Such as a sport, hobby or interest.)
The Casual Look for Girls
Jeans and a light colored blouse with white tennis shoes or fun booties
A flowy sundress and a light denim jacket with nice sandals or a simple wedge
The Casual Look for Guys
Jeans and T-shirt with an open buttoned shirt on top, a tennis shoe (non-athletic)
A pair of khaki shorts and a polo shirt with low profile tennis shoes or boat shoes
Light pair of pants with a denim button up shirt with sleeves rolled up
The Polished Look for Girls
A structured dress with a simple neckline, heels/dress shoes
A romper and a wedge heel
A wide legged crop jean and an oversized sweater, fun heels or Doc Martens
Denim jeans with a slim fit colored tee and a black blazer, heels/dress shoes
The Formal Look for Guys
A crew neck sweater with a dark pair of pants, dress shoes
Dark denim jeans and a fitted T-shirt with a blazer, dress shoes
Black pants and a colored button up shirt, dress shoes
The Personality Look
A sports outfit like a basketball uniform or dance costume, complete with ball and dance shoes.
A musical instrument or hobby related items like paints or a book.
If you are super into fashion, perhaps you want to pick a trendier look for your final outfit to really show off your style of the time.
Final Styling Tips & Planning
Remember these are just ideas, always choose clothing that is true to your style and makes you feel confident!
Plan Outfits in their entirety. This means ever look should be styled head to toe including the proper shoes, undergarments and jewelry/props. That way you are not missing anything on the day of the shoot.
Pick outfits from clothing you know and love. Senior Pictures should be a true representation of your personality. There is no need to buy a whole new wardrobe.
Plan ahead with hair. Everybody’s hair is different, but most haircuts look their best 0-2 weeks after the initial cut. Guys should shave the day of the shoot, but be careful with nicks.
Take care of your hands. A natural manicure, with clear or no polish will help keep your hands looking presentable. Hands show up in a lot of poses, especially headshots and when working with props.
Be mindful of your shoes. Shoes, like hands, can show up in some of your favorite poses. Make sure to not only have the appropriate footwear per outfit, but also that shoes are clean and presentable.
Go for classic jewelry and accessories. A simple necklace and earrings or your everyday watch would be all the jewelry you need. Avoid wearing anything too attention grabbing. Again, the photographs should accentuate your face, eyes and personality. No need to draw unwarranted attention towards accessories, especially because they can easily date the image.
Apply makeup normally. You want your portraits to highlight your natural beauty. Avoid the temptation of going too glam and not looking like yourself. A little extra blush or eyeshadow can help from appearing washed out, but don’t stray too far from your normal routine.
Bring translucent powder or oil blotters. while in real life a bit of shine can give you a “dewy glow’, it can unfortunately look oily on camera.
Consider glasses glare. If you do not have a non-glare coating on your lenses, consider asking you optician to remove your lenses from the frame for the photo session. Most will do this at no charge, but give them plenty of notice so there is no rush.
Make sure your clothing is pressed. All clothing should be ironed and arrive to the shoot on hangers. Wrinkles are very obvious in photographs.
Relax and have fun! The photos represent a wonderful time in your life and the experience of taking them should be just as fabulous as the finished product. Plus, when you are happy and enjoying yourself it will shine through in the photos.
