How to Prepare for Your Senior Pictures

Okay, you've booked your senior session. First of all... YAY!!

Now you're probably wondering, "Okay... what do I need to do before my pictures?"

Honestly? Not nearly as much as you think. I promise you don't need to spend weeks stressing over every little detail. There are just a few things I always tell my seniors that make the whole experience feel so much easier.

The biggest one? Don't wait until the last minute to figure out your outfits.

I've had seniors texting me an hour before their session asking which shirt they should wear. 😂

A few days before your session, lay everything out on your bed. Try everything on, make sure it still fits the way you want it to, and look at the outfits together. Sometimes something looks super cute in your closet, but once it's next to your other outfits, you realize it doesn't really fit the vibe.

Speaking of outfits...

Don't forget all the little things that go with them.

Shoes.

Jewelry.

Belts.

Letter jackets.

Sports equipment.

That cute hat you planned on wearing.

It sounds silly, but I've definitely had seniors remember the outfit and forget the shoes.

Another thing people don't always think about is drinking water.

I know... it sounds like something your mom would say. But she's right.

If you drink plenty of water the couple days leading up to your session, your skin usually looks healthier, your lips aren't as dry, and you'll just feel better. It's one of those little things that makes a bigger difference than people realize.

And while we're talking about taking care of yourself...

Please eat before your session. Especially if we're shooting around dinner time.

Nobody has fun when they're hungry, and trust me, smiling is a whole lot easier when you're not thinking about tacos the entire time.

If you're getting your hair or makeup done, awesome.

If you're doing it yourself, awesome.

Either way, my advice is always the same. Keep it looking like YOU. I don't want someone looking at your senior pictures and thinking, "She looks so different."

I want them to look at your photos and immediately think, "That is SO her."

Now let's talk about the thing almost every senior tells me right before we start.

"I'm awkward."

Nope.

You're not awkward.

You're just not used to having a camera pointed at you, and honestly... who is?

You do not have to know how to pose.

You don't have to know what to do with your hands.

You don't have to practice smiling in the mirror.

T

hat's literally why you hired me.

I'll guide you through the whole session. I'll tell you where to stand, how to move, when to laugh, and before you know it, you'll forget you're even taking pictures.

In fact, one of my favorite things is hearing someone say, "Wait... that was actually really fun."

Because that's exactly how I want your session to feel.

Not stressful.

Not awkward.

Not like you're checking something off a to-do list.

I want it to feel like an experience you'll actually remember.

So here's my biggest piece of advice...

Don't stress about making everything perfect. The perfect photos usually happen in the moments you weren't trying so hard. The wind catches your hair. You start laughing. You do something completely natural.

Those are almost always the photos that end up being everyone's favorites.

So take a deep breath.

Show up excited.

Trust me.

I've got the rest.

And I promise... we're going to have so much fun.