What Should I Wear for My Senior Photos?

Your date is booked with me and you’re probably feeling a little excited. But maybe a little bit nervous too? Because now you’ve started to think about what to wear. What outfits will you choose? Is there something in your closet or should you go shopping?

Here I’ll give you some quick guidelines to help you answer these questions you may be having and feel confident in your outfit choices.

Confidence is Key

When it comes to choosing what to wear for your senior photos, the most important thing is that you feel confident and comfortable in the outfit you choose. When you look in the mirror you shouldn’t feel wishy washy or uncertain about if you like the look or not. I want you to find a fit that makes you look at yourself and think - wow, I look good!

Being confident in your own skin and in our outfit will make you feel so much more at ease as you stand in front of my camera. So take some time to think about what makes you feel good and pick an outfit that reflects that.

Consider Your Location

The location of your photo shoot can also play a role in what you should wear for your senior photos.

Outdoors

When shooting outside, being weather appropriate is a factor. If it’s 80 degrees, you’ll want to wear something that breathes and doesn’t make you sweat more than necessary. So instead of jeans and a stylish jacket, light-weight pieces are going to be your friend. If you want to dress feminine this will come a little easier because the possibilities are endless with the types of dresses you could rock.

If it’s 45 degrees with a chance of rain, selecting a coat that drives the look for your ensemble will be the most important factor. Here in the northwest a lot of us have coats to suit the weather of the day. While that’s important for sure and not to be forgotten, you will also want to make sure that your coat is complimented by your shoes, bottoms and any other accessories such as a hat or scarf. So for chilly photo shoots, I recommend first selecting your coat and then adding your accessories piece by piece to make a cohesive thoughtful decision.

Studio

On the other hand, in-studio sessions are not as constricting. Want to wear a crop top and skirt even though it’s snowing outside? Do it! 😀 Or maybe you want to wear some stylish shoes that aren’t great walking shoes. Wear them!

Color

I’m not a professional stylist like Tan France is, but I am a professional photographer. So my advice when it comes to deciding on color is begin with one color of your choice and pair it with neutrals such as white, grey, black or beige. That is a great starting point. If you’re in love with lots of colors, my advice is to pick complimenting duos and trios. There are tons of color pallet tools out there but here is one worth giving a try.

For studio styled sessions, fill me in on your vision so I make sure that I have the color backdrop setup that you have your heart set on.

Multiple Outfits

If it’s your plan to wear multiple outfits there are two strategies you could choose:

1) To select outfits that all look nice if they were collaged together - this will make an impact if you are going to print multiple photos and display them together as wall art or in a senior yearbook album.

2) Make your various outfit choices diverse to showcase different looks such as casual, formal, and timeless all in one session.

Decide which route you want to go to narrow down your selection.

Details

It’s also very important to avoid logos and graphics. Graphic shirts are fun but it can distract from a polished portrait. If you can’t live without including a graphic T-shirt, my advice is to include another shirt in your wardrobe that is a solid color so we can photograph both types.

If your favorite clothes have logos, then make sure that your entire outfit is brand consistent. So avoid wearing an Adidas shirt with a Nike hat and then Rebook shoes. Instead, wear the same brand throughout your outfit.

Be Yourself

I remember from a young age, adults always telling me, “be yourself.” As a younger Evelyn, I always just shrugged that advice off because it sounded cheesy and generic. The younger me also cared more about fitting in with my peers first and foremost. Buuuut, now that I am older I realize how absolutely LIBERATING it is to give myself permission to be me. Today, all of my good friends love me for me. Not a fake me that pretends to like things I actually don’t like.

To get back to the point, I want you to let go of what you think you should wear or what is currently trendy. At the end of the day, choose clothes that are consistent with your personality.

The whole point of senior photos is to celebrate YOU after all so keep that at the heart of your decision.

You Can Always Ask!

Once you have some things picked out, and you’re not sure about anything feel free to get in touch with me to get my professional opinion.