Preparation Tips for Senior Portraits

Being prepared for your senior photo session can make the difference between average and amazing photos. Follow these easy tips and you’ll be well on your way to looking your absolute best. If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me!

CLOTHING & SHOES
Bring a variety of different styles- from casual, dressy, or dressy-casual. Typically 2-3 outfits are used, but feel free to bring as many outfits as you would like. Make sure items are free of wrinkles and ready to go! Make sure you are comfortable in your cloths and they flatter you. Solid colors look much better than patterns like stripes or plaid in photographs. Avoid t-shirts with large graphics or logos. They distract from the main subject, which is you! Longer sleeves tend to be more flattering in photographs. Shoes and accessories can MAKE an outfit! Make sure your shoes are clean and in good repair. High heels are KILLER with senior portraits! Avoid gym shoes and flip-flops since these will appear too casual when viewing your photos. You can check out my Pinterest Board for Seniors to look at examples and other suggestions.

PROPS
They’re great and help show who you are! Some popular props include sports equipment, sports uniforms, musical instruments, your Bible, a vehicle, a pet, etc.

HANDS & FEET
Your hands WILL show and will likely be very prominent in many of your photographs. Make sure your nails are neatly trimmed and polish is not chipped. You will probably be showing your feet as well in many of your photographs. Make sure your toes are trimmed nicely. A pedicure is a great treat for yourself but if you don’t want the expense have neatly polished or bare toes.

HAIR, MAKE-UP, &  SHAVING
Don’t make any drastic changes like a crazy new haircut, shaving your head, or dying your hair around your session date. You don’t want to look back at your photos and wonder “What was I thinking?” Girls- strongly consider having your make up professionally done. This will not only make you feel more confident during your session, but it makes a huge difference in the images. Guys- please come to your session with a clean shave. This looks better in photos! Also, don’t stress about minor breakouts- those can be retouched!

GLASSES
Most lenses have a glare. The best option is to check with your eye doctor and ask if they’ll loan you a similar pair without lenses for the session.

WEATHER CONDITIONS
Don’t worry about clouds, because they actually even out the light and create an idea shooting condition. But falling rain is an issue and we’ll need to reschedule.

Welcome

I'm so glad you are here! Take a moment to look around. Please contact me at stephanieparkerphotography@gmail.com for more details or to set up a session.

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located in christiansburg, virginia