Your senior session should feel relaxed, fun, and most importantly — like you. Before your session, we’ll talk about the overall look you’re drawn to, your outfits, and the locations that will work best with your style.
You don’t need to have every detail figured out ahead of time. I’ll help you plan everything so your outfits, locations and lighting all work beautifully together.
What time is best for photos?
Lighting can completely change the look and feel of your photographs. For most outdoor senior sessions, I prefer photographing in the early morning or later in the day, closer to golden hour, when the light tends to be softer and especially beautiful.
That said, every location is different. Architecture, trees, shade, the beach and even the direction of the sun can give us different options throughout the day. Once we decide on your locations and the overall look you want, I’ll help choose the best time for your session.
What should I wear?
Come dressed and ready in your first outfit, and we’ll build from there.
Most seniors bring 2–3 looks, depending on the length of the session. I recommend choosing outfits that feel different enough from one another to give your final gallery some variety.
I love creating a mix of images — some classic and timeless, some soft and natural, and a few that feel a little more fun and editorial.
Once I know what you’re planning to wear, I can also keep your outfits in mind when choosing our backgrounds so the colors, textures and surroundings complement your look.
A few ideas:
Long, flowy dresses and skirts are beautiful around tall grasses, dunes and the beach because they create movement in photographs.
Shorter dresses are great too! You may simply want to bring one longer option if you’d like that softer, flowing look in some of your images.
Layers are an easy way to change a look. A jean jacket, sweater or lightweight jacket can give us another variation without requiring a complete outfit change.
Texture and movement photograph beautifully — soft fabrics, interesting sleeves, flowing skirts and anything that catches a little breeze can be gorgeous.
Above all, choose clothing that feels like you. These photos should still feel like you when you look back at them years from now.
And don’t feel like you need to bring your entire closet! A few thoughtfully chosen outfits usually give us plenty of variety.
Can I bring flowers or props?
Absolutely. Feel free to bring one or two simple things that add to your session or tell a little bit of your story.
A bouquet of flowers can be beautiful, especially for a softer or more editorial look. You can also bring something meaningful to you — whether it represents a sport, hobby, music, your future college or simply something you love.
I usually prefer keeping props simple so you remain the focus of the photographs.
What about shoes?
Bring shoes that work with each outfit, but I also recommend bringing flip-flops or easy slip-on shoes for walking between locations.
If we’re photographing at the beach, going barefoot is always an option — and sometimes those end up being some of my favorite images.
We can always put your shoes back on when we want a more completely styled, head-to-toe portrait.
What should I do with my hair?
Wear your hair in a way that makes you feel most like yourself.
If you’re wearing it down, don’t worry about every strand staying perfectly in place. A little movement from the breeze can actually be beautiful in photographs, especially at the beach.
You’re also welcome to change it during your session. Pulling your hair back or putting it up for a few photographs is an easy way to create another look.
How much makeup should I wear?
You don’t need to look dramatically different from yourself. Natural, polished makeup photographs beautifully.
Because outdoor light and photography can sometimes soften makeup, you may want just a little more definition around your eyes, cheeks and lips than you normally wear.
Lip color can be especially helpful. Even a natural shade, liner or tinted gloss helps keep your lips defined in brighter light.
Most importantly, you should still look and feel like yourself.
What should I bring with me?
A small bag with a few essentials is perfect:
Brush or comb
Lip color or gloss for touch-ups
Powder or blotting papers, if you use them
Hair ties or pins
Flip-flops or comfortable shoes
Water
A small towel if we’re heading to the beach
Try to keep what you bring fairly light, especially if we’ll be walking between several different areas.
What if I don’t know how to pose?
You don’t have to! That’s my job.
I’ll guide you throughout your session and give you direction when you need it. We’ll also keep things moving so everything doesn’t feel overly posed or stiff.
Sometimes my favorite photographs happen in those little in-between moments — walking, laughing, moving your hair, looking away from the camera or simply relaxing into the surroundings.
My goal is to give you a gallery with lots of variety: beautiful soft portraits, timeless senior photographs, and some more creative, editorial images that feel a little unexpected.
Most of all, I want your senior session to be fun and relaxed and your photographs to feel like the very best version of you.