Updated October 2024

Senior Guys What to Wear Shopping Guide 

Senior Girls What to Wear Shopping Guide

So you’ve booked your session with your senior photographer, but now you’re wondering what to wear? Well, look no further, we have a few tips and some inspo to get you started!

What to Wear for your Senior Session

1. Start by choosing two or three outfits. For girls, this usually starts with a top or dress, and for guys, a shirt, that you can build around. If you’re needing some inspiration you can browse through our Senior Guys guide and Senior Girls guide which contain curated collections with shoppable links of items that will photograph well. Your outfits could be as simple as bringing an extra shirt or jacket to pop on for a few images, or you could do entirely different looks from head to toe. If you’re working with us, we offer full styling, or just a second opinion, if you need some guidance. We’re happy to let you know how your garments will photograph and what you you might add or subtract. Text us a photo!

2. Most importantly, make sure everything is clean and WRINKLE-FREE the day before. Be sure to bring your items to the dry cleaner at least three days prior and retrieve them before your shoot. Wrinkles do not look good and there’s no way around that! And unfortunately, wrinkles are not easily removed from every image.

3. Don’t forget to pack any accessories you’ll want for each outfit like jewelry, scarves, hats, ties, etc. And remember to bring matching socks/shoes/undergarments for each outfit if one won’t go with everything. It’s best to lay this all out the night before!

Hair and Makeup

4. If you want to get your hair cut, do it about one or two weeks prior to your session – not the day before! It might not be the time to drastically change your hair from your normal style. You may end up not liking it! Ask your hair stylist to show you some easy styles you can recreate yourself if you want to switch it up a bit.

5. Practice your makeup the week leading up to your session so you can get it just right the day of, or book an appointment with a professional makeup artist for the day of. If you’re interested in some additional photo-ready hair & makeup tips with shoppable links to our favorite products you can find them here.

6. If you wake up with some acne the day of, don’t worry. And don’t pick at it, which will potentially make it worse. For the ladies, apply some makeup over the area (not too heavy) and leave it at that. For the guys, don’t worry, we do offer retouching, including blemish removal. We can take care of your skin in post-processing. No problem!

7. If you want to get a manicure, that you CAN do the day before your session. Don’t forget that the color should be more understated than not, and match all of your outfits. Bright neon nails are probably best saved for another day!

Props and Extras

8. While you’re at it, if you plan on bringing any props – your favorite book, instrument, sports gear, or any items of sentimental value, etc., go ahead and lay those out the night before, too.

9. If you’re not already a selfie-expert, maybe practice a bit in the mirror. We’ll guide you through absolutely everything you’ll need to do at your session, but it never hurts to know your best angles and have a few tricks up your sleeve.

10. Finally, if you’re adding in your BFF/BF/GF or parents to your session, don’t forget to coordinate (but don’t match) an outfit with them. We’re happy to offer guidance on wardrobe, so please reach out if you need help.

Additionally, you can view some images from our Senior sessions here. We also have pinterest boards for senior girls here and senior guys here.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

We look forward to telling your Senior story!