While the focus of your images will be your face and expressions, I want you to feel relaxed so it’s important to wear things that help you feel that way.  If it’s uncomfortable, doesn’t stay tucked-in, only looks good from one angle, keeps coming unbuttoned, or makes you feel self-conscious, it’s probably not the right outfit.  It’s hard to overcome those feelings and restrictions when you are in front of the lens, so making good decisions ahead of time will help get the session started on a good note.   

Most Senior Photography Experiences include two or three 'outfit' changes to include a more formal look and a casual look, but if you'd like to consider other options, let's discuss a plan which may be dependent on the location that you choose for your session and may need to have additional time incorporated into your session.

Here are some ideas to consider when choosing what to wear: 

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• Coordinate: start with one clothing piece that you love - a solid or subtle pattern.  Coordinate the rest of your outfit from that anchor point.  Add neutrals to create balance and textures to create interest.  

• Colors: jewel tones in the fall and winter, pastels and light colors in the spring and summer, and neutrals anytime tend to be softer and more complimentary for most skin tones versus stark white, black, and bright red.  Neon colors can be very overwhelming. Navy blues also often look 'black' in photos and sometimes blacks look washed out and/or show every piece of lint.    

• Layers and textures: layers add interest and can provide extra warmth in cold temperatures and softer fabrics tend to look less stiff or wrinkled. 

• What to avoid: Clothing with large brand names, graphics, and bold patterns can be distracting.  Skirts or dresses that are very short also can limit poses to standing only (it's nice to be able to sit, kneel, bend, and even lay down - longer skirts/dresses are much more flexible)

• Tucking: it’s really hard to keep shirts tucked in!  A sweater or shirt that looks good when it’s not tucked usually works better and feels more natural for most people.     

• Comfortability: in most portrait sessions, it's great to be able to highlight your face, expressions, and body language by sitting, squatting, and leaning - think about how this impacts what you choose to wear.  Most sessions are pretty active and incorporate lots of movement.  Think about whether it’s hard to sit, lean, lay, or kneel on the ground, a bench, wall or rock in what you will be wearing. You should be able to comfortably move, sit or stand without worrying about what you are wearing for fear of exposing something you don't want exposed in the images. PRO TIP: Try on what you are thinking about wearing and do a slow 360 degrees spin in front of the mirror (or have someone help you) and look for things that you don't want to be seen in the images (undergarments, garment tags showing, etc.) and make any necessary adjustments in advance of the session date.     

• Pulling it all together: Once you think you have good plan, lay out your choice and have plan for what you want to wear first and how you will change from one outfit to the next, especially if the photo session will be in a big public location without easy access to bathrooms or your vehicle. Have an advance plan for any jewelry and your hair and make-up.     

• Ironing, Lint and Stains: Does anything need to be ironed in advance?  It helps to minimize session day stress when the ironing or dry-cleaning are done ahead of time. If it wrinkles easily, such as a jacket, bring it to the location verses wearing it to the location.  Do you need a lint roller?  Black/dark colors have a tendency to show hairs and lint.  Look for stains and adjust as necessary.    

• Unload your pockets: Cell phones, keys, wallets, sunglasses, hair band on wrists...leave as much in your car as possible. 

• Glasses: If you wear glasses, make sure they have clean lenses.  Blue light glasses will look discolored in the images, and progressive lenses that darken into sunglasses are hard to 'see' your eyes.  If you have plain lenses, they will photograph better.  

• Check your hands....if your hands show in some of the images, are you OK with your nails polish and/or jewelry? 

• Remember that these photographs are going to be images that are treasured for generations so it’s worth it to take the time to find something that you love and that captures your personal style.