Summer is so close we can almost smell the suntan lotion and salt water! While high school students throughout the Western New York area are all counting down the days until school lets out, those who are eagerly awaiting their senior year come fall have one more thing to take care of: senior portraits.
Every year before this, you simply had to show up on picture day and smile for the camera. This year, things are a little different and because you’re not familiar with the process, you’re bound to have a few questions. So how can you prepare yourself for your big senior portrait session?
Contact Your Coach – Athletes: if you’d like to be photographed with your jersey, be sure to plan ahead. While there are some schools that allow team members to hold onto their jerseys year round, plenty of others do not. You’ll have to speak with your coach well ahead of time and request to borrow it for your session.
Think Variety – Throughout your session, you will be moving around, posing in different ways with different backgrounds. Instead of choosing one outfit for every shot, bring a variety of options in different styles and colors. Girls: think shorts, jeans, dresses, t-shirts, blouses, etc. Guys: think shorts, khakis, jeans, polos, shirt/tie, etc.
Organize the Night Before – Your session is scheduled for an allotted amount of time. The more time you spend playing around with outfits to figure out what works best with what, the less time you’ll have to take pictures. Lay everything out the night before your session and decide every detail down to the accessories so you can transition easily from one look to the next.
Enlist Help – Guys: we know that fashion may not be your strong suit. Though your mom may be more than willing to help, try enlisting the help of your girlfriend or a close girl friend before running everything passed mom for final approval. Someone who loves fashion and happens to be your own age will know exactly what’s currently in style. Girls: need a second opinion? Invite your best friends over the night before and give them a fashion show of your top choices; they’ll help you narrow it down.
Once you’ve gotten yourself organized, all you have to remember is to just relax! Your senior photo session is supposed to be fun – don’t stress so much about getting the perfect shot. If you just enjoy yourself, we promise it will show in each and every one of your photos.
