What to Wear for Senior Photos?
Hey Seniors!I am so excited about today’s post! Senior year is such a special time in your life, and you only experience it twice in your entire life! I am also a senior this year and will be graduating from Southeastern University in Spring 2020 with a B.S. in Digital Media and Design. You know I have that countdown app set to April 24, 2020 (170 days and counting!).
Thinking about what needed to be in this article, got me thinking about my own high school senior photos. These were taken November 2015, exactly 4 years ago. I remember going to the boutiques with my mom and picking out the perfect dress and accessories. Picking out your outfits for your session might seem daunting, as these are the photos you will look back on and print in the yearbook, but I’ve got you! Just follow these simple steps and you will be ready to celebrate your final year of high school or college.
Photos taken by the lovely Fabiana Mckown on November 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Things to Keep in Mind
Your body type- We love a snatched waist! Wear things that compliment your body, not hide it!
The location(s)- Maybe the fur coat on the beach was actually a bad idea? Does my bathing suit match this snowy winter wonderland behind me? No? Okay.
Your undergarments (yes this is important)- Women wear bras? *Pretends to be shocked. * Still, make sure your undergarments probably fit you so they’re not digging into your skin and stick to natural skin tones. We don’t really want your bright blue strap coming out of your pretty strapless dress.
Things to Stay Away From
White shirts and khakis- Sorry to all the moms, but this has got to go.
Big logos and lots of texts or graphics- Let’s leave that Aeropostale graphic tee in middle school where it belongs.
Ill-fitting clothes- Skirts that are too shirt, tops that are too tight.
1. Stay True to Your Style and PersonalityIf the thought of dressing up and wearing heels or a tight dress gives you a bad headache, then don’t wear it! “If you’re not comfortable in what you are wearing, it’ll show in the photos,” says Jacey Freedman, class of 2019 senior. If you want to wear a dress, make sure it’s one you can move in, spin around in, and sit on the ground. We do not want to flash anybody over here!
Jacey Freedman senior portraits taken by me in Atlanta, Georgia on April 2019.
2. Stick to Neutral Colors, Jewel Tones, or Cool colors“Warm colors are great and all, but orange is one of the hardest colors to edit since it can match with the skin tone,” explains Madie of Madie Ice Photography in Georgia. With bright colors, the attention is automatically brought to the neon pink shirt or bright green skirt and not your face. Colors I recommend sticking to are deep greens and blues, grays and warm brown, and the go to—black.
Now, this isn’t to say don’t bring out your red dress (Cue Jonas Brother’s “Burnin’ Up”) or your white flowy pants. You just need to take into consideration the color palette of your backdrops. Is a bright red dress the right move for a green park background? Should you really wear those white pants on the blinding, washed out white sand beach? Maybe not this time.
Planning out your outfits to fit in a certain color scheme or palette will also help create a more cohesive gallery.
Caroline Brown senior portraits taken by me in Duluth, Georgia on October 2019.
Amer Valencia senior portraits taken by me in Atlanta, Georgia on November 2018.
3. Strike a “Cord” with Corduroy or other fun texturesVelvet, ribbed, chiffon, satin—the list could go on. Have fun with your outfits! Play with the latest season’s trends and find ways to incorporate them into your photos. Taking photos in the fall? Bust out those funky corduroy pants. Spring time session calling your name? Layer a fitted turtle neck under a satin mini dress. Textures help to upgrade your outfits from simply okay, to interesting and unique! “When I found this white flowy dress, I knew it was perfect for my photos with my cap and gown. The cutouts and lacey details add some girly-ness to this huge, dark gown,” describes class of 2019 senior, Lauren House.
Amer Valencia senior portraits taken by me in Atlanta, Georgia on November 2018.
Lauren House senior portraits taken by me in Atlanta, Georgia on April 2019.
4. Feel Free to Bring Props & Rep Your Next Step!Seniors nowadays are so involved. From varsity sports, to student government, to the arts, they are a big part of your life. If you want an outfit with your varsity jacket, pole vaulting pole, and every single award you’ve ever won (Yes, this happened! Picture below.) let’s do it. This is your time to showcase everything you are involved in and accomplished in your four years of high school or college.
I also encourage my high school seniors to bring an outfit with their college choice t-shirt. You did it! You survived high school, senior year projects and AP exams, while applying at 20 different universities, and finally decided where to spend the next four years of your life. Even if that isn’t the path you’re headed and it’s a trade school, internship, or profession, whatever it is let’s celebrate! “Finally knowing where I was going after high school, was a big deal for me. Getting some pictures in my college t-shirt, even if it is my hometown college was awesome to have,” says Fabricio De Melo, class of 2019 senior.
Caroline Skelton senior portraits taken by me in Atlanta, Georgia on May 2019.
Fabricio De Melo senior portraits taken by me in Marietta, Georgia on May 2019.
Kelsey Worthington senior portraits taken by me in Suwannee, Georgia on April 2019.
I hope these tips helped you! It definitely got me excited for my own senior photo session in the spring!