What to Wear for Senior Portraits | Senior Portrait Photographer

You’ve got your senior portrait session scheduled—whoo hoo! You have a location you love—sweet! 2-3 outfits are the norm for a senior session—gulp! So what do you wear? This is a question I am asked often by my clients, so here are some ideas that might help!

Make sure each outfit shows your personality! (Abbie’s boots were the perfect reflection of her fun-loving, country personality, and Nadia’s shorts and high school t-shirt could not have been more her! Evan’s simple jeans and gray polo made his session so relaxed and most of his poses completely comfortable.)
Girls, bring clothes that show movement—long skirts, flowy dresses…movement is always good! (I loved Rebecca’s flowy sleeves in her senior portraits!)
Think about the different poses you may be asked to try out. You might be standing, sitting, kneeling, facing your front, turned around so that the camera can see your back… Are your clothes too short? Too low cut? Too tight?
Shoes matter! Think about the location. Will you need to walk a lot through forests or grassy areas? If so, bring a pair of flip flops so that you can walk more and so that you don’t get your good shoes dirty!
Speaking of location, think about where you might be changing your outfits. Some locations have restrooms nearby, but sometimes being able to change easily in your car or even on the go can be helpful!
Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Bring long necklaces, fun earrings, hats, scarves, handbags, sports equipment, letter jackets, instruments, and other accessories that you might want to show off! And don’t leave out the cap and gown! (I loved Hannah’s class ring and bracelet combo. Jamie brought along a photo of herself when she was a baby as well as a fun “I’m Done!” sign. Also check out some of Gabe’s senior photos with his guitar. And Heaven’s cap and gown photos were just gorgeous!)
Don’t wear a lot of busy prints, as those can become distracting from the focus of the portraits—you!
Vertically challenged people (I know this group well) should avoid horizontal stripes. Vertical stripes can also be tricky…they can either make you look a bit taller or accentuate every curve or imperfection.
As far as colors, think about the colors that are most flattering with your skin tone and the colors of the season in which you are having your portraits made. Will the background have a lot of green? If so, don’t wear more green—you’ll blend right in! Contrasting colors can be a lot of fun (a bright pink top in front of a green forest, a navy blue dress in front of a garden of yellow flowers), as well as colors that complement each other. But unless you’re trying to look Christmassy, don’t wear red in a mainly green setting. (Check out the golden top that Sarah wore in her senior session at McDowell Park. It contrasted so well with the dark green of the lake at the time of day we did her session!)
Avoid branding or words on your clothing (it can be distracting and get cut off depending on what poses you try). Last year I took some photos of my kindergartener son in his XL “Class of 2031” t-shirt, and because it was so large on him, the “C” and the “L” got hidden under his arm. I’ll just let you figure out what the final product read! (That will be a great one for his senior yearbook, right?) Unless it’s a specific team, message, or personalized shirt that you want to show off, then bring on all the vinyl!
For girls, plan for a couple of different hairstyles you’d like to feature in your photos! Guys, do you want to wear a hat?
Hair and make-up matter! A good hairstyle and make-up design can give your photos an even more professional look. There’s nothing like a head full of hair to work with in photos! (And when the wind catches your hair just right like it did at Tori’s senior session at Winthrop…)
Do you wear glasses? Try popping out the lenses beforehand, if possible. Transition lenses in any outdoor lighting can make you look like you’re wearing sunglasses, and regular glass often produce a glare. “Eyes are the window to the soul,” so we want to make sure we can see them well!
Watch your undergarments. Ladies, make sure that your bra color doesn’t contrast with the top you’re wearing, and if you can see any part of it, find another style or color to wear. Same thing with undies…you don’t want your Ninja Turtle boxers peeking out of your shorts!
Wear outfits that match the season! If you schedule your session for an evening in July, you will not survive if you pick jeans and a flannel shirt.
Bring a mix of casual and dressy outfits!
If you want some portraits in your cap and gown, be sure to bring them (and all the accessories!). Be sure to steam it or hang it up in a steamy bathroom first, because they can get very wrinkly.