Unless you're a professional model, it doesn't feel natural for a practical stranger to point a camera at you and say "Okay, I want you to put run your fingers through your hair, look over my right shoulder, and laugh like something funny has just happened." That doesn't come natural to me either! You might have had your hair done, bought three new outfits, and found the best shoes to match them all, but when you're met with awkward commands, you won't feel like your senior portrait session is as glamorous as you've always wanted it to be. In this article, I will help you in navigating how to find the best clothes to fit your style, explain the process of posing, and give you some pointers on how to find the right location.
What to wear? I can't tell you how many times I've asked that when facing photo shoots with my family. Usually with family photo shoots, there is a color palette to help guide you. With senior photo shoots, you are the star of the show, so the colors, outfits, and props are all up to you. Choose something that reflects your style and personality. First, start with something that makes you feel comfortable. You don't want to spend the next hour feeling uncomfortable in the outfit you've chosen while being the subject of all the photos being taken. You will be able to offer genuine smiles and poses when you feel like yourself.
Searching for the perfect outfit can be daunting. There are so many options, from department stores, to boutiques, to Shein. If you are local to Navarro County, there are several boutique shops around Corsicana's downtown area. My favorite is The Pink Peony. They have beautiful seasonal clothing and accessories for women and teens. However, if boutiques are out of your price range or not offering the style options you want, I have purchased many sweaters, dresses, and hats on Amazon that I've worn to my family photo shoots. For my own senior photos, I shopped at an off price retail store. TJ Maxx and Marshall's are both good options to find department store quality clothing at a fraction of the cost!
You may also want to consider your school colors, what college you will be attending, or what career you will be studying/entering into. When I graduated college, I earned a teaching degree. For some pictures, I wore a shirt with my monogram in the shape of an apple, and I had an apple and a Dr. Seuss book for props. Your cap and gown are also great props that can capture some cute photos.
"What do I do with my hands?" A question asked at any photo shoot. My posing process is simpler than you might imagine. I have about four poses for guys and girls that are my favorites, and when given these different poses in several settings, a senior's gallery can be filled with a great variety of unique photos. I always start small and ease the graduate into poses that don't feel as natural others. One of my favorite things to start with is to ask a girl walk toward the camera, putting one foot directly in front of the other. Smile at the camera, smile over to the side, and laugh over to the side, we do a lot of fake laughing :). For guys, I like to start with either hands in pockets or arms crossed, slightly turned. This is a simple pose that gives a graduate masculine photos.
Eventually, we will move into more varied poses. Maybe with one hand over the top of your head and the other cupping your face. This may sound odd, but when those photos are taken up close with a soft background, it can create the most beautiful, model-level images.
The right location for photos, like your clothes, should reflect your personality. If you spend your days reading at the library, maybe you won't feel comfortable in the middle of a cow pasture to get those open field shots. I have seen senior sessions actually taken in a bookstore, and those photos truly reflected who that senior was. What if you want some nice field pictures, but it's the rainy season in Texas? Any field you find may be too wet to comfortably take pictures. If that's the case, try going to a park. City parks have wide open spaces and sometimes tree backgrounds. Chloie (above middle) wanted to have her senior session in a field by her grandparent's house, but we had an entire week of rain beforehand. Instead, we found a section of a local park that kind of looked like a field.
If your school or college has a pretty campus, you can visit the campus at golden hour (sunset) and it's normally pretty empty. Using old buildings and columns can give your photos a very beautiful and academic feel. You can also use sports fields or courts to get pictures if you're on a sports team. When I was a senior, I took some of my pictures on the tennis courts, some posed shots, and some of me just hitting the tennis ball. Maybe you play baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, etc. and you can showcase your talents in a fun and personal way.
At Katie Thomas Photography, you will get a professional and experienced photo shoot where you feel confident and love the results. I love senior photo shoots because the clients are always excited to participate. With my photo shoots, you will be sent a professional gallery of 50 photos. Free downloads are included, and you even have the option to print graduation announcements, photo books, prints, and canvases. If you're looking for the right photographer for your senior photos, hit the "Get Started" button below to start you Katie Thomas Photography senior experience now!
Senior Session Do's and Don'ts
