What to Wear for your Senior Session
Choosing what to wear for your senior session can sometimes feel like a daunting task. As a high school senior, it is likely that this is your very first photo shoot. First of all, congratulations! Photoshoots can be so much fun!
If you’re a little worried about what to wear, there’s no need to stress. By going over some tips, tricks, dos and don’ts, this guide will help you prepare for your session and leave you feeling confident when you arrive for your shoot.
Photo by Amanda Vick on Unsplash
Wear clothes that you feel confident in
One of the most important things to remember when preparing for your senior session is to wear clothes that you feel confident in.
Choose clothes that are flattering, that show off your favorite features of your body, and hides any parts that are not your favorite.
Choose colors that you love and compliment your coloring. You know what looks best with your hair and skin tones, so plan towards whatever makes you the most confident!
Wear what makes you feel comfortable and most importantly, wear what makes you feel like YOU.
Choosing the Right Colors
Avoid Bright Colors
You can and absolutely should wear your favorite colors, however, try not to wear the brightest version of them. Wearing a color that is too bright can result in weird color reflections on the skin and, in addition, it can also be distracting. Examples of these colors are neons and other ultra-saturated colors.
Instead try a slightly muted version of your favorite colors. If you like yellow, try a deeper mustard version. If you like red (which can be a nice bold color that adds drama) try a deeper, more wine toned red. Some other great color alternatives are burnt or rust orange, soft dusky pink, any shade of gray, warm browns, olive greens, or deep/soft blues.
Wearing a color that’s too bright can result in weird color reflections on the skin
Neutral Outfit Colors
Neutrals are always a good idea for pictures. Wearing neutral colors with a beautiful background will make your pictures look elegant and timeless.
Black is a very popular color as it is effortless, classic, and slimming. White can be very sophisticated. It stands out great and reflects light onto your skin very well, which is great for photos. Cream colors will give you a polished look during your session and make your clothing pieces stand out without taking too much attention from you.
Some other neutral color options are grey, tan, or light brown.
Photo by Alyssa Strohmann on Unsplash
Muted Outfit Colors
As mentioned earlier, muted colors are a great option for your senior session. Muted colors can be pretty much any solid color as long as it is subtle. Light blue, blush, or lavender will look especially nice paired with nature-inspired sessions at the garden, park, lake and the beach.
Remember these color suggestions are meant to serve as a guide. In the end, choose what makes you feel the most comfortable in your own skin.
Still feeling lost? Try this color palette for inspiration!
Choosing the Right Clothes
Don’t Wear…
Avoid wearing anything with graphics or logos on it. You are the main character in this session, we don’t want anything to distract from that. The one exception to this rule, of course, is school logos and sports uniforms.
Baggy clothes are another big no-no when is comes to photoshoots. While baggy clothing has its place, it is not in photos. Wearing baggy clothes in photos can actually make you look bigger than you actually are.
You are the main character in this session, we don’t want anything to distract from that.
In contrast, too-tight clothes can also come across unflattering in photographs. while they can make a subject look slimmer, they also tend to fit oddly in certain places and create unwanted bulges that you will not want to see in your photos.
Patterns. This is a controversial one for many photographers. Some will say to completely avoid them. However, I side with the latter who say to use them smartly and sparingly. Definitely avoid loud patterns and horizontal stripes. Just like with logos these make a photo look chaotic and can distract from you, the subject.
Do Wear…
Wear clothes that fit you well! Not too tight, not too baggy. Again, wear what you feel comfortable in and at ease. Remember, you will be doing a variety of poses, so you want to make sure that you wear something that can accomodate that.
Subtle patterns. When it comes to wearing patterns, focus on SUBTLE. Muted/neutral colors are a must. Floral prints can be a very attractive way to introduce patterns into your session. As a rule, stripes are best avoided. However, if you do choose to wear them, stick to vertical lines and subtle colors. If you choose to wear patterns for your session, I recommend limiting it to only one outfit.
Photo by kemal alkan on Unsplash
Flowy dresses and skirts. These can make for very fun and creative photos, not to mention they look amazing. Flowy dresses and skirts also tend to be flattering on any body type.
Denim. Denim is a classic that always looks great in photos. Tip: Denim jackets pair great with black jeans and a cute light-wash denim jacket can pair well with many clothing items including sundresses.
Consider the Location
Urban photoshoots are very different from nature sessions! Wearing the wrong kind of clothes for your location can look out of place. Keep this in mind when choosing your outfits.
For nature shoots, I recommend wearing more outdoorsy clothing. Think denim, boots, flowy, organic, etc. (Yes, this is the perfect location for that flowy wardrobe piece!)
For urban shoots, you can wear bolder colors and more structured clothing. This is a great opportunity for bold and dramatic fashion choices. Have a leather piece you’re dying to wear? This is the place.
Some Final Advice…
Dress for the season and the weather. As it gets chillier, it is always smart to bring layers. Don’t want to wear layers in your photos? No problem, still bring that jacket though for in between shots and locations. If you are cold and uncomfortable, it could show in photographs. Remember, comfort is key.
Wear minimal accessories. If you do choose to wear jewelry, simple gold and silver pieces photograph best. Try to avoid anything too bright, big, or chunky as it can be very distracting in photos.
Bring the right undergarments. This is one of those things people don’t always think about for their sessions, but no one wants a rogue bra strap in their photo!
Try on your outfits before the shoot. If there is anything you remember to do, DO THIS. You always want to double check that everything fits as it should. Check yourself out in the mirror, or even take a selfie. This will ensure that you are confident and happy with your look for your session and help you to avoid any unwanted fashion emergencies.
Remember this session is all about capturing your unique, beautiful self and that one of a kind personality. Just be yourself. Everything else is just a guideline. Now go kill it out there, queen.