Alright, you’ve met your senior photographer and you’re officially on the calendar.
Now what?
You know everything you want to include in your session, but do you know what to avoid? Before you dive too deep in your outfit planning, let’s chat about some things that may be better left in the back corner of your closet.
If you’re new here, hey – I’m Tiffany. I’ve been a portrait photographer in the Jackson, Michigan area for over 16 years and in that time, I’ve picked up some tips and tricks to help your planning and portrait experience run smoothly!
Starting the list off with number 5, avoid untested outfits! If you have never tried on any of your outfits you’re wanting for your session, go do it now!!
Twist, turn, bend over, make sure it stays in place AND that you are comfortable wearing it! We don’t want any unexpected mishaps in the middle of your session causing you to not feel your best.
If you’re still set on wearing an outfit but need a little extra help to keep it in place,
I recommend this body tape!!
Number 4, please avoid skipping makeup! I know many people, girls especially, are getting hung up on being 100% authentic – they don’t wear makeup at all in real life, so they don’t want makeup in photos. And yes, I am here for being your authentic self! However, just like theatre lights washing out a face so you have to wear MORE, similar stance in the photography world too. If you don’t wear makeup day to day, I recommend at least having a tinted moisturizer with SPF (like this one) to help even out skin tones and blemishes, and will create a simple clean look. Think of it as enhancing your current features, not trying to cover up or change what YOU look like! Maybe whip on some mascara to thicken your lashes and then call it good. If you do regularly wear makeup, I suggest going maybe one step more than typical like a slightly heavier hand on the blush, or another couple swipes of mascara – maybe even adding lashes.
If you have the time and plan ahead, I highly recommend setting up an appointment with a hair and makeup artist! I frequently work with Sylvia of Sylvia’s Styles at Rumors Salon on Kibby Rd, and Abby Hilyard at Infinite Designs on Michigan ave. But be sure to plan ahead and book it in advance. If booking it, plan for about 3 hours before session start time to give your artist time to work and for you to grab a snack before starting photos.
Ok, on to number 3! Drastic changes! That quirky hairstyle you’ve been wanting to try out? Wanting fringe bangs or a wolf cut but have never done it? Senior photos are NOT the time to test the waters. Similar to testing out clothing before your session, test your hair styles way in advance. If it turns out poorly, you’ll have time to let it grow out.
And it’s not just hair to think about. Spray tans are also a tough contender to manage last minute. If that tan didn’t set right and now you’re orange, it will be next to impossible to scrub off or cover up. The orange tones can clash with your skin or clothing, and can be hard to correct on short notice. Here’s a good tanning alternative to try!
Number 2, PLEASE avoid wrinkled clothing! Yes, it will show in your photos. Wrinkled clothes can make you look unpolished and have you feeling self-conscious. It also adds time on the back end with editing. And no one likes to wait even longer for their final images!! Did you find the shirt you were going to wear for photos 30 minutes before leaving the house and need a quick refresh on it? Toss it in the dryer with some ice cubes!! The moisture will soften the wrinkles quickly.
Number ONE thing to avoid (without proper planning), NEON clothing!! Neon clothing reflects onto the skin and causes unnatural color casts. Now, this isn’t to say we can’t use it!! With my off camera lighting, I can usually combat the reflection on the neck and chin pretty well (there will still be some, there always is). However, if we’re going for an all natural lighting vibe and you roll up with a hot neon orange dress, it will make for a mess on the skin. If you want to wear that hot pink top, be sure to let me know so we can prepare with proper lighting!!
Fun side note: It’s also a reason I don’t wear neon colors to sessions! I usually will place you facing away from the sun, meaning I get the full force of the sun hitting me and whatever color I wear will reflect back onto my subject at close range. I did it once 10 years ago – I wore a neon orange top and I had a girl in a wedding gown in front of me… that horrid orange color cast was in every up close image and I regretted it every second of editing!
Now, we do also have an honorable mention. Avoid wearing pimple patches to your session!! It should go without saying, however, in recent years, I’ve come upon numerous seniors wearing pimple patches to their sessions. It’s way easier for me to edit a teenie pimple than to have to edit out a large patch. Yes, they are fun and even come in super cute styles, but please leave them in your makeup bag. Let my professional editing skills get rid of those pesky blemishes for you. Especially if the patch is in a precarious location on your face that cannot be edited easily. Still easier to edit the pimple itself. If you are still feeling self conscious, this is where the makeup from tip #4 comes into play! Using concealer or tinted moisturizer to help remove redness from those blemishes goes a long way and looks better in photos. Want some pimple patches to have on hand for when you get home? I’ve got the perfect patch right here.
Do you have any other things to add to this list? Let me know! I can make a part 2.
If you like my long-winded explanations, think I’m a cool person to chat with, and are interested in booking a senior session with me, click here to inquire about setting up a studio tour!