What to Wear + How to Wear It
so here's the rundown.
i know that picking outfits can be super stressful - these are some pretty magical photos we're going to create, but a lot of that magic comes from you wearing what you love, having confidence in your makeup + accessories, and feeling like royalty during the whole shoot. This guide is made to help you with that! I have hundreds of examples of what of what to wear and what not to wear, and by the time you're done looking through this, you'll hopefully have a whole new perspective on how to feel great.
Joe brought this jean jacket just in case I thought it would go with any locations - it was one of his favorite jackets for years & when he saw his pictures wearing it for the first time, these ones immediately became some of his fave shots.
on the same note, this is only meant to guide you! if you know you love other looks and can rock them, do it! The most important thing to me is that you feel + look like yourself. A lot of clients love to go on a shopping spree before their session and have a new look, but 90% of the time I find that seniors especially love the looks where they wear outfits that they've worn + loved for years. Remember: If everyone followed these ideas exactly, I'd be taking the exact same pictures of the same outfits over and over again - the whole point of senior pics is to be yourself and look incredible while doing it. On the other hand, sometimes a shopping spree can be good! Head to your favorite spot, pick out your faves, + keep the receipt so we can decide what to use during the shoot and return the rest later… Use your own judgement!
If you're feeling lost about what to wear...
one tip is to start with some of your favorite pieces. Cammie had a long skirt that she loved, but wasn't sure about what to wear on top. When we showed up at this spot, she pulled out a few different tank tops to choose form & I knew we needed something to make her pop from the background... it's all about bringing options.
with that being said, I've had seniors who bring carloads full of outfits, and I've had seniors show up with exactly 3 outfits that they planned on wearing. Keep in mind that the time we spend sorting through outfits is time that we're missing out on shooting. The most efficient way to think about your outfits is to know what pieces you definitely want to wear, and know what pieces you're okay to miss out on. For ~50% of the locations, we'll be either changing in cars or finding a bathroom nearby, so keep that in mind, and if you have any outfits that you definitely need somewhere to change, just let me know and I'm happy to find you a good spot to change.
Movement + Material
movement is crucial in all of my sessions - make sure that the materials you wear let you move around!
if you're in brand new pants or shirts that are still stiff and tight, you might not feel as comfortable during the session. I recommend bringing "broken in" outfits, and especially love clothing that can show movement by catching wind, because it adds energy to the photos and looks freaking gorgeous!
stiff, tight, short dresses are especially hard to work with, and any wrinkle looks super unflattering, so I'd definitely stray away from those and towards flowy dresses. As far as buying flattering clothes, I always recommend stores like Madewell, Urban Outfitters, Freepeople (always a favorite), Anthropologie, etc.
As far as shoes go, I’m a fiend for birkenstocks… I think sandals are so Ann Arbor and summery and give photos a really good high school vibe - some people try to go for the chunky heels or fancy shoes, I think they work well in urban locations but that’s about it. If sandals are the only shoes you bring I won’t be mad! Good to have options, but again comfort is key.
Colors
i typically recommend that you stick to neutral and earthy tones - every color has an earthy counterpart, for example reds should be darker maroons, yellows should be closer to mustard, purples should be closer to lilac, and greens should be closer to a forest green. For lighter skin tones, reds pinks and oranges are especially problematic unless they're on the more neutral end of the spectrum.
if you have something you love that doesn't match the above, no problem! Just check with me and we'll find a spot to use it. In each of these pictures, some component of the outfit matched some component of the background while not being too flashy or overwhelming. Bringing together the colors of the background and of the outfits is exactly what we're trying to achieve to make these photos well composed. I know each of my locations like the back of my hand, so if you bring some good color options, I'll make sure we put them to good use!
Patterns
avoid big, vibrant, flashy, crazy patterns. The smaller or more subtle, the better! If the pattern is too loud, it will pull focus to your clothes and distract from you!!! Layering outfits, for example a patterned top with a jean jacket or something, can look really amazing (especially in more urban locations)!
on the other hand, having more than one pattern in an outfit is a huge no - it totally makes the image too hectic and again, distracts from capturing you. These images are borderline too crazy. Those patterns are definitely the flashiest I would go for, but they work well because they either blend into the background and bring the image together, or they stand out from the background and pull good focus to the subject.
make sure clothes aren't wrinkly before the session, as that can be a pretty big distraction as well.
The photos on the right are awesome examples of how to use patterns to your advantage… these examples are probably the craziest I’d go; unless you’re a huge Lilly Pullitzer fan, stick with subtlety.
Props + Accessories
usually, people's ideas of “props” consist of cringe-worthy Pinterest photos we've all seen, but they don't have to be. Props could be a camera, pets, your car/truck, blankets, scarves, etc. (if you have a dog and don't bring it I’ll be salty).
if you have props you wanna incorporate, let me know and we can make sure to incorporate them in a non-cheesy way!
As far as accessories go, you should definitely bring some to try out if that's your thing - I love doing walking shots, close ups with hands in hair, etc. and having a cool variety of bracelets, rings, and necklaces can bring some really amazing shots, especially if you layer them in a thoughtful way.
Hair + Makeup
a lot of people ask about getting professional hair and makeup done for their session. The best answer I can give is to do whatever will make you feel best - I absolutely don't think it's necessary, but it totally depends on the senior. If you want your hair and makeup done, then definitely do it, because the most important thing is that you feel confident like beyoncé always. If you're getting hair and makeup done, I recommend you schedule it to be done at least an hour before you have to leave for the shoot so you aren't late. Also, if you want a spray tan, be sure to get a suuuuper natural airbrushed spray tan rather than one from a salon/tanning place. No oompa loompa vibes pls!
if you decide to go for a natural look, totally rock it and just make sure that any makeup you do use is done super neatly and carefully! All it takes is a little slip in filling in one eyebrow and suddenly every photo has eyebrows that look off. Always leave extra time to do your makeup well.
examples…
Emma (left) was between a white and black dress for this spot, the simple black dress with birkenstocks perfectly captured her. Aggie + Izzy (middle) both matched their blue tones, which pulls the focus to both of them equally. Grace (right) chose a great dark red dress that would look good in any green or blue backgrounds, and also showed off the awesome movement we captured.
All of these are great examples of ways to work with the flowers! Sophia (left) took the earthy route, and she blends into the background, which makes her face stand out and draw attention to all the right spots - also her hair! natural curls >>> . Jillian (with the cutest dog ever) had this pink romper that was sooooo awesome + we found some flowers that perfectly matched (plus she looks like a tanned goddess). Marley’s dress was flowy + earthy + made her fit right into the background while looking so effortless.
Stephanie (left) brought a ton of tops to match with her boyfriend jeans, but this white one was perfect to match the white brick of kerry town and the white rips in her jeans. Coby (middle) chose a super cute striped jumpsuit for her urban location. Vivian (right) made a statement with some bold + bright designs that worked especially well in the simple backgrounds of the law quad.
okay I’m biased because it’s my favorite color BUT look how good they look!!!!!!! creamy + neutral yellows, or even bright mustards are SO GOOD for real. Isa (left) with a two piece set looked sooooo fire, and Layla (middle) has the perfect amount of pattern while still looking classy and fitting in the background. Madison (right) had my favorite outfit at the law quad for the entire summer, super classy, not too dressy but the black jeans fit perfectly, the sweater is a little crops, and the birks are always a great option.
Sarah's Fall outfit was perfect - comfortable & earthy enough to pull focus on her without distracting from Fall colors. Kalliyan's dress (middle) was perfectly flowy and flattering. White dresses are always a great option, especially when flowy! Coby's romper (right) was a perfect shade of yellow and the lace bralette is a good reminder to wear a flattering bra and bring extras (strapless, etc) for different outfits.