Senior portraits are a major milestone for both high school and college graduates! They document a once-in-a-lifetime achievement and celebrate all you’ve accomplished along the way. However, because they’re so significant, senior portraits can cause anxiety (after all, these will be the photos hanging in your parents’ living room for the foreseeable future!). As a Bloomington portrait photographer, I want to help you arrive at your session feeling calm and confident. Read on for my tips for taking portraits you’ll love, from outfit selection to choosing locations!
Tips for Taking Senior Portraits
Bring an Outfit Change
A one-hour portrait session is enough time to photograph two outfits, plus a few shots featuring your graduation gown and hat. I always recommend bringing a change of clothes to seniors so we can show off different facets of your personality. For example, you might choose one casual outfit that represents what you typically wear to class, and one fancier outfit, such as the dress or suit you plan to wear underneath your graduation attire. For athletes, I recommend bringing your uniform as your casual look!
Choose Outfits You Feel Comfortable In
Your senior portraits are NOT the time to wear a brand-new outfit or try out a trend that doesn’t feel like you. This is especially true if being behind the camera already makes you feel self-conscious! I recommend selecting the most-worn items in your wardrobe—the ones you reach for every week, because they perfectly represent your style. Those are the pieces that will help you feel your most confident, and confidence equals stunning portraits every single time.
Bring a Prop
Did you play a sport or an instrument during your time in school? I encourage you to bring a prop, such as your tennis racket or guitar, that represents that activity! Alternatively, you can choose a prop related to your degree program. This IU senior, Isabella, brought a personalized wooden apple sign with her “teacher name” to represent her education degree! She also asked the kids in her student teaching class to sign a special graduation sash that she wore in a few of her portraits.
Choose Meaningful Locations
I always ask my seniors to list locations where they want to take photos. Usually, those spots are on their campus, but the sky’s the limit! Think of places where you made fond memories or spent the most time during your semesters, whether that’s a sports field, the library, or a nearby cafe. These are the spots you’ll love looking back on when you peruse your senior portraits in the coming years. The school you graduated from is also a great option! For Isabella’s session, we grabbed a few photos in front of IU’s Wendell W. Wright Education Building.
Book the Right Photographer
When speaking with photographers before booking your senior session, consider: Do I feel comfortable with this person? The right photographer will bring out your true, unfiltered personality! They’ll also help you look your best by providing the appropriate amount of direction. I help my seniors pose and provide prompts when I photograph them. This method helps boost their confidence, especially when I give them a sneak peek of their photos on the back of my camera!
With these tips, you’ll be prepared to take senior portraits that become cherished heirlooms! Are you ready to book your Bloomington senior session? Whether you’re graduating from high school or college, I would love to be your photographer. Let’s get to know each other!
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