FeEl Your Best, Look your best
How to Dress and Prepare
for your Senior photos
Wardrobe is important. Not only do clothes convey a lot about who you are, they can make you feel confident.
Feeling confident, comfortable, and relaxed is the first step to a successful session. Here is my best advice for preparing for your Senior Session.
SEtting the Tone
What kind of image do you want to convey? Listen to your instincts, and who you are will help you choose the right clothing. Most importantly, choose clothes that feel like you. You don't have to wear a white dress or jeans and a white t-shirt to your senior session just because that's what your friends wore to theirs. Don't be afraid to be different! Please read through the tips below, and also check out my Pinterest board to view some favorite looks from my sessions as well as items I've found online.
CHOOSING YOUR OUTFIT
If you don't know where to start, here are a few tips:
- Most importantly, you should choose something that is uniquely you. A Custom Session allows for up to three outfits (sometimes four if we really use our time wisely), so you have a little more freedom to play. You might have a casual outfit (such as jeans and a cute top), traditional (white dress), plus something else that is uniquely you!
- You can also feel free to bring additional accessories or a jacket so that you come away with tons of options. Layering is great. Jackets, sweaters, etc., will all help to frame the face and add interest. Don't be afraid of accessories.
- For your casual outfit, jeans are great, but think about pairing it with a fun top, rather than a t-shirt.
- When choosing a dress, something flowy or a-line is better than form fitting, which can really limit your movement and ability to sit comfortably. And something flowy (long or short) helps show movement in the images, which I love!) Lastly, If you can find a dress with pockets, even better, though I know that can be a bit of a unicorn!
- Patterns are OK as long as they don't take over. Think small checks vs large plaids or florals.
- I highly recommend wearing something with pockets. People always wonder what to do with their hands, and pockets gives you one more option.
- Your shoes will show in some of the photos, so they should be in good shape. I love shoes that show a bit of personality -- like a fun pair of converse, an awesome pair of heels, or a super cool sneaker if sneakers are your thing. If you are in sandals, remember to have your toes in good shape too.
- If you are having a hard timing choosing your outfit(s), feel free to text me some photos ahead of time and I'm happy to weigh in!
A bit about Color
There are really no "off limits" colors. You just need to think about the tone you want to set, the colors that you like best/look best on you, and keep these tips in mind:
- A fail-safe tip is to pick a color that accentuates your eyes.
- Think about location. Softer colors are great for the beach, or if you want a fun look, a punch of color can be great. Warm tones are great in Fall.
- Jewel tones and richer neutrals like chocolate, dark gray, or navy, are great alternatives to black. A neutral base with a pop of color adds interest.
- People often hear that they should stay away from black and white, but it's really a matter of personal taste and skin tone. Both colors do well accessories or layers.
- Colors to be careful of: red, orange, green. Reds and oranges can throw a color cast on your skin, and green can be tough outdoors in an a lush, green environment. That said, they can also be great -- this photo is a great example!
OTHER TIPS
- Hair should be worn as you normally would, but hairspray will tame flyaways. Blowouts are a great idea for girls, though keep in mind that this can get tricky if we need to reschedule due to weather -- so hopefully your stylist is flexible! Best time for a haircut is a week or so prior to your session.
- Make-up should be kept natural, and it can be a nice treat to have it professionally done. Avoid anything with shine. I love a good highlight, but matte is best for photos!
- If you are interested in professional hair and make-up for to make your session extra special, please check out Melissa Perrault's instagram page. She's a hair stylist and a super talented Mac makeup artist and her work is gorgeous. You can DM her on Instagram, or text her at 978.382.2501 for more information.
- Consider using a teeth whitening product for a week or two before your session, or at the very least give them an extra good scrub before you arrive to have your pearly whites looking their best!
- Are there other ways you'd like to inject your personality into your session? I'm open to your ideas and happy to give my input. Are you a musician, dancer, artist, athlete? We can work that into your session too if you like!
- Please be sure that clothes fit well. Clothes that are too big will look messy.
- Don't forget to press your clothes so they aren't wrinkled - I can't stress this enough. If I have to spend an hour removing wrinkles in photoshop, I will have to charge for my time. It's also almost impossible to photoshop wrinkles out of plaid clothing, and very tricky to do so with some prints. Thank you!
- Drink lots of water and be well rested ahead of your session.
- Lastly, because everyone asks -- yes, I have some photoshop tricks up my sleeve, and I'm willing to use them (sparingly). Cleaning up acne is absolutely no problem, so don't stress out if a zit pops up that morning!
Here are a few stores that my seniors tell me they've found their outfits: Zara,
Check out the Gallery Below for Inspiration!
FIND US
Based in Andover and available
North and West of Boston.
@cristenfarrellphotography