Have you ever wondered which outfits to prioritize for your senior session?
You are in the right place! My name is Emma, and I am a portrait and couples' photographer based in Salem, OR. I love to explore the Pacific Northwest and connect with other wild childs. I have a special fondness for high school and college seniors, though, particularly because I am a teacher. I love connecting with others, showing them all the cool locations, and helping them see their own beauty. It's a passion of mine!
Something my seniors always ask is, "What should I wear for the session?"
Keep reading if you're wondering this too, because ahead are my top 5 outfit choices that I recommend. At the end, I also address what to prioritize if you have less options.
Abby in a soft blue summer dress.
Hayden in a button-up, nice shorts, and SUPER WHITE shoes (howww???).
Zuri in a lavender suit.
#1. Find a nice outfit that you look and feel confident in.
Ladies, dresses and skirts are the easiest way to bring your outfit to a 10! Then, whether you're the dressier type or more casual, pair it with heels or cute sneakers.
Boys, finding a nice button-up to pair with khaki shorts, jeans, or slacks and some cool shoes really make a nice impression. Besides, you're graduated - I won't bat an eye if you use these photos for Tinder, Linked-in, or even Facebook to make an impact in the workforce or your love life. These might be the most professional photos you have for a while, simply because your mom made you take them! :)
Now, here's a challenge. If you're bold enough, nothing says Bossman or BossWoman quite like a power suit. Zuri rocked this lavender suit for our session, because she wanted photos for her student body campaign, and they turned out so cool!
A tip: Wear different jewelry every time you switch outfits! It always does a good job of completing the look.
Kendrey in an oversized flannel tee.
Grace in ripped jeans and a Polaroid shirt.
Hayden in a Columbia jacket, with his backpack.
#2. Pick a casual outfit that represents YOU.
Each of these seniors wanted an outfit that fit who they are. Kendrey chose a flannel tee that perfectly fit the mood and location of her shoot. Grace is much more casual, and rocked those ripped jeans at the garden. Finally, Hayden and I actually hiked a few miles to his location, so it made sense that his other outfit was hiking-inspired.
Marissa in an FFA jacket.
Heather and Marissa in full tennis attire.
McKenzie with her family-owned guitar.
#3. Include your club regalia, sports, and hobbies!
Part of the awesomeness of senior photos is being able to remember and look back on your favorite things that you dedicated a lot of time to. Marissa was very involved in FFA, and so she brought her jacket as an easy add-on to the photoshoot! Both Marissa and Heather did tennis in high school, and we coordinated a shoot together so that they could honor that sport with the hours they put into it. (P.S. They told me that it was MUCH more fun than the school-required photos for yearbook). Finally, McKenzie brought a guitar that had a lot of meaning in her family, and it was a wonderful way to honor her family members in the shoot.
Hannah with her graduation stole.
Marissa with her future college regalia.
Ashlynne in her full cap and gown.
#4. Don't forget graduation attire or college-bound goodies!
If you have any of these supplies, I would recommend bringing them as little extras to the photoshoot! It makes them a little more fun, in my opinion. Hannah, a college senior graduating from OSU, wanted her stole in many of the photos, and she also brought her cap and gown as well! Marissa did not bring her cap and gown, but she instead wore a CalPoly crewneck and matching flag to show off to the camera. Finally, Ashlynne rocked it in her full cap and gown attire.
Heather in a jean jacket.
Presley brought these retro glasses.
This is me, and I love bringing my hat for self-portraits!
#5. Some props I recommend...
If you are crunched for time and do not have time to switch from fancy to casual outfits, consider bringing a jean jacket or another jacket of sorts to throw on near the end of the session! Or, bring your favorite hat (I loveee that felt one). Finally, if you have a pet that is pretty trained, I absolutely recommend bringing them to capture some very cute photos.
Other prop ideas:
- I bring a clear umbrella for you any time I anticipate the weather might not be great! Perfect for spring and fall in the Pacific Northwest.
- I love flowers, so if you bring a bouquet for your photos, I will not be upset.
- Picnic supplies (I can provide almost everything for you!)
- A sweet treat or your favorite drink
- Your pet, of course, is always welcome.
If you are short on time...
Here is what I recommend:
Bring your favorite outfit that you feel most confident in, then bring a jacket or hat or something to add to it. Also, bring any graduation or college rep things you want! Basically, consider this: with your outfit, could you add or take away items in public? (a jacket, hat, sunglasses, etc) If so, bring it! It is SO EASY as a photographer to add outfits this way.
However, if you do want to wear multiple outfits with me, I absolutely recommend that you book at least a 2-hour session, which gives you access to at least two completely different outfits and looks, as well as potentially two locations. It's a game changer for my seniors!
