With schools across the nation wrapping up their summer breaks, incoming college freshmen preparing for their first days away from home while their workforce entering counterparts adjust to adult life, a new crop of rising high school seniors are readying themselves to take their rightful place at the top of the high school food chain.

Pomp and circumstance is still months away, and the pressures of applications, exams, and thank you notes aren’t really a thought yet.  Right now, what is important is the anticipation of the chill under the Friday Night Lights, and all things “Senior Year,” including, for many, their official senior photo shoot.

My calendar is filling with excited teens who may not yet feel comfortable getting in front of the camera.  Some, who are particularly shy may even be participating in their session just to make mom happy.  But even those bashful seniors who are weary of a photography shoot enjoy seeing images that make them feel like a star.  That’s what I strive for in my sessions.  I want my “kids” to have fun, let go of their insecurities, and to get the chance to see themselves as I see them.  But before their big day, I always get the same questions.  What do I wear?  What do I bring?  How do I prepare?

My suggestions are a little different for my girls than my guys.  Today I will tackle the guys’ concerns.

PREPPING FOR THE SHOOT:

Before we address the question of what to wear, and what to bring, there are a few tips I like to give my guys to help them look and feel their best on the day of their shoot.

1.  Hair… please have yours trimmed, but try not to cut it the day of the shoot.  A week or so before is a good time guide to go by.  While you’re at it, ask your stylist to clean up your eyebrows.  Stop rolling your eyes at me and trust me on this one. Your stylist can make you look like YOU, still masculine, but with fewer strays and sans a uni-brow.
2. To scruff or not to scruff….  Please remember, there is no retouching a 5 o’clock shadow, so be sure any facial hair you have is facial hair you want in your images.
3.   Many senior sessions are scheduled in late summer and early fall.  Beware of tan lines and sunburns!  On the off chance that you might consider spray tans and self tanners for a fall or winter session, I would advise you to just say no.  They tend to give off an orange, oompa-loompa type glow to the skin.  I love them on stage for performers under bright lights, but they usually just don’t have the same effect in a photograph.
4.   Speaking of skin… consider borrowing your mom or sister’s moisturizer starting a few days before your shoot and drink plenty of water for a healthy look.  I know you are rolling your eyes again, but trust me here too.  Dry flaky skin is tough to clean up in editing, and your photos will look better when we avoid it.  Do avoid applying moisturizers with SPF on the day of the shoot though.  I don’t know why, but they tend to add shine to the skin on camera.  Oh, and get a good night’s sleep the night before the shoot to avoid dark circles and red eyes!
5.   Don’t forget your lips!  Dry, chapped lips show up in pictures.  I suggest you start using chapstick a few days before your session.
6. Your hands also are seen in my photos, so please trim your fingernails and make sure they are clean.
7. I will try to be aware of our shooting conditions and prepare accordingly, but I encourage you to do the same.  If the weather is super hot, bring water, and a towel to pat beads of sweat.  If it’s cold, bring a blanket, toboggan, etc.  We can always use those as props and accessories, as I will talk about next.

DRESS AND PROPS:

The first thing I tell my seniors is that I want them to feel good in whatever they choose to wear.  If they feel good, they will look good.  I do not limit outfit changes in my sessions, and even carry onto location a huge changing pop-up tent for privacy, but I ask my seniors to remember that multiple changes do cut into shooting time, so balance is key.  Still, my motto for outfits is that it is better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it, so I encourage bringing a variety of looks.

Rules are made to be broken, but I suggest a few good guides regardless of outfit.

1.  Different colors look better on different people, so I usually chat with my seniors  or their moms individually about what looks good on them. I love bright colors in a photograph.
2. It is also important to consider location and the time of year of your session when choosing the colors of your clothes.  The green backgrounds of spring and summer are the perfect backdrop for bright colors, and rich colored backgrounds are perfect for white clothing.  As the leaves turn to shades of fall, I like to suggest muted earth tones for an autumn look, and if we are ever fortunate enough to shoot in snow, any color but white works well.

The “looks” my seniors choose are up to them, but I like for them to paint a picture of who they are at this stage of their lives.  I tend to suggest two themes.

1.  Dress to Impress:  Think a classic, traditional look that would make mom happy.  You could wear dark jeans, black pants, or khakis, with dress shoes, a button down shirt and a tie, or even a blazer.  Polo shirts look great too.  Just remember that layers work well, so consider white or solid colored t-shirts to wear under your shirt.  This look doesn’t have to be stuffy.  You can un-tuck your shirt or wear nice tennis shoes to make the look more casual.Accessories for this theme include, but aren’t limited to: baseball hats (to make the look more casual); sun glasses;  bracelets; necklaces; and shoes of all shapes and styles.  I love to have accessories that we can use as props to add action to my photographs.
   

   Cameron chose a “dressy casual” summer look and a contrasting fall theme, giving him a good variety of option in his images.  I like the way he gave his fall look a casual vibe by un-tucking his shirt.

 

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2.  Defining The Year:  For this third look, I ask my seniors, “Who are you, NOW?  What defines you in this year?”  These outfits should define their hobbies and activities.  It might be a uniform, or a jersey.  Don’t exclude the idea of an action themed session depicting an activity that means a lot to you, like weightlifting, wake-boarding, or painting.  This theme can take multiple forms, and is a chance to take the dressy down a notch and show a more casual side.  I generally like to shoot this look at their high school, if possible, or at least a location that is meaningful to them.

Accessories for this look include, but aren’t limited to:  letterman’s jackets; class rings, artwork; instruments; cleats or tennis shoes;  and sports equipment such as bats, gloves, balls, nets.  Even cars aren’t off limit.

Colby enjoys working out, so we opted to do part of his session as a themed “weight room” shoot, complete with workout clothes and fake sweat.

 

Senior Sessions are special to me, because I love building relationships with the seniors I photograph, and I cherish celebrating this unforgettable milestone in their lives.  I hope that the time I spend with them will be just one of the countless happy memories which defines their last year in high school. This one, a memory that can be revisited without having to depend only on the pictures in their mind.

 

 

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