What should I wear for my Senior Portrait Session with my photographer

One of the most frequently asked questions I am asked from High School Seniors is, “What should I wear for my Senior Portrait Session?” I never tire of answering this question because what you wear for your senior portraits matters a great deal. I’d love to help with inspiration for what to wear for your Senior Portrait Session.

Keep outfit changes to around 3

I don’t limit outfits for a Senior Portrait Session, but I do recommend aiming for about three to four outfits total to choose from. Senior Photo Shoots can be tiring for the model if there are too many outfits to get through. I’ve found around three to be just about right for most people. If you can’t whittle them down, be sure and bring all your choices and I can help you select the pieces that will photograph best.

Add variety

Do be sure to choose a variety of outfits within those three to four choices that look like YOU! But maybe a polished version of you…So dress it up a bit!

Girls – I recommend jeans with a cute top, jeans with a jacket or sweater and a dress. Dresses typically photograph well and can make you feel special in your session if that’s your style. If a dress doesn’t feel like you, add a top with some softness to it instead. Adding jackets and jewelry for variety is also a fun way to express who you are.

Guys – I recommend one button down shirt, a casual but clean and solid colored t-shirt, and one other outfit that represents who you are. This could be a lettermans jacket, a collared shirt, even sports jerseys can look good when done well. Sweaters also look great on guys and can be worn with jeans or nice pants.

Things to avoid

Outfits that aren’t comfortable. Your Senior Portrait Session should be fun and you need to feel great, not self-conscious.
Tight stripes or small patterns. These designs create a wavy pattern (called moire) when seen on a screen. It can make your eyes go buggy!
Graphic T-shirts (not a hard and fast rule…just give it some thought before you pick something that will distract the viewer eye).
Bright colors like lime green, bright yellow or any neon colors if you’re fair skinned. These colors will reflect off your skin and can make your coloring look, well, ill!

Keep it classy people!

One important point I must make is that your Senior Portraits should be a timeless expression of who you are. I do not recommend trying to look sexy or flirtatious in your Senior Portraits. These images will be hung on the walls of your family’s homes, in parent’s offices, shared on social media and seen by potential future employers and organizations. If you desire a Senior Portrait Session that includes these kinds of images, I’m not your best choice for a photographer.

Think about using a stylist

Working with a stylist to choose outfits is often complementary and time well spent. It sounds more fancy than it is and is actually a great (and often free!) resource provided by stores.

I recently observed a client being styled before a Senior Portrait Session at a very special boutique called Purpose Boutique in Kirkland, WA. My client, Annie, loved her experience and as you can see, she looked fabulous for her Senior Portrait Session.

Stylists can work with what you have, help you select new piece that compliments your style and help you add accessories to make you stand out!

See our post for more information on working with a stylist (https://christianachilders.com/consulting-with-a-stylist-for-your-portrait-session/)

Hair and makeup

This isn’t a “what to wear” topic but I thought I’d add my two cents here as well. I think hair and makeup, when done right, can add another layer to your photo shoot that can boost your confidence and make you feel great! However, it can also do the opposite if you’re not used to wearing more makeup and having your hair styled. Being one who doesn’t wear much makeup and has my hair up in a pony most of the day, if I don’t pick someone I trust for this job, I may won’t be happy with the results. A good middle ground is to have someone show you how to apply makeup and style your hair so that you can have some control on the day of.