Being well prepared for you senior photo session can make the difference between average and fabulous photos. Follow these easy tips and you’ll be well on your way to looking your absolute best. If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me.
Mindset
Photographing males is much different than photographing females and I understand that. We’ll make you look like a guy, so relax. You won’t feel uncomfortable or have to do any awkward, girly posing.
Arrival
Be ready early or on time for your shoot. Running late means you lose camera time, and we don’t want that.
Style
As a general rule, guys are more complacent when it comes to photos. Even if it’s just for your mom, please come prepared. We (and mom) want you to look your best. Dress in a style that expresses who you are, but dress nicely.
Clothing
You have unlimited wardrobe changes, so bring A LOT of options. The more clothes we have to choose from, the better. This will give us flexibility in matching your clothing to backgrounds and the surroundings. Group your clothing together on hangers. Make sure items are free of wrinkles and ready to go. (Please don’t come everything stuffed into a gym bag like many guys have done.) Make sure you’re comfortable in your clothing and that it flatters you. This will ensure that you like how you look when viewing your photos. Avoid tight stripes and plaid. Solid colors work much better than patterns. Bring a variety of colors and mix the level of styles. Some should be dressy, some dressy-casual, and some casual. Bring black and/or dark gray t-shirts to wear under other shirts. White undershirts stick out and photograph poorly. Avoid t-shirts with large graphics or logos. They distract from the main subject, which is you.
We don’t expect you to get as excited as the girls about shoes, but bring a variety of casual and dressier shoes. Avoid flip-flops since these will appear too casual when viewing your photos.
Shaving
Please come to your session cleanly shaven. Retouching stubble won’t look as good as a clean shave. If you have facial hair that your mom despises, do her a favor and shave it off. I promise it will grow back.
Hair
If you have longer hair, make sure it will stay out of your eyes during your session. Have it trimmed if necessary. Don’t make any drastic changes like shaving your head or dying your hair around your session date. Otherwise you’ll look back at your photos and wonder “What was I thinking?”. If getting a hair cut for your photo shoot, do it a few days in advance.
Props
They’re great! Bring props that help show who you are. Some popular choices are:
Glasses
Most lenses have a glare. The safest option is to check with your eye doctor and ask if they’ll loan you a similar pair without lenses or have them pop out the lenses for you.
Complexion
We retouch your photos, so please don’t be concerned about minor breakouts. We have you covered! If your acne is more severe, you’re still okay. We had bad acne is high school and understand! We’re happy to help you out with some extra retouching.
Parents and Family
Parents and family are welcome and often can be a help. However, if they distract you, it may be best hang back when on location.
Braces
If desired, I can remove braces in Photoshop for an extra charge. Otherwise, try not to worry about them. Give a natural smile and enjoy yourself. A good smile with braces is far better than the awkward smile that comes when you try to hide them.
Weather
Don’t worry about clouds because they actually even out the light and make for ideal shooting conditions. But falling rain is an issue and we have to reschedule. We will try to contact you first, but please call us at 425-772-2990 if you have any doubts or concerns.