Hello Senior!
Congratulations on reaching your final year of high school! Now is the FUN part! Whether you have booked your session already or are just browsing around, we really hope you find the info below to be useful! I LOVE specializing in Senior Portraiture, and truly LOVE meeting and working my clients even more! My goal is to find the uniqueness of you so I can capture the most beautiful and authentic YOU This is such an exciting time of your life and I will be honored share just a small part of this with you!
Outfit Tips: What should you wear?
I want your photos to reflect YOU and since each girl/boy is different, rather than telling you what looks good, I suggest you search for sample senior pictures to find things that appeal to your style. There are a zillion ideas you can find by a simple website search. There are also Pinterest boards dedicated to outfit options and color schemes. Then you can go shopping! I also suggest you try shopping at stores that may take the time to help you style an outfit.
1. Purchase clothes to fit. And fit well. Keep in mind that for pictures, too large of a polo shirt, saggy ill-fitting jeans or a jacket that’s falling off the shoulders looks sloppy. You’ll be purchasing outfits specifically for pictures, most likely, so choose something that fits perfectly, or even just a little bit snug. Make it look almost tailored. Go a size smaller in jackets, cardigans or blazers. A too-big jean jacket will not compliment shape. If you typically wear a size medium jacket, try on the small. It should lay nicely around your hips and waist, creating a tailored look.
2. Look for clothes that reflect you! Also think about outfits that have different "vibes" so you have multiple different feels for your shoot. Do not be afraid of prints and textures too. Expression is important. We want to see your personality shine through!
3. Accessories and layer, layer layer! Layers add dimension and depth. In the summer? Layer your dress with a cute belt and pendant necklace. In the fall and winter? cardigans, belts, statement necklaces, scarves, hats, blazers, etc.When putting together an outfit, layers are what make the outfit look polished and complete! Add a vest, jacket, cardigan, bowtie, hat, scarf, suspenders, belt, jewelry, etc. This also gives the shoot much more depth! Even if it’s just as simple as adding a little fur vest, it adds so much more dimension to your wardrobe. Also, if all else fails in chain stores, search Etsy.com. Etsy has everything! Also think about adding fun accessory items that provide visual interest in your shots such as sunglasses, hats, jewelry (ex: long necklaces, fun earrings). Things like a long necklace, glasses or hats give you something hold or touch to change positions in your shots. Think about clothing textures such as lace, fur, fringe or ruffles to give some unique looks to your photos. Also consider bringing things that reflect you such as your favorite book, musical instrument, baby picture, sports jersey/gear or even your pet!
4. Find a focal point. When you begin your shopping, look for a patterned piece that you simply cannot live without! This may be a top that you feel absolutely fabulous in or a fun flowy sundress. Whatever that piece may be, commit to it and work from there. You deserve to look and FEEL awesome in your pictures!
5. Colors: steer clear of fluorescent's. Fluorescent colors tend to color cast on faces, necks and hair. They’re harsh sometimes. I always recommend versions of primary colors. Yellow (mustard), red (pink, maroon, brick), and blue (navy, royal, baby blue). Stay away from wearing a lot of green when having photos taken in grassy/wooded areas. It’s just too much green. Green as an accent color is great, though! You want to stand out amongst all the greenery you’re surrounded by. Think twice about white. White can look great in some specific settings, but often it tends to get washed out and does not add much interest to the shot. Also think carefully about stripes, especially small thin stripes which tend to sometimes distort in a final image.
6. Wear what you feel good in! If you aren’t comfortable in what you’ve chosen for pictures, it will show. If you can’t find a dress you feel good in, but you rock a good pair of skinny jeans, do that. If you can barely walk in heels, there’s no harm in doing cute and comfy flat boots or pretty sandals.
7. Avoid outfits with logos or sayings. Words and logos can be very distracting especially if they are large. But one cute idea where a logo works is a shirt with your future college logo! That can be a fun shot!
7. Think Classic! This is my mom moment...consider the current fashion trends and how that will be perceived when you look at your senior pictures 30 years from now. I know there are lots of interesting and fun trends such as ripped jeans and bralette's, but will you look back and say "what was I thinking?" So consider wearing at least one outfit that could be considered classic and timeless for your future self!
FAQ’s
How far in advance should I schedule my session?
The earlier the better! We often book out weeks and even months in advance. Summer sessions start booking by March or April. Fall sessions are usually booked by Summer and Spring Sessions are usually booked during the Winter months.
How long does my session last?
Most sessions are usually 1.5-2.5 hours giving you plenty of time to fit in multiple outfits. Typically seniors wear 2-3 outfits for the photo shoot. Sometimes an outift can easily be changed by adding a jean jacket or sweater.
What if I can't decide on which season I want to do my pictures?
You can choose the split session/location package and take advantage of multiple seasons or locations.
How long does it take to receive my images?
Depending on the time of the year and how busy I am, about 3-5 weeks following your session. Please be aware I take great time and care in editing and it is not a speedy process.
Do you charge a travel fee? I will not charge a travel fee for any session within the Akron, Cleveland or Canton area. When choosing your location, think about look and feeling you want from your photographed session (i.e., urban, park, neutral setting, etc.). If you need some ideas for location, we can brainstorm together to come up with a location that fits your personality, style, and preference for your particular session. I am also willing to come to your home or location that you have in mind.
How will I know what location to choose?
I have many various locations I have used to shoot. You need to think of what your "vision" is whether it's an urban city feel or more of a park "nature" feel with flowers and grass. If you choose the two session package you may take advantage of both types of locations! We can work together to find a location that fits you!
What time of day is best to shoot? Photography is all about light. Soft, ambient light, like the light on an overcast day or photos taken in nice even shade, will almost always give a more pleasing result than direct hard light. Bright sunshine is not a photographer’s friend so having a shaded area is essential for on-location, natural-light photography. The morning and/or evening is best. I prefer to shoot 1-2 hours prior to sunset to take advantage of the soft golden glow. I also will shoot early mornings, which typically is right at sunrise through the first hour of soft morning sun.
Should I get my makeup done?
I do actually enourage this! Make up done by a professional definately does make the photos have added dimension. I do want you to not only look, but also feel your best. I am excited to partner with a professional make-up artist if that is an option you are interested in just let me know.
I’m so nervous about my shoot! Will you give me pose ideas?
Absolutely! I will give you tons of ideas and directions throughout your session to help you feel at ease. I also love to include photos that are candid when you are at your most relaxed state. I will coach you along and make you feel like the amazing person you are. But for the ladies, don’t be surprised if I ask you to walk towards me like you are on a catwalk or give me some twirls!
Who should I bring with me to my shoot?
Feel free to bring mom, dad or a friend as long as you’re comfortable in front of them, if not then you can also come solo! Keep in mind this is also a special, scary, sad, exciting time in mom and dad’s life.. plus they can be very helpful with outfit changes, lip gloss touch ups etc.
What if there is bad weather on the day of my shoot?
Don’t worry, I will work with you for a convenient time to reschedule. It always works out! If the weather looks doubtful, I will stay in close contact with you during that day and we will make a decision together.
Where do I change my clothes?
I have a pop up "tent like" structure for you to change in, but most seniors are most comfortable changing in their car.
What should I bring with me?
Bring make-up for touch ups, hair spray, brush along with your outfit changes, shoes and any accessories. (Accessories can make an outfit fun along providing movement, layers or being a prop you can use during your shoots. Consider bringing hats, scarves, jackets, fun earrings, long necklaces etc.) Bring anything that defines your personality or interests, such as sports equipment, jersey, hat, helmet, letterman jacket, favorite book, baby picture, or even your PET! And YES I am open to shooting with your favorite pet. I have done many shoots with not only puppies and dogs, but birds and even horses! I am a huge animal lover! But be aware this adds significant time as pets are not always as cooperative as humans. 🙂
Can I get digital copies of my photos?
I know we live in a digital era and we want you to share your beautiful pictures online as much you do! YES, I will provide you with web-ready digital copies of any all your edited images. These images have been fully retouched, hand -edited ready for the world to see. I only release fully edited images. Not only to protect my brand, but to also ensure you are receiving a fully-finished portrait. At the time of your photo session you will need to bring me a digital thumb drive with at least 64 gb of memory. In addition to the edited images, I also give you all your RAW images in case we ever want to look back for additional pictures or re-edit anything.
Do you offer prints or albums?
YES! I am excited to partner with an incredible lab that has hand made beautiful albums! Also some unique and popular items like canvas and metal prints. Their photo prints are also available in traditional and non-traditional sizes on crystal archival quality with vibrant and rich color quality that can only be achieved through a high quality professional lab. Clients are not required to order products through me, but I strongly at least ordering the prints that you want to distribute or hang on your wall. After all you have invested such time and money into this process, why wouldn't you take the final step with the product! See my product link about for video and picture samples.