THE SENIOR STYLE GUIDE
Styling your senior for the best experience of their Senior year!
Hello Gorgeous
I’m SO excited about your upcoming senior session with JColona Photography and that you are officially one of my #jcolonaseniors!!! YAY!!
Below is lots of information regarding hair and make up, outfit selection, what to expect at your session, and more. Please read it thoroughly! Neglecting to read this guide can result in a poor senior portrait experience, and most frequently asked questions are answered right here in this guide!
Your session is going to begin at a pre-determined location based on your answers to your questionnaire that you will receive via email. We will meet there and first, we will make a plan to help you finalize outfit choices! Please try your absolute best to arrive on time, if not a few minutes early.
As a mostly natural light photographer, your senior session is scheduled around the time that the sun has good lighting. Usually in the morning or evening. If in the evening, once the sun sets, we can no longer shoot. Therefore, if you arrive to your session even 10 minutes late, it will affect the amount of time we can shoot and the length of your session! If you are more than 30 minutes late to your session, we will have to reschedule at my earliest available date (which is usually about 3 months out)!
Outfit Tips
Stuck on what to wear? I’m here to help!
Here are some of my favorite tips and tricks to help you guide your outfit choices!
Choosing what you will wear for your photo shoot is a huge decision that can make or break your senior portrait session!
I know that sounds dramatic...but, if you accidentally wear something that isn’t flattering on camera or something that you don’t feel confident in...it can ruin the experience for you! So, here are some of the best ways to choose what to wear.
1. Be Comfortable
If you do not like fitted clothing (super tight dresses or pieces that fit awkwardly) then leave them at home! Personally, I try to steer clear of items that are fitted in the tummy area (don’t we all?) just because it makes me self-conscious and I’m constantly wondering if it looks bad. So, if there are pieces in your closet that make you feel self-conscious or uncomfortable, don’t include them in your senior portrait wardrobe! Additionally, we will most likely be sitting on the ground, laying down, walking, and doing other things that could be difficult if your clothing is uncomfortable!
2. Don’t be Afraid to Accessorize
During a senior session, or any photo shoot, the more the merrier!! When planning your outfits, don’t forget to plan accessories!!! Stacks of bangles, long necklaces, statement pieces, scarves, hats, bright shoes, and other add-ons can make or break an outfit! Most importantly...don't forget your class ring! You want to showcase that bad boy in at least a few portraits!
3. Add Layers
In the cold months {when we actually do have cold weather}, adding layers to your outfits always looks STUNNING in portraits! A sweater with a statement necklace or scarf, along with a cute jacket, adds so much dimension to your images and makes for super fun posing options! Even in the warmer months {which is a lot of them} you can add these layers and dimensions by wearing a tank top with a cute sheer cardigan or by throwing a denim vest over a dress!
4. Play with Textures
Sometimes textures like sequins, furs, and sparkles can be considered “daring” or “over the top” but, in portraits, they are the BEST! Adding texture to your outfit makes the biggest difference, and it prevents the images from looking dull! Combining textures that you may not normally use together like sequins and cable knit seaters or leather and fur make GREAT pairs!
5. Be Bright + Think Outside of the Box
On camera, solid black and white can make skin tones look very washed out and unflattering. So, when choosing outfits for your senior session, try to choose colors that POP and that compliment your hair and skin colors! Primary colors like red, royal blue, and yellow photograph beautifully as well as emerald green, bright purples, pinks, oranges, and any other colors that really POP! Sometimes, color combos that may seem odd in-person end up photographing BEAUTIFULLY on camera!
6. Mix it Up
When planning your outfits, make sure that you have a VARIETY of looks! I tell all of my seniors to choose from these categories: casual, cozy, dressy, school-related, sports-related, preppy, or edgy. I always recommend choosing 2-3 of those categories and finding outfits accordingly. This provides a beautiful array of looks during your senior portrait sessions, so each outfit looks dramatically different!
Hair and Makeup
Additionally, I highly recommend all of my senior clients invest in professional hair and makeup. If it is in your budget, hiring a professional for your hair and makeup will make a drastic difference in the quality of your photos and senior portrait experience. You are already making a large investment in your senior portrait experience, so why not make it the best it can be?!
So, why exactly is it so important?
1. They are Trained Professionals
When you are investing in a professional photographer, you want to make sure that the images look their absolute best. Professional hair and makeup artists are TRAINED to do hair and makeup so that they photograph well. While your makeup may look AMAZING in person, it will look completely different on-camera, and these professionals are trained to know the difference! They will conceal spots you don’t like, contour your face so it looks the best in every light, use colors that compliment your skin to make it look flawless, make your eyes POP with false lashes and shadows, manicure your eyebrows to perfection, and more!
2. Less Stress
Preparing for a senior portrait session is stressful in and of itself. Trying to do your hair and makeup by yourself can make things even harder. Professional camera equipment is designed to pick up every little detail in an image {even details that the eye can’t see} so hiring a professional makeup artist is the best way to go.
3. Who doesn’t like being pampered?!
I don’t ever want my seniors to feel like their portrait session is just simply “taking pictures,” I want it to be an EXPERIENCE. So, if my seniors arrive after an hour of being pampered and beautified, the entire experience has already started on a good note! If a senior arrives frustrated or stressed, it can affect the entire experience, including the way you look in photographs!
If hair and makeup is not in your budget…
Plan to wear slightly heavier make up than normal, including blush and lipstick or gloss that are at least slightly darker than your lip color. The sun and flash photography will wash out your makeup in photographs. Wearing your makeup heavier than normal will prevent washout. I also highly recommend false eyelashes. These can be purchased for very affordable prices at various stores.
Don’t neglect the nails!!!
And, one last tip {literally}!!! In all of the chaos of senior session prep…don’t forget to pamper your nails!!! During your shoot, a lot of the poses we do will have your hands close to your face and in the frame, so make sure that your nails look just how you want! Try to avoid any chipped polish or crazy patterns. French manicures, light/natural colors, and even nails with no color at all photograph best!!!