Richmond Senior Portrait Tips
RICHMOND SENIOR PORTRAIT TIPS + IDEAS
Congratulations, you're a senior! There's no other time of your life like it, so we're thrilled you've decided to document this important chapter in your life through photos. It's our goal to capture your unique personality in your portraits. We also want you to have fun doing it!
Plan to wear some of your favorite outfits and bring your cap and gown (and any props you like). . .and we'll go explore an area you've selected together while we take photos.
Senior Portrait Tips
A parent or BFF is welcome. Sometimes it helps to have a parent or friend on hand to help with wardrobe changes and make sure your hair looks good. As long as they are helping you feel more comfortable and not distracting you or making you feel nervous, invite them along! (Maybe Mom, BFF, or BF can even jump in a photo with you?)
Bring one to two outfits you love. Pick a couple of colors, but steer away from too many patterns. (We want you to be the center of attention, not your clothes!) Think about how your outfits will look if framed together. (Some seniors even choose an outfit’s color based on which room the framed photos will be displayed.)
Start in the more formal of the two outfits. We’ll have to plan where you can change. (Some outfits are easy to slip on under the existing outfit.) One to two outfits, plus the cap and gown, will give us variety without taking up too much time with outfit changes and ensure that we still have plenty of time to take photographs.
For dresses, one that is dressy/flowy and one that’s more tailored is always a good combo. (Or a more casual outfit as your second outfit if you prefer.)
If you love it, you’ll be more comfortable, and that’ll show! Think about your location and what may coordinate well with the area you’ve chosen for your photographs. Include coordinating accessories.
Don’t forget the shoes! In many of the photos, your shoes will be visible. Bring shoes with you that coordinate with your outfits. If you have heels, bring’m. If they’re really uncomfortable, bring a pair of slip-on shoes to walk between locations.
Props welcome. Bring along any props that you like to show off your personality. These are optional, and if you would, give me a heads up on what you’re thinking so I can prepare.
Tan lines are tricky. I can retouch blemishes and scars, but heavy tan lines can be tricky to remove well. When selecting your wardrobe, notice if there are tan- lines visible and either fix the tan lines, or perhaps opt for another outfit.
Pick a location you like! Want something peaceful and rural, or edgy and urban? Let's find somewhere that best fits your personality. (Click here for some inspiration!)
Arrive early. You don’t want to look stressed out or out of breath in your photos. Some locations may involve parking in an area you’re not familiar or more traffic than you are used to. Often, I’ll chose the time of day for your location to make the best use of natural light--if you’re late, we may miss our window. Allow yourself plenty of time, get there early and relax.
Take more care when applying makeup. Don’t go crazy on the cosmetics, but take a little more time when applying it than usual--it’s not every day that you get photos of yourself taken that may live on people’s walls for decades. Avoid really bright nail polish, eye shadow or anything that will distract from you. Make sure hair is clean, styled and out of your eyes.
Relax and have fun! This photo session is all about you--enjoy it. Having your picture taken can be really fun. Don’t worry about posing or smiling. Once you’re there, I’ll talk you through what to do. It’s easy and low-key and it’s my job to make sure you look great!
