Choosing what you want to wear and how you want to look in your senior photos are two of the most important decisions you will make during the planning process.

Your overall look sets the tone for all your photos, and it showcases who you are at this momentous time in your life.

If you’re feeling confused or overwhelmed when it comes to your outfit choices, hair, and makeup, here are a few dos and don’ts that will help you feel more confident on the day. 

What NOT to Do:

• Wear shirts that have strong patterns or logos. Not only do these types of shirts take the focus off you, but it also prevents your photos from having a more timeless look. 
• Try something completely new. You want to feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera, so this is not the time to try a drastically new look. Imagine changing your hair completely, only to find you hate the cut a few days before your shoot. The same applies to your clothing, you don’t want to try a new dress on the day of your senior session and find that it doesn’t fit you well. 
• Wear overly bright colors. Neon and overly bright colors can affect how your skin looks in your photos. Over and above that, they are also distracting and are not recommended. 
• Arrive with dirty nails or chipped polish. Your fingers and toes stand out more than you think in photos, so make a point of keeping your nails neat and clean for your shoot. 
• Showing up with dirty footwear. Again, shoes are one of those smaller details that show up in photos, so make sure your footwear is clean before you arrive. 
• Applying heavy makeup. Ideally, you don’t want to go overboard with your makeup for your senior shoot. Stick as many neutral colors as possible and stay away from any makeup with glitter in it. 

What You Should Do

• Source some inspiration. Before you start thinking about outfits, it really helps to create a mood board. This way you know you’re choosing colors and textures that work really well together. 
• Show up wrinkle-free. Clothing with noticeable holes and wrinkles will not look good in photos, so clean and steam whatever you want to wear the night before. 
• Stick to simple accessories. Just like a patterned shirt can be a distraction, so can accessories. It’s best to stick to simple accessories that won’t steal the show in your senior photos. 
• Choose the right hairstyle and makeup. To create an eye-catching look, make sure that your hair and makeup match whatever you want to wear. For example, you wouldn’t apply glam, night-time makeup when you’re doing a fall shoot outside in the morning. 
• Wear items that make you feel good. Lastly, pick outfits that you know you feel really good in because this confidence will shine through in your photos. Your outfits should also fit you well for the best results – not too tight or too baggy. 

And if at any stage you are still feeling unsure about your look, speak to your photographer about your ideas and get a second opinion.