Preparing for your senior pictures

Top 6 misconceptions about preparing for your senior photoshoot

I’ve been thinking about pulling this list together for weeks and I’m thrilled to have it ready just in time for senior picture season!  These are 6 concerns that come up OFTEN, so I thought I’d address them one at a time.  I hope you enjoy!

1. “Getting professional hair and makeup done is overrated and unnecessary.”

Oh contraire!!  Not only does professional hair & makeup give you a beautifully polished look (and who doesn’t want that??) but my seniors have told me time & time again that it gives them that that extra nudge of confidence that definitely shines through in your portraits!  You’ll just have to trust me on this one.

2. “My classmate is in cosmetology school, she’s going to do my makeup for me.”

I’m going to give you an example here…. Last season I photographed 2 girls and their photoshoots were both on extremely humid 85 degree days.  The girl who went to my recommended professional hair & makeup artist looked as good in the very last photo I took of her as she did in her very first photo.  The other girl, who was studying cosmetology and elected to do her makeup herself, her makeup literally melted off in the humidity and we constantly battled “the shine” and had to blot ‘often’.  I’m being brutally honest here because I care as much about your experience DURING our shoot as I do about your beautiful portraits.  And I have to say, the girl who did her own makeup was stressing about  pasty forehead shine during her entire shoot.

3. “Professional hair & makeup will make me look overdone… like I’m 35… I want to look like ME!”

I totally get this, and so does a reputable makeup artist.  WE don’t want you to look 35 either!  Expressing your concerns to your makeup artist is critical, especially if you’d like to look as close to au natural as possible, makeup-wise.  Pair that with some tousled beach curls…yes please!  Even minimal makeup helps even out any skin tone disparities or tiny blemishes that show up in your photographs.

4. “I want to wear clothes that reflect me and my personality!”

YES!  Me too!!!  However, if your normal clothes show a lot of cleavage, or are too tight, too short, or too loose (adding weight or looking frumpy), I think we can do better than that!  I absolutely want you to feel comfortable in your outfits, and I 100% want them to reflect YOU!  But it’s my job to guide you on what photographs BEST.  For example, did you know white adds weight?  We go over this, and more, in detail during your complimentary consult, well in-advance of your senior photoshoot!  We also discuss how adding layers will add to your polished look.

5. “I want to be tan, so I plan on tanning up until my shoot.”

No.. please don’t.  I want you to look all healthy and tan too, though they say pale is the new tan (just sayin’!) But I DO recommend you stop tanning 2 weeks prior to your photoshoot.  I’d like to add that spray tanning and booth tanning makes one’s skin have an orange color cast that doesn’t look like normal skin color.   Just something to consider.

6. “I don’t normally wear jewelry, so I’m not wearing any for my shoot.”

Coming from a gal that doesn’t even wear her wedding ring, I get this!  But I’m still going to urge you to reconsider.    If makeup is the icing on the cake, then accessories are the sprinkles.  Accessories help finish off an outfit.  No worries, I’ll still make sure your beautiful face is the main attraction, but I strive for ‘magazine ready’ images for ALL my seniors and some outfits look that much better with a little extra texture or sparkle.

Here’s a few suggestions!  Pick out a few accessories that speak to your personality.  Don’t worry about anybody else’s opinion or thoughts, because the most import thing is I want you feeling comfy with whatever you chose.  How about a cute floppy hat? (I shoot hats in short bursts and towards the end, so they don’t squish your hair) Or colorful accent scarf?  Stacked bracelets, class rings, fun chunky necklaces, etc.  I’ve even had Beats headphones as an accessory!   We don’t need to go crazy here, don’t force it, just be thoughtful about it.

I promise you this: The more time and energy you put into preparing for your senior pictures, the better they’ll turn out and the happier you’ll be with your results.

Your senior picture will hang on your family’s wall for the next 20+ years, so it’s worth it to invest the time and money into making your portraits look fabulous!

Class of 2017, are you ready to schedule your consultation?  I thought so!  Let’s do this!!!!

Text me: Jenn 734-637-1547
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