how to make your senior's shoot
the absolute best it can be...
Let's talk outfits. Let's talk location. Let's talk time of year for your senior's shoot!
let's talk outfits!
This shoot is the perfect time for capturing your senior as they are now. Outfits can be a great way to do that. But don’t stress over them! Simple outfits that your senior feels great in are always the best choice!
My outfit advice:
- I recommend 1-3 outfits, though time permitting, we can do more.
- Start with your senior’s favorite outfit. Whether that’s jeans and a tee, a dress and sandals, or somewhere in between, outfit #1 should be the fave. We often get many of our BEST photos in the first half hour of the shoot, so put the favorite outfit first!
- If your senior is not big on changing clothes, or is not thrilled about this shoot in the first place (hello, most senior guys… 😊), one outfit is plenty. Because we often move around to different backdrop areas, and because I take a variety of shots from different angles, different distances, etc. we’ll still get plenty of fabulous shots even if one outfit is all your senior is willing to endure. 😊
- If multiple outfits are more your senior’s jam, here’s what I recommend:
- One casual outfit (jeans, shorts, tees, polos, etc.)
- One dressy outfit (flowy dresses work fabulous for girls! Suits are an amazing option for guys! They may not like putting them on, but I can guarantee they’ll LOVE the photos! Trust me on this!)
- One in between outfit OR letterman’s jacket, athletic uniform, college shirt, etc.
- Avoid choosing outfits your senior wouldn’t typically wear. This is not the time to try a brand new style. When your senior feels good in their outfits, that will show in the photos. Give them that gift by letting them choose their faves.
- Colors, patterns, and textures work great! Layers and accessories add to the fun! Hats, sunglasses, scarves, etc. While these things might not be needed in every shot, they’re a great add-on for variety!
- Props that make sense in your senior’s life are also a great thing to include. While your senior should be the main focus of the shoot, if they are a band kid, bring their instrument! If they are an athlete, bring their jersey! If they are heading off to flight school in the fall, bring a little airplane! Don’t go out of your way to come up with a bunch of prop ideas because these will only be a very minor part of the photo shoot, but if something just makes sense for your senior, feel free to bring it! And let me know ahead of time what you plan on bringing so I can prepare to get the best shots possible!
- Last, but not least, schedule hair appointments a week or two before your senior’s shoot. I can’t tell you how many photo shoots we’ve needed to reschedule because of a bad haircut the day before the shoot. 😊
let's talk locations!
While your senior will always be the main focus of the shoot, location can be a fabulous way to showcase your grad!
Over the past 20 years, I’ve narrowed down my own location recommendations to some fabulous spots that never fail to set the stage for amazing photos. When I am looking for a favorite location, I’m looking for 1) a variety of backdrop options, 2) beautiful lighting that works during your scheduled shoot time, 3) light crowds (because I’ve found that no senior is comfortable at a shoot when strangers are gawking).
While choosing one of my tried-and-true locations for your senior’s shoot is typically recommended, if you have another location in mind, let me know! I’m happy to scope out the spot to make sure it fits all the criteria we need for your senior’s shoot to be amazing.
There are a couple of my recommended locations that are best utilized in the morning, when crowds are light, and I typically only schedule shoots at those locations on Sunday mornings. If you are interested in a shoot in downtown Austin or on the campus of Southwestern University, let’s find a Sunday morning for your shoot. You won’t regret it.
It’s not uncommon to want a couple different locations for your senior’s shoot, and I am happy to accommodate that. If you’re interested in shooting at more than one location (park for some shots, stadium for others), I recommend booking a full shoot one day and a mini add-on on a separate day. We rarely have enough time to get to two locations in one shoot, and I don’t want ANY of your senior’s shoot time wasted on a commute between spots.
If you’ve looked through my location options and simply can’t decide, tell me a little bit about your senior, and I’ll gladly make some recommendations for the best spot for them!
It is absolutely my goal that your location choice feels like the perfect fit for your senior, and I will do my best to accommodate in every way I can. Just know I will always care about how well any location will showcase your senior. Trust that I will not schedule a shoot in a location that won’t highlight your senior’s amazingness. When they feel good about the location, that will show in the photos.
let's talk time of year!
There are many factors that go into the best time of year for your senior’s shoot. First and foremost, their schedule. Senior year is a busy time no matter if you’ve got an athlete, a band kiddo, a scholar, or all three. Trying to fit photos into an already overloaded schedule can lead to a stressful shoot that doesn't showcase your senior well. That being said, waiting until EVERYTHING calms down typically isn’t realistic during the craziness of senior year. Finding a little wiggle room is often all you need to make this work if you’ve planned ahead, so keep an eye on both your calendar and mine for those opportunities.
Some things to consider when thinking about time of year for your senior’s shoot.
- I schedule all lf my shoots around the best available lighting of the day, which is typically about an hour before the sun sets, or an hour after the sun rises. Because sunset and sunrise times change throughout the year, shoot start times change, too.
- In early fall, shoots start anywhere between 5pm and 6:30pm, depending on sunset time.
- Once the time changes in early November, shoots typically start around 4pm. This can be a tough time for your senior to get to a shoot depending on when school lets out, what after-school activities they are involved in, etc. so if an afternoon shoot won’t work for you, plan to schedule earlier in the fall or after the clocks move forward in the spring.
- Some locations look great all year round. Some do not. Depending on the backdrop options your senior is looking for, you’ll want to schedule accordingly. Urban areas typically look great year-round. Parks and natural spots look great until the leaves fall off. I typically don’t recommend shooting in parks in December, January, or February, though we CAN find spots that work if that is what your senior absolutely wants.
- There are typically many times throughout senior year that your grad will need to submit photos for awards banquets, college applications, etc. The earlier you knock this shoot out, the better your photo options will be for all. the. things.
last, but not least...
A successful shoot for your senior is a successful shoot for me. It is absolutely my goal to make your grad feel special and celebrated during this exciting time in their lives. As their parent, you know them best. If there is anything YOU know of that I can do to help make this shoot a success, just let me know!