SENIOR STYLE GUIDE COMING SOON!

A FEW MORE TIPS

frames only for glasses wearers. no glass.

• 5. Avoid Any Dress Straps ...

• 6. Several Styles ...

• 7. Keep it Classic ...

• 8. Watch for Underwear ...

- Everyone: have your hair cut about one week before your session, so it’s fresh. 

- Guys: you will need a fresh shave. 

- Trim your nails before your session so your hands look as good as the rest of you. 

- Don’t worry about blemishes or breakouts. Everyone gets them (everyone!) and I am a good retoucher. It’s not an issue. 

- Skip the spray tan (and the real tan!). It can look orange in photographs and you don’t need it. And tan lines are distracting!

And more importantly...

Just show up ready to have fun and feel special. Bring your ideas, your thoughts, your personality, and don’t worry about a thing. It’s going to go great!

I want to know who you are and what you love, and bring those passions to your photo shoot. I want to know what kinds of locations scream “YOU!” I want to design your session to reflect you. I want to help you coordinate your outfits with our chosen backgrounds - I believe in tonal harmony. bring along something meaningful, if you want.

Your session is about YOU.  Your story.

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When planning your senior portraits with me, take a moment to look through the senior photos on my website and decide what “feel” you would like your session to have. If we haven’t yet chosen a location, ask yourself, “Do I like the casual feeling of a natural space? Do I like an urban vibe, or the simple drama of the studio? Would I like some of each?” If the latter sounds like you, then you should know that right outside the door of my Chaska studio there are historic brick buildings, a white gazebo, the Minnesota River with nature trails, a field, and a lake with a dock. We can get a lot of variety there, and you’ll have a place to change outfits. 

I also love shooting in places that are special to my senior clients. I love to tie in your passions and interests, if you want, as well as your favorite colors and environments. Feel free to bring along your cello, artwork, ballet shoes, horse... I love to coordinate clothing with locations and backdrops, so we will consult and work together to plan the style and colors of your photographs. 

Later in this guide I will share tips and inspiration for what to wear, how to pose and what to expect during and after your session.

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HOW LONG WILL THE SESSION LAST? 

Typically sessions last between one and three hours, depending on the number of outfit changes and locations we shoot at. 

 

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO MY SHOOT? 

Bring three to five outfits (see the the section below and my what to wear guide for some great suggestions). If you can't decide, bring more; we will narrow down your choices together. Bring any jewelry and accessories to coordinate with your clothes, makeup for touchups and hair styling items like combs, hairbrushes, hair elastics, etc. Also, you'll need to being shoes to match your outfits. In summer, bug spray is a good idea (I usually have some). Don’t forget your special “prop,” if you have one! If you are bringing a dog, make sure s/he has had a lot of exercise before the shoot, to insure a mellower pup. 

 

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY MAKEUP AND HAIR PROFESSIONALLY DONE. DO YOU OFFER THAT SERVICE? 

Absolutely! I know several makeup artists who will come right to your session, style you, and then stay for part of the shoot to pamper you and give you touchups. That add-on fee will be  $235 + tip (per person). Let me know when you book if you would like me to hire someone for you, and I will take care of booking her services.

 

WHAT ABOUT POSING? DO I NEED TO PRACTICE? 

Nope. Don’t worry at all about posing. Below are a few general posing tips, but for the most part you can rely on me in the posing department. I prefer simple, classic posing that is flattering and natural.  You will look great - promise! 

 

SHOULD MY PARENTS COME ALONG? 

That is up to you! I love when families come along on a senior’s shoot. It is always fine with me if they do, but if you find that you will be more relaxed without them there, then your folks are more than welcome to hang out at the studio if we are meeting there, or to go grab a cup of coffee until we’re finished. (FYI, there is a Dunn Brothers across the street from the studio and a great Mexican restaurant with patio seating right next door...) 

 

CAN WE GET SOME FAMILY PICTURES OR A FEW WITH A SIBLING, TOO? 

Yes. This will not be at all like a regular family shoot, because here our focus is the senior, but I usually can squeeze in a few extra shots at the beginning or end of the senior session. Tell me when you book if you are planning to add on a few family or sibling shots, so I can plan ahead for this and keep the session running smoothly. 

 

WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS ON THE DAY OF MY OUTDOOR SESSION? 

In the event of rain during a scheduled outdoor session we will either use an indoor location or reschedule for a different date (I build rain days into my shooting schedule). And a few times, I’ve actually shot IN the rain - so that’s an option, too, if it’s not pouring or storming out! 

 

DO YOU DO RETOUCHING?

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GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SESSION

What to wear

 

Here is some general advice for how to plan your outfits for your senior photo shoot. For more specific direction with examples, click here.

 

Choose colors you know you look good in. If you aren’t sure, consult your family or friends, and also consider your eye color and skin tones. I usually suggest limiting graphics on clothes, unless it would look good where we are shooting (like an urban spot). Medium shades or rich tones photograph better than neons. Also, cream is a much better choice than stark white. I am always happy to preview your outfits via email before your session, and I will always suggest colors to you that I know will look good in our chosen locations. Choose clothes that fit you well - smaller is actually better than baggy and loose. You want your clothes to skim your body, creating a nice, tailored look that compliments your shape. So if you aren’t sure on size, try the smaller one. 

Don’t forget shoes! Make sure you have footwear that goes with your outfits: boots, flats, dress shoes... let’s avoid flip flops for both style and safety reasons!

I suggest at least three, up to five outfits, so we have a lot of choices for coordinating with our different backgrounds and settings. Go for variety! 

For girls, bring a light, flowing dress, a more casual option with jeans, something fun and stylish, something classic and simple, something upscale... Layers and accessories are great for getting both style and variety, too: jackets, sweaters, scarves, hats, jewelry, glasses... Express yourself! And accent your favorite features. Something to consider: most often long sleeves or sleeveless tops will lengthen the “lines” in your photos more than short or cap sleeves. Maxi dresses and good-fitting skinny jeans are flattering on almost every shape. 

For guys, or people who prefer a more gender-neutral style, bring what you love and feel comfortable in - what expresses YOU. Collared shirts look great in pictures, as do crew neck tops or sweaters. Layers are always a great idea, for example a jacket, sweater or vest. With dark shirts and sweaters, a black t-shirt is a great base layer instead of white.

 

 

 

 

 

General

Make sure to dress head to toe in all outfits! Don't forget shoes, jewelry, belts or other accessories; if your hair easily falls out of place, make sure to bring your favorite hairspray or gel. Bring your clothes to your session on hangars to help avoid wrinkles.

Hair

Do not try a new hairstyle or cut for your portraits. A haircut one to two weeks prior to your session is recommended. If your hair is dyed or you have highlights, make sure your roots aren't too dark.

Tanning

Be cautious when tanning prior to your session! You may have a noticeable red or orange tone in your portraits if you are sunburnt or have a heavy tan. Avoid heavy use of tanning beds and lotions-- they may make you appear orange. If you want to have a tan for your portrait session, we highly recommend getting a professional spray tan, and ask for something subtle and glowy. 

Glasses

We can reduce and sometimes eliminate glass glare. If you have tinted or thick lenses, it can affect the way your eyes look in the camera. In such a case, most optometrists are willing to loan eyeglasses without the glass for your portrait session.

Braces and Teeth

We can remove braces with artwork at an extra cost. It is recommended to visit the dentist for a polish or use whitening strips prior to your session.

Skin/Nails

Do not worry if you have blemishes! All of your final portraits will be fully retouched. Be sure your nails are trimmed and polished to your liking.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your senior session, feel free to call the studio at 330.923.3686, or fill out a contact form. We will get back to you as soon as we can, and we look forward to seeing you for your session!

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Make up

Make up is very important to create the look you want for senior portraits! If you normally wear make up, we recommend that you do your eyes a little heavier than normal. If you do not normally wear make up, we ask that you wear a base foundation that correctly matches your skin, mascara, and lip gloss at the very least. We have a list of professional make up artists if you are interested in having your make up done prior to your session.

Outfits

Outfits are very important when it comes to your senior portraits. We want to capture your personality through your style. We also want you to be truly comfortable in what you are wearing, so we do not request much when it comes to your outfit choices. The only thing we ask is that you limit outfits with shorter skirts and dresses, as multiple outfits with them, limits the number of poses we can use. Keep in mind what type of silhouettes you are wearing, as these portraits will last a lifetime! Keep it classic, but don’t be afraid to add a little color, a cool silhouette or fun shoes.

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Facial Hair

Facial hair can be difficult to retouch in your images, so make sure you have shaved to your liking prior to your session for a clean look.