Friend, if you’re feeling stuck (and maybe even a little overwhelmed 😅) trying to plan what to wear for your senior session, then this post is JUST for you! Today, I’m going to walk you through my top 5 tips for planning outfits that will photograph well + make you look as amazing as you are while on camera.
1. PRIORITIZE COMFORT & CONFIDENCE
Above all else, the #1 most important thing about your clothing is that it makes you feel comfortable & confident. If you feel stiff, uncomfortable, or self-conscious in what you’re wearing, it will totally show on camera (so sorry to break it to you!). To get the happiest, most beautiful photos of yourself possible, be sure to wear something that makes you feel like the incredible gal you are, and leave behind anything that makes you second-guess yourself!
2. ALLOW FOR MOVEMENT
Movement is one of my very favorite ways to add energy to your photos and make them more visually interesting, so any kind of material that can show movement or catch the wind is a HUGE yes (think a nice soft, flow-y dress!). The stiffer the material of your clothing, the less you’ll be able to move (meaning you’ll also probably be a lot less comfortable, which we already agreed is a no-no).
3. MIX IT UP!
Variety is the ~spice of life~ right?? All of my senior packages include more than one outfit, so if you book your session with me, take advantage of that and bring a few options! I always recommend making half your outfits more casual and half more dressy to allow for a good mix of moods, giving you photos you can use for all sorts of occasions. Dresses, whether formal or casual, are super flattering to the female body and allow for some extra flow & movement in your images that will be oh-so beautiful, so I’d highly recommend having at least one of your outfits be a dress!
4. KEEP YOUR COLORS & PATTERNS SUBTLE
Without a doubt, I recommend leaning more towards neutrals and earthy tones and staying away from bright colors. This doesn’t mean just creams and grays, though! There are neutral, muted tones for every single color. Instead of green, go for a soft forest green; instead of red, go with a deep maroon; instead of yellow, go for a mustard yellow; and so on. Avoiding ultra-bright, bold colors, will help bring all the attention to your face and let the eye focus on you and your lovely personality (which is, of course, what it’s all about!). Plus, bold colors tend to leave strange reflections on your skin, which we totally do not want. Keep it as soft & muted as possible!
Just like bold colors, bold patterns can be really distracting in photos (and honestly pretty unflattering to your body shape). Subtle patterns, on the other hand, can actually add a lot of visual interest to a photo! So choose your patterns wisely, try to stick to small & subtle ones if possible, and feel totally free to ask your photog for help if you’re debating whether a certain pattern would look good or not.
5. ACCESSORIES
Bring on the accessories, baby! Necklaces, belts, bracelets, earrings, etc. really bring extra dimension to your photos, plus they can be a nice tie-in if you’re coordinating with a group. If you go with statement pieces, choose just one or two that don’t compete with the rest of your look for attention.
And there ya have it, sweet friend! 5 quick & easy tips to make your outfit planning process a whole lot easier. If you’ve still got questions, feel more than free to send em my way! My inbox + my Instagram DMs are always open, and I’d be so happy to help you 🥰
And if you still haven’t booked your senior session… well what the heck are ya waiting for?? 😉 Send me a message and let’s get this party started!
