Many high school seniors like to have a wide variety of looks for their senior portrait. Typically, seniors will bring anywhere from 3 to 6 different outfits for their session. Oftentimes, a parent or friend will carry the wardrobe during the shoot. Depending on the location and the senior, you might want to consider bringing a pop-up changing room. Some seniors are comfortable changing outfits behind a tree, while others might need more privacy.

When choosing your wardrobe, select colors that complement both your skin tone and the background. This senior picked a color to match her eyes.

Always keep your location in mind. If it’s a windy spot, consider how fabrics will move. Loose or flowy pieces can sometimes billow in ways that aren’t flattering in photos.

Golden hour is perfect for senior portraits because it provides soft, flattering light. It also produces warm, glowing backgrounds.

Not all sessions can take place at golden hour, and that’s ok. Your venue might close before the sun goes down. A professional photographer can work in most lighting conditions.

A photographer with a trained eye looks for the light, whether it’s a reflection off water or a wall of a building; these little elements add to the polished look of the portrait.

When I photograph a senior portrait, I always ask for the family to attend. It’s a great time to get an updated family portrait. Either way, I tell the mom to come photo-ready so we can get some heart-warming images of the two together.

This was one of the last shots of the day from our on-location session. I love the warmth of the sunset in the background as this high school senior looks over her shoulder at the camera.