Styling senior pictures can be tricky. You want to capture the time in your life accurately and represent your own unique style. At the same time, these photos can (and often do!) serve as your go-to portrait for resumes and applications that require them, brand building throughout college, and even representing your professional presence online. Let’s face it. We don’t take a lot of portraits in our lives. Your senior pictures will likely bridge from your senior year to your first set of professional headshots—which not everyone gets around to doing! 

So how do you take a portrait that captures you in your senior year AND who you want to be in the years to come? Keep reading. Let’s talk senior pictures—and how to NOT be embarrassed by them 10 years from now.

Things to Embrace

Color scheme. A consistent color scheme is always a great choice when you’re taking photos. And choosing one for your senior pictures will make designing your graduation/grad party invites and thank you notes a breeze! It will also give you a ready-made look and feel with consistency across all future resumes and personal/professional websites. Choose neutrals for clothing and accessories, or rich tones that complement your skin tone. Looking your best will never go out of style! Need some help? Check out my personal inspo here.

Mix and match. Be sure to bring a few different coordinating looks to your photo session. Think casual outfits and dressier ensembles. Not only will that allow you to showcase more of your personality today, it will give you a variety of options depending on what you need in the future. Look for classic combinations, and use layers to add some depth to your look. Don’t forget to tie it all together! Shoes, accessories and jewelry can help bring every shot to life. 

Comfort and confidence. As a photographer, I can tell you this with confidence: If you feel uncomfortable, you’ll look uncomfortable! And believe me, that discomfort will come across in your photographs. Likewise, if you feel comfortable, that will shine through your images, too. Choose clothing and locations that you love—things you feel confident in! They’re your photos. Represent yourself well. 

Things to Avoid

Logos and branding. I know you likely don’t give it much thought now, but a big old “Adidas” logo might not serve you well if a Nike recruit gets your resume and checks out your LinkedIn. Or heaven forbid there’s a celebrity scandal that makes that band tee you love age worse than you’d hoped. Save those staple pieces for casual snaps and selfies with friends. For your official senior pictures, it’s best to leave the text and images behind.

Busy patterns. I know they can be fun, but crazy prints and patterns not only date you, they draw attention away from the subject—you! Unless it’s a school or college logo, stick to solid colors or subtle patterns that don’t distract from your face. Whether you’re using these photos now or years from now, the focus should be on you! And that will never change. 

Trendy silhouettes. Fashion trends cycle in and out of style as quickly as they appear. In the everything’s-instant culture of social media, and in an industry that introduces new things weekly, it’s easy to gravitate toward what’s “in” now. But that’s the thing… it’s in now. Avoiding trendy silhouettes is a mindful approach to fashion that can showcase your personal style, rather than what’s in style. Choosing timeless, well-fitting garments over fleeting fads will show a more sustainable, authentic, and confident wardrobe. And that creates photos you’ll be proud to share for years to come! 

Senior Pictures: Custom Sessions

Gone are the days of sitting for your yearbook photo and calling it a day. And gone are the days of stuffy studio portraits! Now, rather than being at the mercy of what’s available, you can work with your photographer to bring your fully customized vision to life. Interested? I’d love to unpack your perfect senior pictures. Check out my senior session packages here, then go ahead and send me a message. Your graduation will be here before you know it!