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! 

I know… Senior pictures might be the last thing on your mind right now. Your graduate’s junior year just finished, afterall. But trust me when I say their senior year will be over before you know it! And with college applications and commitments, and plenty of senior-year events and awards headed your way, taking senior pictures is one of the few things you actually have flexibility in scheduling. So whether you’re headed into the Class of 2026 or you (or your student) are still a few years away, here are my top three reasons to plan on taking senior pictures over the summer.

1. Summer Weather/Summer Outfits for Senior Pictures

Two words: Golden Hour! It’s got a reputation for a reason, and those magical summer sunsets can produce some stunning shots. So why not take advantage of the sun-kissed skin of the season? Taking senior pictures in the summer lets you enjoy the comfort of warm temperatures during your shoot, which also means lighter outfits. Think breezy sundresses, signature tees, and bright colors. And speaking of colors, summer sessions for senior pictures also get the advantage of more diverse backgrounds like blooming flowers, lush greens or even weather-specific locations like beaches and lakes. Plus, with autumn taking over the wedding scene, you’ll likely have better luck with your photographer’s available dates!

2. Check Off Senior Pictures… Before the Busy

Scheduling your senior portrait session in the summer is so much easier for, well… scheduling! Without school, extracurriculars, sports, and other academic calendar activities to work around, a photo shoot is easy to schedule—and reschedule if you need! Session times are flexible, which means less stress for you. Like I said, there will be plenty of things filling your calendar senior year, from senior prom to senior carnival, senior breakfast and senior capping. And if your student is involved in sports, clubs, or committees, you’ll have even more on your plate heading into graduation! Cross this task off your list early. You can! This one is up to YOU to schedule, and getting it out of the way before the business helps to create a joy-filled, stress-free image gallery. 

3. Early Gallery Completion

While it might feel early, having senior pictures on hand at the start of the school year will be more useful than you think! Be ready for yearbook deadlines, prepared for senior night displays, and set for all those #SeniorSunday posts from the very start. Simple as it sounds, taking photos early means having pictures ready early, too! When the time comes for graduation party invitations, college announcements, thank you notes, etc., you’ll have a gallery full of stunning photos to use without worrying about fitting in a shoot, getting images back in time to design and print before sending out invitations in time for them to arrive, etc. Take the worry out of it—Take your senior pictures over the summer!

Why Take Senior Pictures with Sarah Arnold Photography? 

I believe in a world where you are only a senior once, celebrating these moments undeniably matters. By focusing on the significance of this pivotal time in seniors’ lives, I work to freeze these moments and make them last forever! Simply put, it’s my goal to create images that won’t let you forget this special time in your life. You deserve an unforgettable experience — one that culminates in stunning, timeless photos that will make your heart swell! 

With three different Senior Portrait Packages to choose from, you’re sure to find the services that best meet your needs and your budget. And with an added family session option, you can take full advantage of the summer light/styling and make the most of your time in front of the lens! 

Want to know more? Check out the details of each package, what’s included, FAQs and more HERE.