You’ve booked your senior photo session and your first question is….What do I wear? You want to make sure you look amazing for your senior photos and that starts with picking the right clothes for your senior session to show off your personal style. But with so many great options out there from dresses to jeans and everything in between, how do you choose the right things?

What you wear can determine locations, what type of poses we do and more so picking the right outfits for your style and personality is important. And coming prepped and ready to go with clothing, jewelry and accessories will ensure that you will have a great senior session and fall in love with your photos!

The following tips will help you when determining what to wear for your senior photos:

Tip #1 – Look for Inspiration

Look for inspiration on Instagram, both at fashion bloggers and my instagram to see what past clients have worn, as well as Pinterest. Having a visual for what you like and what looks good on camera is a great way to start the process of choosing the right outfits for your session.

Tip #2 – Think about what works for the season.

Each season has distinct clothing types. Spring is all about pretty sundresses and sandals and fall is all about layers. So make sure you are choosing a season for your senior session that allows you to wear the types of clothing you like and make sure you are choosing clothing that reflects the season in which you are having your photos taken.

Pro-Tip: Check out that season’s top fashion trends and pick the ones you like to incorporate them into your wardrobe for your session. Make sure you do it in a real way that makes sense for your style and not for the runway!

Tip #3 – Shop your closet first!

I know everyone loves to get new clothes…so do I!! But you may have exactly what you need in your own closet so be sure to check there first! What is your favorite item in your closet? What do you love to wear? What item makes you feel confident and beautiful? Start with that item and build your outfit around that!

Tip #4 – Choose a variety for your session.

For your senior photo session, be sure to bring a variety of outfits so that you don’t look like you wore the same outfit in all your photos. I suggest that my clients bring three outfits which ensures that we get a good variety and different looks for the session. Ideally you will have 1 dressy outfit (usually a dress), 1 casual outfit (such as jeans and a top) and 1 outfit that is somewhere in between.

Pro-Tip: Be sure to not only bring a variety of clothing types (jeans, shirts, dresses, etc) but also a variety of color or pattern. You do not want everything to be the same color and you don’t want everything to be a pattern or everything to be a solid. Make sure to have at least one outfit that has a pattern for variety.

Tip #5 – Don’t be afraid of color!

Colors look great in photos so don’t think you should only wear neutrals. Think about your skin color and what color compliments it. If you are pale, white may wash you out so be sure to choose colors that flatter you and not colors you see everyone else wearing. Do you have a favorite color? Wear it! That will help show off your personality during your shoot.

Tip #6 – Show off your personality!

One of my favorite quotes from Rachel Zoe is, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” This really applies to photos because they need to represent who you are without words. So choosing outfits to wear in your photos that showcase your personality is a way to get you across to the viewers of the photos! Are you classic or preppy? Then choose clothing that reflect that. Are you a bit bohemian? Then a flowy dress and jewelry may be the best way to showcase that. Are you edgy? Then choose clothing that speaks to that side of your personality. Maybe you are a little of everything so choose a variety of outfits that fit all the different sides of your style and personality.

Tip #7 – Think about the entire look!

No matter what outfits you choose for your session, make sure to think about every detail so you outfit looks complete. That includes accessories, shoes and even your fingernails and toenails. You want to make sure you look at everything together to make sure it works, try it on to make sure it looks good and remember to pack everything you need for each outfit. Adding a necklace, hat or earrings might be the right touch to complete your look.

Want more tips about styling for your senior shoot and where to shop? Download the free shopping guide for your senior photos below!

I know shopping for the perfect looks for your senior photo session can be hard! You want to know where should you should shop and what you should look for? So I have created this FREE Shopping Guide to help you! To download it, click HERE or the image above to have it sent directly to your email!

If you need more help with what to wear for your senior session, I can help! You can book a wardrobe consultation with me before your senior session and I will go through your outfit options with you to pick the best for your session as well as show you some of my favorite looks right from the LKP Style Closet that you can borrow for your session.

Leslie is a senior portrait photographer in Greenville, South Carolina. Her goal is to capture every senior’s personality in their images, tell their story and make sure every senior has fun, feels beautiful and has an amazing experience during their senior photo session. Leslie is currently booking Class of 2020 senior portraits. To learn more about being an LKP Senior, click here.