You’ve already heard a lot of talk about your big day, the spotlight, the hair, the outfits, and all the glam that goes along with senior pictures. It’s a lot of pressure—for you AND for me. After all, we’re tasked with wrapping up an entire academic career into one amazing Photo Shoot that will showcase exactly who you are. No problem, right? Exactly. No problem, I got this!
The insider information I’m about to share is meant solely to make your day even more awesome and (hopefully) put your mind at ease about all the fun that’s about to happen.
Secret #1: It really IS all about you.
That means you don’t have to be someone you don’t want to be. Don’t like dresses? Cool. Don’t wear dresses. Not a fan of high heels? (I mean, who is? They’re pointy and pinchy.) Wear your kicks. Or go barefoot. Or wear those funky toe-shoe things. The point is, I want you to be comfortable! Just be yourself, and you’re guaranteed to have a great time and end up with some awesome pics. I’ll help you style every single outfit to match the location for magazine-worthy senior pics!
Secret #2: Fashion isn’t complicated.
You know that one outfit? The one that makes you feel like you have a little bit of sass, a little bit of edge, and a whole lot of “Look. At. Me.” Yep, that’s the outfit. That’s the one that defines your style and your personality. That, my dear, is fashion. Sure, it could be fancy. Or it could be casual. Or it could be a mixture of sequins and denim—with a little bit of leather thrown in the mix. However you define fashion and style, whatever floats your boat and makes YOU shine, that’s fashion. Besides, with access to my exclusive Style Closet, you’ll have even more options for outfits and accessories!
When in doubt, keep it simple and wear what makes you feel good.
Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.
Rachel Zoe
Secret #3: Weather doesn’t always cooperate.
Fashion, we can control. Weather, we cannot. Things we try to avoid include monsoons, haboobs, temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, flash flooding, and pretty much any natural disaster. They don’t tend to be conducive to helping us produce the best photographs, plus, it can be a bit difficult to get the dust and bits of debris out of your hair if we get caught in a dust storm.
The good news is that YOU don’t have to worry about mundane things like watching the Weather Channel—because that’s what I do! I’ll be on top of every weather forecast leading up to your photo shoot, and if we need to move things around, we’ll do exactly that. I literally have an app that tracks wind for me, and that is my #1 photography session killer! Never fear, I intentionally limit the number of sessions I take each month! My schedule is designed to allow for last-minute changes if Mother Nature has other plans for your photo shoot! But also, keep an open mind…sometimes rain can be your best friend!
Secret #4: Zits are OK, Chipped Polish is Not
Let’s get serious for a minute. No one plans for the last-minute zit, and sometimes they’re so big they merit being given a name. My last BIG ONE was named Martha, and she didn’t go away for a week. Martha was a monster, and she staked a claim right in the middle of my nose (not cool). So, if you get a surprise “Martha” on the day of your photo shoot, don’t panic! We can work through it. Remember, I have my magical ways, and Martha will NOT make an appearance in your pictures.
However, let’s chat about your nails. These are fixable, at least if you take care of them before your session. Picture talons, long talons swooping out of the sky, maybe attached to a dragon or a hawk or whatever bird of prey suits your fancy. It takes a little more work and creativity to edit these down so that they are not the single biggest focal point of your photographs. Yes, they are pretty and long and lovely. But let me give you a tidbit of advice (you can take it or leave it)…those long and lovely clickers are going to seriously stick out when you are running your fingers through your hair or putting your hands by your face in your pictures. It might be a good time to consider a file. Any time your hands are near your face, your nails will show. Polished is fine, not polished is fine. Chipped polish? That’s a hard no and can ruin some beautiful shots.
Secret #5: Beauty Shines…Inside and Out.
There’s magic behind that lens, and together, we’ll land on exactly the look you’re going for. Wake up with a bulging zit? I can fix that! Have a few stray hairs? No problem! I want you to look like your fabulous self, not photoshopped! I won’t edit away what makes you, YOU. I refuse to edit away your pores, freckles, and beauty marks. I won’t “size you down” or throw filters at your images that represent false colors. You are PERFECT just the way you are… let me help you realize that with stunning skin texture and tone, your true shape, and the real tones & colors.
Your photos can be fun, flirty, or serious. We can add some nice effects to some already-awesome images, so let’s work together to come up with some fun options. The best part is that it’s up to you, and we can be as creative as you want to be!
Now you know what professional photographers know!
Cat’s Out of the Bag! Now that you know several trade secrets, I hope you’re feeling ready to tackle your upcoming photo shoot with all the style and confidence that makes you the amazing person you are. The best part about my job is that everyone I work with is unique—which means that every single photo shoot is an opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind collection of memories! I’d love to meet you and learn about all the fun ideas you have and let’s create the session you’ve always wanted! Make sure you get your FREE download of the Senior Client Welcome Guide to learn what happens next!
Hey, I want to be a cool kid too, so make sure you follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook! I’m always sharing tips to get amazing senior portraits!
