Tempe Senior Photographer: How to Prep for an Epic Senior Portrait Session
Your senior portraits should be a fun and stress free experience! In order for it to be so, there are a few things I recommend doing before your session, so you show up feeling excited and ready for a fun time. If you booked your session a few months in advance, we’ll have plenty of time to walk through important things like outfits and locations. However, if you still have a few questions or just want to make sure you have all your bases covered, here are a few things I recommend doing the week of your senior session. The count down is officially on, let’s get you prepped!
One Week Before Your Senior Portrait Session
STEAM THAT GOWN AND STOLE
If you plan to wear your regalia to your session, be sure to hang up your stole and gown in your bathroom to smooth out wrinkles at least five days before your session. The steam from your shower should release the creases, so you end up looking neat and tidy before your session. And should you forget to do this the week before, you can use a portable steamer to steam the wrinkles out as well. A couple of passes from a steamer like this one will get the creases out likety split.
GET THAT FACIAL FOR GLOWY SKIN
If you plan to get a facial, I recommend doing it at least a week prior to your session and avoid any major treatments that will cause your skin to peel. If you do a facial that includes extractions, getting it done at least a week before will give your skin time to heal. On that note, any professional beauty treatments like body hair waxing or eyebrow shaping should be done with enough time to give your skin a chance to heal from redness or irritation. If you need any recommendations, I’m happy to refer you to some really incredible professionals in the skin care field.
GET ON A GOOD SLEEP SCHEDULE
At least a week before your session, make sure you’re getting your beauty rest. If you can’t swing a full week of good sleep, at least try to get that rest in the night before. Dark circles under the eyes are no joke but getting some good shut eye can help immensely in that department.
Three Days Before Your Senior Photos
ASK A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE IF THEY CAN ATTEND YOUR SESSION
Ask a friend or loved one if they can attend your session. A few days before your session, ask if a friend or family member if they can be at your photoshoot to fix your hair, hold any bags, and help you feel your best.
LAY OUT YOUR OUTFITS
Chances are you probably already confirmed and chosen what you’re wearing to your photoshoot. Make sure to lay out everything, including jewelry, shoes, and props. Also be sure to have a garment bag on hand, particularly for your gown and stole, but for any outfits that may wrinkle easily.
Two Days Before Your Senior Portraits Session
HYDRATE AND BE MINDFUL OF YOUR FOOD
At least two days before your shoot, drink lots of water, and don’t eat anything that might make you feel super bloated on your shoot. Try to stay away from high salt foods or lots of dairy, instead load up on fruits and vegetables and hydrate with some electrolytes.
KEEP LIPS MOISTURIZED
Make sure you’re taking care of your lips. This will help your lip color apply more evenly and look much better in your pictures. The earlier you start doing this, the better, but two days should be enough time to let your lip products do their job. Consider a sugar lip scrub to slough off the dead skin to make your pucker super pouty. Guys this applies to you as well! No one wants to look at dry lips.
One Day Before Your Senior Photoshoot
PACK YOUR BAGS
The day before your shoot, pack your car or your bags with everything you will need. This includes your outfits, props, regalia, makeup bag, and anything you will need during your session. Here’s a full list of everything you should bring.
GET THAT MANICURE DONE
Nails show up in photos and they can be a pain to fix in post editing. Wait until the day before your portrait session to get them done, so your nails are looking their best with no chips. If you’re not a nail person, just make sure they look clean, moisturized, and have minimal hangnails. Guys just make sure they don’t look chewed or ragged.
CONFIRM YOUR MEETING TIME AND LOCATIONS WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
Chances are that you already reviewed the locations you’ll be visiting for your photoshoot. Confirm the first location and even check where you might be parking, so you and your photographer don’t waste time searching for each other the day of the shoot.
The Day Of
SHAVE
If hair is a non-issue for you, skip this one. But for you friends with facial hair, leg hair, underarm hair, or other places hair might be showing, shave either the day of your pictures or the day before (especially for you men!) to allow the redness to settle.
DON’T COME HUNGRY
You’ll likely be running of adrenaline and excitement during your shoot. Afterward, you’ll likely feel exhausted. Make sure you eat something fueling and energizing before, and bring a snack for after.
GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME TO GET READY
Hair, makeup, groomed eyebrows, all of it. Make sure you have plenty of time to do it all and get yourself out the door with your packed bags. I would plan for more time than less, so you’re not feeling stressed or frazzled the day of your shoot. In general, make sure you’re in a good headspace, so you can come feeling open-minded and ready to have fun!
A Few Other Notes
Do not worry about blemishes or breakouts. I can easily take care of those in post.
I’ll keep you updated on the weather. If we need to reschedule, be flexible and don’t worry. We can have a totally epic senior photo session on another day. But keep this checklist handy so you can prepare well for your postponed shoot date.
Physical emergencies like a broken bone, a stye, or other unexpected injury can happen. If you’re worried about something specific, text/call/email me so I can advise you on whether to reschedule or keep your shoot date.
I can’t stress this enough: give yourself plenty of time to get ready the day of your shoot! You’ll want to feel your best emotionally and physically, so take control of what you can. I’m so excited for you!
Arizona Senior Photographer | Shannon Ly Photography
If you haven’t already booked your senior session and you’d like to, send me a message now so we can start to dream up something truly wonderful to commemorate your accomplishments.
