5 Tips to Prepare Your Teen for Senior Pictures
It’s normal for teens to feel a bit awkward when taking their high school senior pictures. Many teenagers feel self-conscious and would rather just skip the photo session.
High school senior photos are an American tradition and something your family will cherish for a lifetime. Don’t let shyness or awkwardness get in the way of having your teen take a great photo.
We’ve got 5 tips to help you and your teen prepare to take a senior picture they will be proud to show everyone.
1. Planning Their Outfit
If you’re stuck wondering what to wear for senior pictures the answer may be easier than you think. Bring a few different outfits to the photo session. That way your Southern Smiles photographer can take a look at the outfits you’ve selected and help you to make a decision.
We can suggest how many outfits to bring. Normally the answer is 3 to 4. Choose different styles of clothing such as casual, formal, or outdoor attire to achieve shots with variety.
If your son or daughter played on a sports team consider bringing their sports uniform. If they were in the school chorus or band bring their uniform. Bring any outfits that showcase their personality of activities that they were involved in during high school.
Also, bring accessories such as footwear and jewelry to the session. Many senior picture outfits include the graduate’s new high school ring or a classic strand of pearls.
Wash the clothing ahead of time to make sure all of the items are clean and spot-free. Hang your clothing up when you take it to the session to avoid them getting wrinkled on the car ride over.
Keep your clothing simple. Now isn’t the time to go with a bold print or pattern. Brightly colored solid clothing always looks best. Make sure the colors look appropriate on your child’s skin tone.
Don’t wear t-shirts with writing or designs on the chest unless it is your school’s logo. You want your child to stand out in the photos not what they are wearing.
Many kids want to wear their favorite color in their senior pictures but make sure that color looks with their skin tone and eyes. The last thing you want is to pay good money for a photo of your child that looks washed out.
2. Apply Normal Makeup
It is certainly very tempting to want to get “glam” for your senior photos but wearing a lot of makeup could make your photos look unrecognizable.
If your child wears makeup allow them to wear it. It’s part of their personality. But don’t go overboard for their high school senior pictures.
Allow them to apply makeup as they normally would on any school day. If you are unsure about the makeup you could always bring it along and ask your Southern Smiles photographer for suggestions on how much is too much.
Avoid sparkly eyeshadow or makeup with SPF. These will reflect the light and leave white spots on the photos or even make your child’s face appear whiter than their neck and body.
Bring along some translucent powder to dab on your child’s T-zone. This will get rid of extra shine that makes the face appear damp in photographs. It’s good to have the powder with you during the session in case a touch up is needed.
3. Wear Their Normal Hair Style
A common mistake seen by our senior picture photographers is when the child gets a new hair cut right before their senior photo session.
Sometimes the haircut comes out differently than you may expect and you don’t want to have photos scheduled the same day or next day.
At Southern Smiles, we suggest not making any major changes to your child’s style before senior picture day. This goes for perms, chemical relaxers, or chopping off inches of hair.
You want your child to look and feel their best in their photo and be proud to share it with family and friends.
Most senior photos look best with a natural-looking hairstyle. In general, it is a good idea for your child to fix their hair just as they would on a normal school day. This way their friends will be able to recognize them years from now in the high school yearbook.
If you are going to go for a different style or if you are getting a cut before the photo session, do it a week or so before so you can have time to experiment before the big day. This will also help it to look more natural and grown in as opposed to getting a cut the night before your photo session.
4. Don’t Worry About Braces or Blemishes
Pimples, braces, or birthmarks got your teen stressed? Tell them to forget about it. Southern Smiles Portraits offers in house retouching services.
Braces can be magically removed and pimples can be erased in a matter of minutes. Ask your Southern Smiles photographer about our retouching services. They will help you select your best photos and retouch them to help your child feel proud to show off their senior portraits.
5. Clean Their Nails
So many senior photo ideas and poses will draw attention to your child’s hands. It is a good idea to make sure your child’s nails are free from dirt and clean before you get to the photo studio.
Mothers of boys, we’re talking to you. Many of the classic senior picture photos involve putting their hands under their chin or near their face. The last thing you want is to not notice your child’s dirty fingernails until its too late.
Have your children wash their hands (and feet if they are taking casual barefoot photos) and use a nail brush to remove excess dirt.
For the mothers of daughters, a manicure isn’t necessary. Just make sure if your daughter decides to wear nail polish on the big day that none of her fingers are chipped. Trust me, a chip will stick out like a sore thumb.
Preparing for Senior Pictures
Congratulations! Your child is officially all grown up. Senior pictures are a perfect time to commemorate that occasion. They are something you and your family will cherish for years to come.
There is no need for your teen to feel awkward or out of place. Use these 5 tips when preparing to take senior pictures and they will turn out great.
Southern Smiles Portraits is a leader in school photography in Virginia and North Carolina. Let our photographers capture your teen’s spirit and smile. Schedule a senior picture session with us today!