PLANNING YOUR SENIOR SESSION
choosing the perfect season, locations, outfits & more!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Now that you are booked and things are officially official - let’s talk through the entire senior experience, step-by-step! Your senior experience starts NOW, and I want you to know what’s around every corner as you begin to prep for your shoot day!
The Senior Session Guide + Questionaire
Alongside this style guide, you are going to receive a senior questionnaire to complete. This questionnaire will help me to get to know you, your style and your preferences so that I can create the best possible senior experience for you!
Please take the time to fill it out thoroughly after reading this guide - the more info you give me, the more I can customize your experience and be sure your images reflect YOU! But, finish reading this guide first…there’s helpful stuff in here!
The Week Before
As we get closer to the day of your shoot, you can expect to hear from me with our meeting time, location and final check-in! I photograph senior portraits at “golden hour” - either 3 hours before sunset or the 3 hours after sunrise.
We have likely already decided which time of day we will shoot! These times of day have the most amazing, glowy light, cooler temperatures and less crowds at popular locations. Because of this, I like to wait until we are 1-2 weeks from your shoot date to lock in an exact meeting time based on the time of the sunset.
If there are clouds or rain storms in the forecast, this also allows me to plan around the weather to ensure we get the best lighting possible! So, if we planned for around 6pm…it may end up that 5:30pm or 6:30pm is actually the best time to meet. That is super normal!
The Shoot Day!
This section of the session guide could be its own book in itself! SO many fun things to talk about on the day of your shoot! Your shoot will be 3-3.5 hours in total.
Let’s dive into what to expect each minute of your senior session:
The Importance of Being on Time
First things first: being on time for your shoot is VITAL. And I don’t just say that because of my time…I say that because we are on the SUN’S time. Since we plan your shoot around the ideal time for golden lighting…being late means that you lose that time off of your shoot.
Even being 15 minutes late means that we’ve lost 15 minutes of light. Once the sun goes down…we can’t shoot anymore! So, try to plan to be 15 minutes early for your session. That way, even if you hit traffic or a delay…it doesn’t eat into your shooting time! If you are more than 30 minutes late for your session, we will have to reschedule for my soonest available date.
The First 15 Minutes
When you arrive at your shoot, the first thing we are going to do is look through your outfits together! Even if you send me photos beforehand, we will run through them together on the day-of to map out exactly where we will photograph each look and when you will change.
This helps us to go in with a game plan and decide which outfit will look best in which location. Sometimes there will be flowers in bloom that coordinate with a specific dress or a prop that we want to use at a specific spot…so there’s some strategy that goes into this!
Changing Outfits + Locations
I frequently get asked where my seniors will change outfits on their shoot day…and the answer is our pop-up changing room! Typically, the locations that we shoot don’t have public bathrooms…which isn’t ideal.
This allows us to change outfits anywhere!
Posing + Shooting
The BIGGEST and most important thing that I want you to know about your shoot day is this: I am going to tell you what to do the ENTIRE time! You do NOT need to have any posing or modeling experience. I’ve actually never photographed a real model in my entire 10+ years of being a photographer!
Part of your investment in your senior portraits is my experience and ability to pose you and make you look (and feel!) your absolute best. So, there’s no reason to be nervous at all! I will guide you through every single pose and I promise the BIGGEST compliment I get from seniors is that I make it so easy. It’s going to be a blast!
After we look through your outfits together, we will start shooting!
WHO TO BRING WITH YOU
Another frequently asked question is “who do I bring with me!?” And this has a two-part answer!
PART ONE
The most important thing to think about is what will make you feel the most COMFORTABLE in front of the camera. If you tend to be more shy and will feel awkward having your mom or dad watching the entire time…we can ask them to wait in the car. If you LOVE having a hype squad and want everyone to follow us as we shoot…let’s do it! I just ask that we are still able to keep your images as the top priority with minimal distractions.
Bringing a large group of friends can sometimes mean that you get distracted while in front of the camera…and that can mean you don’t get as many images or time is taken away from shooting. So, I recommend only bringing 1-2 people along…this ensures it won’t take away from your focus as we shoot!
PART TWO
Deciding who you want to be PHOTOGRAPHED with! One of my favorite additions to any senior session is your favorite people. If you want to have your best friend(s), significant other, parents, pet or anyone else join in your photos…they are more than welcome! I just request that they wait to meet us until the last 25-30 minutes of your shoot. This way, we can make YOU the focus for the majority of the session with minimal distractions…and still capture photos with your favorite people as the grand finale! More on this later in the guide!
LET'S TALK LOCATIONS
ARE THEY A BIG DEAL?
Aside from choosing your outfits (which we are diving into next, don’t worry!) - choosing your LOCATIONS is a huge part of what will determine the overall style and aesthetic of your images. It also takes a little bit of logistical planning to map out where we will shoot and the travel time between locations. Overall, there are a few things to keep in mind when picking where to shoot.
It’s actually not the location that matters most…it’s the LIGHT!
YEP. This is hard to understand if you aren’t a photographer but hear me out: if you have the most beautiful garden location in mind with tons of fluffy flowers and manicured walkways…but it’s in the DIRECT sunlight all day long…it’s actually not an ideal place to shoot. It would be better to have the session in a random field on the side of the highway with gorgeous back-light coming through the trees…because the LIGHT is what makes the biggest difference in the whole world! Trust me on this one!
Try to think of an overall “feel” or “vibe” for your shoot…and let this guide your location choices!
While the location of your shoot totally matters…it may not matter quite as much as you think. The majority of the images in your final gallery will be close-up images…meaning you can’t see a whole lot of the background. What you CAN see is the colors, light and overall “feel” of the location. For example, if you want a pastel, colorful feeling gallery…we probably don’t need to photograph every section of Rainbow Row or have the entire street in the background...we just need one small section of one pink building to give your images that overall feel.
If you want tropical, beach-y vibes…we don’t need to photograph every image on an empty beach. We can do some in the water, some in the dunes, some with palm trees nearby…you get the idea! The point is: don’t get so caught-up and stressed over one specific location. Choose a “vibe” that you want…and I can help you pick spots that will make that happen!
I have one request: pretty please TRUST me on this part!
When I tell you that some of my most AMAZING images have been created in the weirdest locations…I mean it! The two photos on this page were taken off the side of the highway next to a strip mall. I'm not kidding!! I’ve asked my seniors to crawl into random floral bushes and sit in crazy positions to get the right angle. I’ve even had clients walk out on scary rocks in the middle of the ocean for an epic shot! And they all got some of the BEST work I’ve ever created because they TRUSTED me as their photographer.
I may have an idea or location suggestion that sounds crazy…but it’s because I have 10+ years of experience finding the lighting and composition that will create stellar images. Even if it sounds insane! So, my biggest request is that you trust me even if I sound crazy…I promise you’ll always be glad you did!
LOCATION OPTIONS
These are examples of common location types or “vibes” that my seniors want for their shoot. If you want more than one, that’s totally okay! 2-3 locations are included in your senior package, and we can achieve a wide variety of looks in a short time. This section of the guide will give you examples, visuals and inspiration for common styles…then you can tell me your favorites in detail on your questionnaire!
RURAL + RUSTIC
Think country chic: open fields, barns, wooden accents + tall, overgrown grass.
NATURE + FLORAL
This is one of my personal favorites! Think florals, lots of color, and lots of nature in your images!
CLASSIC + ELEGANT
Think textured walls, cute doors and pretty architecture!
URBAN + EDGY
Don’t want something super girly or preppy? Totally okay! More urban locations have a city-vibe to them. Iron gates, mirrored windows, textured brick…the options are endless!
BEACHY
Pretty self explanatory…even in Iowa we still have beaches!
INDOOR + STUDIO
I have a studio with different backdrops to use but we can also explore different locations!
Destination Senior Sessions
While we take most of our senior sessions in the Iowa area, we are totally open to destination sessions! If you have a location in mind that is significant to you, let us know because if our schedules align, we might be able to take your senior photos outside of our normal area.
Travel fees may apply depending on the location and our availability.
WHAT TO WEAR
Now for the most FUN part and hands-down the most frequently asked question: WHAT DO I WEAR!? Choosing what you will wear for your photo shoot is a huge decision that can make or break your senior portrait session! I know that sounds intense... but, if you wear something that you don’t feel confident in or that doesn’t photograph well on camera...it can ruin the experience for you! So, the Senior Style Guide to the rescue! This section will break down my best tips for what to wear and how to style your senior session outfits (plus LOTS of fun inspiration!)
BE COMFORTABLE
The NUMBER ONE, most important thing to remember when planning your outfits: if it’s not
comfortable to wear in real life, it won’t make you feel confident on camera!
If you do not like fitted clothing (super tight dresses or pieces that fit awkwardly) then leave them at home! Personally, I try to steer clear of items that are fitted in the tummy area (don’t we all?) just because it makes me self- conscious and I’m constantly wondering if it looks bad. So, if there are pieces in your closet that make you feel self- conscious or uncomfortable, don’t include them in your senior portrait wardrobe! I also recommend trying to steer clear of anything that you have to constantly adjust or is at risk of being revealing. You’ll be doing lots of moving and posing, so if the outfit is super low-cut…you’re at risk of things slipping while we shoot!
BE YOURSELF
At risk of sounding cheesy…staying true to yourself with your outfits is so, so important. When you look back at these images in 20+ years…you’ll want them to truly reflect YOU! If you aren’t someone who ever dresses up or enjoys being fancy…don’t feel like you need to go buy a fancy dress just for photos. If you don’t enjoy being girly and wearing frilly dresses or lots of makeup…then leave them at home! Don’t feel pressured to buy anything new or outside of your usual style just because you are getting photos taken. This entire shoot is meant to be about who YOU are in this exciting season of life… so don’t change a single thing about ya!
BE BOLD + CONSIDER USING COLOR
Use this shoot as an opportunity to have a little bit of fun with your outfits + colors! On camera, solid black + white can make skin tones look washed out and unflattering. When choosing outfits for your senior session, try to choose colors that POP and that compliment your hair + skin tones! Primary colors like royal blue and yellow photograph beautifully as well as jewel tones like emerald green, bright purples, pinks, oranges and any other colors that really POP! Sometimes, color combos that may seem odd in-person end up photographing BEAUTIFULLY on camera! Don’t shy away from color!
ADD LAYERS
In the cold months (fall + winter), adding layers to your outfits always looks STUNNING in portraits! A sweater with a flannel underneath paired with a vest + statement earrings or scarf adds so much dimension to your images and makes for super fun posing options! Even in the warmer months (spring + summer) you can add these layers + dimension by wearing a tank top with a cute sheer cardigan or by throwing a denim jacket over a dress!
DON'T BE AFRAID TO ACCESSORIZE
There is a whole section dedicated to props and accessories coming up in this guide…but it’s honestly one of the most important parts! Adding accessories like jewelry, hats, fun shoes, purses, etc. to your outfits really makes them feel like YOU and adds a whole new layer of detail to your senior gallery. I’m a huge fan of statement earrings, a bright lip color, a super fun shoe, colorful bags, floppy sun hats…ALL of these things give us so much more variety with posing + create such beautiful pictures!
MIX IT UP
When planning your outfits, make sure that you have a VARIETY of looks! I tell all of my seniors to choose from these categories: casual, cozy, dressy, school- related, sports-related, preppy or edgy. I always recommend choosing 3-4 of those categories and finding outfits accordingly. This provides a beautiful array of looks during your senior portrait session, so each outfit looks drastically different and you get tons of variety!
OUTFIT INSPO
These next few pages will act as inspiration from previous seniors who NAILED it with their outfit choices + styling for their session! You can also click the button below to see my Pinterest board of ever-changing outfit and style inspiration:
THINGS TO AVOID
Now, there’s a few important things to AVOID that are worth having their own section of this guide!
As a general rule of thumb, these are the things to stay away from…
Pieces that are sheer, too fitted
or potentially revealing
We already touched on this quickly…but it’s important! You will be doing a lot of moving throughout your shoot, so wearing pieces that have to sit juuuuust right or that are at risk of slipping aren’t a good idea. And, if pieces are super thin or sheer, it may be see-through in your photos or easily show sweat marks in the summer months.
The wrong undergarments
This is something that may slip your mind as you are planning your outfits…but it is SO important! Be sure to bring along multiple bras if you are wearing something strapless or that requires a sticky/backless bra. And wearing a neutral pair of undies is the best way to go to ensure it’s not showing through anything!
Pay attention to wrinkles
We will be doing a lot of moving around, sitting, walking, etc. at your shoot. If the material of your outfit easily wrinkles...you may want to be careful. Pay close attention to textures and remember that not everything is as easy to edit out as you may think! Editing out wrinkles from a dress can take an extra 15 minutes PER PHOTO...which can result in your images taking a lot longer to get back.
This is the fun part...
PLACES TO SHOP
I mentioned it earlier on in the guide, but I'm going to say it again: buying new clothes is NOT required for your senior session! Sometimes it's actually BETTER to use clothes you already have that you know are true to YOU and your day-to-day style. But if you want to use your session as an excuse to shop a bit - I'm going to share some of my favorite spots!
ABERCROMBIE
FREE PEOPLE
ALTAR'D STATE
AMERICAN EAGLE
LULUS
BOOT BARN
VICI COLLECTION
BUCKLE
DRY GOODS
HOLLISTER
URBAN OUTFITTERS
PINK LILY
DRESSING FOR THE SEASONS
Sometimes it can be easier to pick outfits for the spring/summer months than it is in the cooler fall/winter months. I also have some seniors who want to have an additional session during BOTH times of year to capture the different looks and styles that a new season brings along.
This section of the guide is going to help you break down how to prep your outfits according to the time of year that we are capturing your portraits! Another important thing to keep in mind about the time of year is the SUNSET. In the summer months, shoots won't start until 4 or 5pm... but we will need to start much earlier (1-2pm) in the winter months to accommodate the earlier sunset.
WINTER
You may automatically think winter is a bad time for pictures...but it doesn't have to be! You can brighten up any dull background with bright colors, fun textures and lots of layers! Fun hats, scarves, gloves and even earmuffs can photograph SO cute!
SPRING
My personal FAVORITE time of year for portraits...when all of the flowers are in bloom! Some people feel like they need to shy away from color so they don't clash with the blooming flowers...but I disagree! A bright pink against a white floral bush is a DREAM...try coordinating with the colors + add in pastels!
SUMMER
The only downside of summer portraits in the South is the HEAT. I recommend bringing extra makeup + towels to stay fresh! Consider wearing BRIGHT pops of color to stand out against everything being in full bloom!
FALL
This is my second favorite time of year to shoot! I love the cooler temps, the fall color palette, and incorporating layers into your outfits opens up a whole new set of options for posing. Cute booties, scarves, jackets, cozy cardigans...I'm here for ALL of it!
HAIR + MAKEUP
I highly recommend all of my senior clients invest in professional hair and makeup. If it is in your budget, hiring a professional for your hair and makeup will make a huge difference in the quality of your photos and senior portrait experience. You are already making a large investment in your senior portrait experience…so why not make it the best it can be?!
Let’s talk about why it can be such a big game-changer for your experience:
THEY ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS
When you are investing in a professional photographer, you want to make sure that the images look their absolute best. Professional hair + makeup artists are TRAINED to do hair + makeup so that it photographs well. While your makeup may look AMAZING in person, it can look completely different on-camera, and these professionals are trained to know the difference! They will conceal spots you don’t like, contour your face so it looks the best at every angle, use colors that compliment your skin to make it look flawless, make your eyes POP with false lashes + shadows, manicure your eyebrows to perfection and more!
LESS STRESS
Preparing for your senior portrait session can be stressful in and of itself. Trying to do your hair and makeup by yourself can make things even harder. Professional camera equipment is designed to pick up every little detail in an image (even details that the eye can’t see) so hiring a professional makeup artist is the best way to go.
WHO DOESN'T LIKE BEING PAMPERED?
I don’t ever want my seniors to feel like their portrait session is just simply “taking pictures”, I want it to be an EXPERIENCE. So, if my seniors arrive after an hour of being pampered + beautified, the entire experience has already started on a good note! If a senior arrives flustered or stressed after trying to get ready themselves, it can affect the entire experience, including the way you look in photographs!
If this is not in your budget, that is COMPLETELY okay!
You can use these tips to make your makeup look camera-ready yourself:
Plan to wear slightly heavier make-up than normal, including blush and lipstick or gloss that are at least slightly darker than your lip color. I also highly recommend false eyelashes. These can be purchased for very affordable prices at CVS or any pharmacy in the area.
Don't neglect the nails
And one last tip!! In all of the chaos of senior session prep... don’t forget to pamper your nails! During your shoot, a lot of the poses we do will have your hands close to your face and in the frame, so make sure that your nails look just how you want! Try to avoid any chipped polish or crazy patterns. French manicures, light/natural colors and even nails with no color at all photograph best!!
PROPS + ACCESSORIES
Now that we have a better idea of the overall style for your session based on your outfits and locations, let’s add in the pretty details! First, let me clarify: this part is TOTALLY optional! If you don’t want to add any props or accessories to your shoot… you don’t have to! All we need is YOU to make your shoot amazing. But, if you want to personalize your shoot even further and add in some fun “extras”... this section of the guide is going to help you!
Make it feel like YOU!
This is clearly a theme of this entire guide! The goal of adding in props or accessories is to make the shoot feel even more like YOU. Try to think creatively about the things that make you who you are.
What are your hobbies? Favorite colors and styles? Extracurricular activities? Do you LOVE bright, girly colors and want to have a ton of florals in your images to compliment that? Are you an athlete with medals and trophies that you want to highlight? Do you already know your plans for college and want to have celebratory images to share about your next steps? Let’s do all the things!!!
Hats, jewelry + all the things!
One of the best parts about bringing extra options for props is that it gives us VARIETY. If you bring things like hats, purses, extra jewelry, shoe options, etc...we can mix and match these pieces throughout your shoot to give you a TON of options in your final gallery.
For example, if you bring a floppy sunhat with you...we may throw it on for a quick 2-3 minutes in each of your 3-4 outfits. Instantly, you have a ton of variety in looks and images just by adding and removing that one piece!
Fluffy flowers, anyone?
One of my FAVORITE ways to elevate any senior session is to add in some beautiful florals. To my girly girls, this one’s for you! There are so many ways to incorporate flowers into your shoot.
Have a small bouquet as an extra detail! If you want to talk more about how to incorporate florals, reach out to me and I’m happy to help!
Pets
My pets are a huge part of our family, which is why we love when seniors choose to incorporate pets into their session! Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet-friendly location.
We recommend planning for your pet to be in the first part of your session and then either dropping them off or having a friend take them home. We won’t use the pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have a friend available to hold him or her in between shots!
If you’re going to bring a pet, we recommend exercising your pet before the session and bringing your pet's favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot.
Friends + Boyfriends
We talked earlier about how to decide WHO to bring with you at your shoot...and I just wanted to encourage you one more time to include the people that matter most to you! If you have a friend, a significant other or a family member that is a huge part of your life...they should be featured in your photos! You'll be so glad you did when you look back at your images 10 years from now.
SPORTS + HOBBIES
One of the easiest + best ways to customize your senior experience is to add in some of your favorite things that you do every day! Use this section of the guide to start brainstorming ways we can creatively incorporate what makes you YOU!
Athletics + sports
If you play a sport that is a huge part of your high school career...we need to highlight it! You can bring along your uniform + equipment (volleyball, softball, etc.) for some really fun photos. You can also consider adding in any medals, trophies or letters you have to highlight.
cheer + dance
Let me just start by saying these are BOTH also sports...but they deserve their own section! My sister was cheer captain, and it is so fun to capture these photos. Bring along your uniform + poms, or your leo and pointe shoes...we will get some STUNNING action shots for you, as well as the traditional posed images!
hobbies + artists
As a photographer and artist myself, I love finding creative ways to highlight your talent! If you paint, write, read or are a photographer yourself... let's show that off! We can find some really fun ways to highlight this, and I would love to have you bring along any pieces you are proud of to incorporate in your images!
FAVORITE THINGS
Incorporating your favorite things into your pictures can be really creative...and also really funny! Are you someone who can't live without your daily Starbucks Pink Drink? Have a Chick-Fil-A obsession? In love with your car or have a shopping addiction? Let's brainstorm together to find some fun ways to highlight these things at your shoot!
I'VE GOT YOU COVERED!
Now, for the slightly less fun part...let's address a few quick things that could go wrong at your session. These are some frequently asked questions that I get about common problems that can pop up...and I want you to feel as prepared as possible! I've been doing this for almost a decade....so I've seen it all! And I'm confident that we will get you amazing images no matter what gets thrown our way!
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE BAD WEATHER?
This is by far the most asked question I get about things that could go wrong, which makes total sense...because bad weather happens all the time! If there is bad weather in the forecast for your shoot, rest assured that you have options and I am MORE than happy to reschedule! I typically wait until we are 48 hours out from the session to make a final decision about weather because it changes so often.
If there is a 50% chance of rain or LESS: It is TOTALLY up to you whether you want to move forward with trying to shoot, or if you'd prefer to reschedule to another date. If we shoot and it DOES rain...we will have to finish the session despite the weather (we can't do two shoots if you decide to move forward but the weather doesn't cooperate). But we can make some REALLY cute photos happen in the rain!!! However, if you have your heart set on glowing light and bright images...I'd recommend rescheduling to be safe.
If there is a 50% chance of rain or MORE: My professional recommendation in these scenarios is to reschedule. Even if it doesn't end up raining, it's always better to be safe than sorry, especially if you are really excited about bright, sunset light in your photos!
Wind: There has only been one time I've had to reschedule a session for bad wind...and it was CRAZINESS! Typically, we can shoot despite the wind if we are strategic with WHERE we shoot. But if there are crazy gusts and you would prefer to move to a day when we know your hair won't have flyaways... we can make that happen!
Fog: Typically, fog is only an issue with sunrise shoots.... but I've had it happen! If there is severely thick fog, it will impact your images because they will be cloudy and grey...which is not my typical shooting style that you booked me for.
Cloudy: I have a lot of seniors who get worried about cloudy days because they think their images won't be as bright and beautiful...but rest assured, that's not true!! Cloudy days are actually AMAZING for photographers...because it means there are no harsh shadows!! Unless it is a seriously grey day with heavy fog or severe storm clouds...cloudy days are our friend!! AND they aren't as hot!!
WHAT IF WE DO HAVE TO RESCHEDULE BECAUSE OF WEATHER?
That is COMPLETELY okay! We will make the final call 24-48 hours before your session. Part of the reason I only take 2 senior sessions per week is to leave TONS of room open for rescheduling if we need to for reasons outside of our control (i.e. sickness, weather, emergencies). Typically, you won't have to wait longer than a week if we have to move your date!
MY SKIN IS BREAKING OUT LIKE CRAZY...HELP!
Girl, we've ALL been there! Don't worry one bit. I am happy to remove any large blemishes in Photoshop - you won't even know it happened! Promise!
WHERE AM I GOING TO CHANGE MY CLOTHES?
We bring a pop-up changing room with us to every session so you can switch outfits anywhere! Whether we’re in a field, downtown, or at the park, outfit changes are easy, private, and stress-free.
GALLERY DELIVERY
YAY! It takes 2 weeks to edit your senior images, then you'll get an email with the link to your full gallery - AH!!! This is where you will be able to download, share and print all of your high resolution digital images. You can download individual images or the entire gallery at once. You can also individually save photos to your phone to start sharing on social media! The next few pages of the guide will walk you through how to use your gallery and the best ways to print and display your new favorite photos.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST TIME...I PROMISE! IF YOU NEED ME FOR ANYTHING BEFORE YOUR SESSION, YOU CAN REACH ME AT 319-383-8544 OR LILYMARIEPHOTOGRAPHY@GMAIL.COM.
SEE YOU SOON!