How to Prepare for Your Photoshoot So You Feel Confident & Authentic

Getting your senior photos taken is an exciting rite of passage and these images will likely be spread far and wide and cherished by many. Your pictures will be used in yearbooks, graduation announcements and given as framed gifts to friends and loved ones so they need to reflect the true you, the one you want people to remember. It's important that you feel organized, prepared and confident so your unique personality shines through in every image.

What Do I Bring?  What Can I Expect?  What are Some Great Tips for Me?

Bring your well-rested, well-fed, open-minded self. The goal is to capture your authentic smile and body language as well as what makes you you in terms of hobbies, style and interests. If you play an instrument, bring it. If you play sports, bring a ball or a uniform shirt. Pets are welcome and certainly always bring out genuine smiles and natural poses. Some seniors like to pose with their cars, or their bike, maybe an airplane. We're a team that's working together to make your senior photos stand out from everyone else's. Your session should be fun so play music, bring your best friend, whatever you need to do to relax. 

My sessions are fairly quick, 60-90 minutes depending on how many outfits and what the location has to offer. Some folks, mainly the guys, are ready to be done sooner, and that's ok. We can get a lot of great images in a short amount of time. If you have seen portraits that you like, feel free to shoot them over to me so I can be inspired while I'm planning out your session and location details.

Here are some tips that will help you prepare for the day of our session:

• - Bring some water. Let's keep you hydrated, you'll look better and feel better!

• -Bring multiple outfits.  I do have a changing tent, but a lot of kids choose to just change in the car.

• -Wear your least favorite outfit first. We will just be getting warmed up so save the favorites outfit for later.

• -Your hands and feet WILL be in some of the images. Make sure your nails look the way you want them to.

• -Keep the makeup colors to neutral side. Some color is great, but if your eye shadow and lipstick clashes, it will be

•   even more pronounced in pictures. Same goes for spray tans, the closer to your real skin tone the better.

• -Lip and brow waxing should be done the week before if possible. They always leave the skin looking irritated.

• -DON'T WORRY ABOUT THEIR ACNE MOM. I got you covered. 

What if I Feel Awkward or Stressed?!

That just means you're normal! Unless you're a model this going to feel weird for a couple of minutes until we get used to each other. We will ease into it, I'll give you some tips on how to stand, where to put your hands, where to look, and once we get going, you'll actually start having fun. I'll direct you into a pose, take a handful of shots, ask you to move around a little to recompose, take some more shots change backgrounds and repeat. I hear this from everyone... "I don't know what to do",.... of course you don't, I'll get you there!!

I love getting a couple of images with mom in there. (And dad if he's available) But it's important for us moms to have some images to cherish with our kids before they leave the nest and move on to the next stage of their life. Moms are notoriously the picture takers, so we don't have many photos of us to actually prove that we are the ones that loved and nurtured these soon to be adults. This is a huge year so put on your face and a nice outfit so you can prove to the world that you are responsible for this amazing human that world is about to receive.

And there is no silly question, text, call, email...we'll work together on this!

These are exciting times, and I can't wait to work with you!

Dawn