Seniors

We absolutely offer the classic senior portraits, i.e., cap, gown, and a few smiles for the parents, but what we truly specialize in is creating images that capture who you are right now. Senior portraits live in a tricky space: you’re no longer a child, but you shouldn’t be pushed into something overly mature or inauthentic either. Our goal is to meet you right in that middle and bring your personality to life through stylized, story-driven shoots. Whether that means incorporating horses from our ranch (no experience needed), your favorite car, beloved pets, hobbies, or even a full concept shoot—like a gritty mechanic scene or a dramatic ranch fantasy—we want your session to feel like you. We encourage outfits and details that actually matter to you, from worn-in jackets to bold accessories, because this isn’t about “timeless” photos—it’s about preserving this exact moment in your life so you can look back in 30 years and remember who you were. While we’ll always grab a few classic shots, we’re here for the seniors who don’t fit in a box—the edgy, the creative, the rebellious, and anyone who wants something a little darker, more dramatic, and completely their own.

VERY short tips list for seniors with upcoming photos:

•             Pick 2 to 3 outfits ahead of time.

•             Save hats for last.

•             Bring outfits that feel like you.

•             Think about your outfit order.

•             Wear clothes that fit well.

•             Avoid anything too tight or too loose.

•             Check undergarments before you leave.

•             Skip clothes with big logos or busy patterns.

•             Avoid white, neon, and background-blending colors.

•             Bring touch-up makeup and hair items.

•             Plan bold makeup looks for later in the session.

•             Bring props that fit your personality.

•             Get clothes cleaned and wrinkle-free before the shoot.

•             Avoid major haircut or hair color changes right before the session.

Here’s the section for the B+ Students out there…

Senior session tips

•             Bring your hat looks last. Hats can flatten your hair and leave lines on your forehead, so do those after your face shots.

•             Pick out a few outfits before you come. Don’t wait until session day to figure it all out.

•             Think about what order you want to do your looks in. Some outfits, hair, and makeup choices work better earlier than others.

•             If you want heavier makeup for one look, it’s easier to add more during the session than to take it all off and start over.

Easy reminders

•             Don’t wear a hat at the beginning if you want clean face shots.

•             Save anything that messes with your hair for the end.

•             Bring more than one outfit so we can get different vibes.

•             Make sure each outfit actually fits well and feels good when you move, sit, and turn.

Things that matter a lot

•             Avoid clothes that cut into your waist, arms, or legs, because they can leave lines or make you look heavier than you are.

•             Skip jewelry or arm bands that leave dents in your skin.

•             If you’re showing skin, make it look intentional and finished. Don’t do the “halfway showing” thing where it looks accidental.

•             Check your undergarments before the session so they don’t create funny lines or show through your clothes.

•             White can be tricky in photos because it can blow out and make details disappear.

•             Green can blend in too much if we’re shooting outdoors in nature.

A little more planning

•             Wear things that look like you, not just something trendy or random.

•             Bring outfits that show your personality, hobbies, and interests.

•             If you have a favorite car, pet, horse, or prop, think about whether it fits one of your looks.

•             Outfits with jackets, layers, or accessories usually photograph better than plain clothes with no detail.

•             If you want a dramatic or edgy look, go for it, but make it intentional and put together.

For the people who actually read all this or as in the A+ students that read the WHOLE Syllabus in school… (Cheers to you btw and you are my people)

A good senior session usually works best when you plan your looks in order. Start with the cleanest face shots, then move into outfits that take more styling, and save hats, messy hair looks, or anything that changes your hair a lot for the end. That keeps us from having to fix the same thing over and over. It also helps to think ahead about whether you want classic shots, styled shots, or something more personal like a pet, a car, a ranch scene, or a hobby-based look. The more you know ahead of time, the easier it is to get a mix of photos that actually feel like you.  I encourage a Pinterest board showing your aspirations. I HIGHLY encourage having those ‘dream shots’ together when we first discuss shoot so I can explain what’s doable or what would take extra effort… Such as morning light or certain weather or props needed.  Some shots require certain types of light setups ect. I’m not so proud as to refer you to someone else who can pull off a specialty shoot better than I can if it’s something outside my skill set. I can even bring in other professionals I know to collaborate so you get the best of both worlds.

Senior Session Prep

The biggest thing is to come in with a plan, not a pile of random outfits. Pick a few looks ahead of time, think through the order you want to wear them, and save hats or anything that flattens hair for the end since they can leave lines and make resets harder.

!!!!HAVE BACKUPS! Sometimes something will just not shoot well or you won’t be feeling it. That’s ok and I’d rather us move on to something better.

Bring 2 to 3 outfits that feel like you and give us variety, and make sure they fit well, move well, and match the vibe of the location. Try to avoid clothes that cut into your waist, arms, or legs, because those lines photograph fast and usually in the wrong place.

If you want a heavier makeup look, it’s easier to add more during the session than to take everything off and start over. Matte makeup usually photographs better than shiny makeup, and it helps to keep touch-up items handy for the day of the shoot.

What to avoid

Skip hats at the beginning if you want clean face shots, because they can leave a forehead line and mess with your hair. Avoid outfits that are too tight, too loose, too busy, or covered in large logos, and be careful with white, neon, and colors that blend too much with the background.

Check your undergarments before you leave so nothing shows through or creates weird lines under your clothes. Jewelry, arm bands, and other tight accessories can leave dents in your skin, which is usually not the look you want in senior photos.

Outfit planning

Think about outfits in terms of the story you want to tell. A senior session can include a classic look, something more styled or edgy, and something personal like a favorite car, pet, sports gear, or a ranch-inspired

If you are doing multiple looks, organize them by what changes your hair or makeup the most. That way the cleanest portraits happen first and the more dramatic, messy, or hat-heavy looks happen later.

Last-minute details

Get outfits ready a few days early so you can check for stains, wrinkles, tags, and fit issues before the session. Bring basic touch-up items like lip color, powder, a brush, hairspray, and a water bottle so you can stay fresh between looks.

Avoid last-minute appearance changes like a fresh haircut, major color change, or tanning experiment right before the shoot. A little planning goes a long way when you want photos that feel polished but still actually look like you.