Own Your Senior Session
Senior Tips + Tricks
Seniors, can you believe it? You have worked so hard to get here, and senior year is finally here. This is it. It is time for you to step up and be the leaders in your school, and decide what you want to do with your future. You are in charge of your own life and what happens during your senior year. Own it. Start by booking your senior session. Whether it is summer, fall, or winter, book your senior session well in advance and follow these tips below…
How to Prepare for your Senior Session
Here’s a simple check list to help you prepare for your special day celebrating you andall your hard work.
Book with your favorite photographer
Look over your welcome guide
Pick your top 3-4 outfits
Hydrate
Know what you want
Book with your favorite photographer
Whether you choose to do your session in spring, summer, fall or winter, you need to book with your favorite photographer well in advance. Booking 1-2 months in advance or more will help both you and the photographer. Preparing both mentally and physically for your session will help you be more relaxed and allow to have more fun on your big day. You can be more relaxed just by getting to know your photographer, so do your research. Seriously get to know them through Instagram, Facebook, or other social media and study their website and follow their blogs. Asking around and looking at Google Reviews will help you pick the right photographer for you. Choose the photographer that fits you best. Once you have booked the photographer, you’ll feel more at ease and get all the information you need from them.
Look over your welcome guide
Each photographer has a different style and way of operating their business. Most prepare a welcome guide for the clients. This guide will help you see + understand what you'‘re investing in. Knowing what to expect from your photographer and what they expect of you is important. I have learned much about seniors over the years, and it is best if you know what to do to make your experience once-in-a-lifetime. Like most, I strive to make sure I tailor each session to the senior and plan what the session will look like prior to the session. I like to bounce ideas off of each other and get ideas from my seniors to make sure your experience fits you and your personality.
The welcome guide is great for both the senior and their parents. My goal for seniors to to guide them through the process and help them every step of the way through the design process. The welcome guide contains a link to a Google From that helps me learn more about you, your style, and what you want. Neither one of us should be scrambling the day of the shoot because getting the timing and lighting right is crucial, and sitting around brainstorming is no the best use of anyone’s time. Senior sessions are an investment for you, and investing time in your self should be your top priority as a senior before it gets crazy and time flies by.
Pick your top 3-4 outfits
Number of Outfits: 3-4 is just a guideline. There are NO LIMITS when it comes to your style and clothing choices. Mixing and matching is always fun, I will make sure your outfit choices and poses will fit into your invested time. Note: the more outfits you have the more time you may need. I do not charge sitting fees or more image files. Your gallery will be overflowing with stylish photographs of you. Make it fun and creative! See my Style Guide post coming up next to learn how you can style different outfits.
Accessorize. Accessorize. Accessorize! Hats, jewelry, headbands and more! Keep it simple, but have fun with it! Are you an athlete? Bring a favorite ball, hockey stick, or football helmet. Whatever it is, let’s work with it!
Hydrate
Okay. This one may seem a little out of place. It is it not a typo or error of any kind. I almost made this the first tip because I do feel like it is the most important. I am no doctor, but hydration is KEY. H2O is your best friend when it comes to getting your portraits taken. Hydrating your body with help with your energy levels, your skin, and your hair. As a coach, teacher, and school counselor, I spent years coaching students to hydrate. Its great for test-taking (ACTs & SATs) because it boosts your energy, mood, and focus. Your skin will be soft and glowing. No one likes puffy skin. Your hair will be smooth and shiny, too! So many benefits from drinking. Make sure to get plenty of fluids 3-4 days before and on the day of your session. Don’t forget to bring your water bottle with you on the day of, too!
Know what you want
Do your work before we meet. Send me screenshots of your favorite photographs and poses. Figure out if you want indoor/outdoor, downtown or in the mountain, near the water or with your vehicle. I love animals of all-kinds, and AJ Photography is pet-friendly, but you may want to check with your photographer to make sure pets are welcome. If you book with me, and you want multiple locations, you may want to consider our Adventurous Senior Package that allows you two days and multiple locations. This one is my favorite package and it gives us a lot of flexibility and your gallery will be overflowing with possibilities for your graduation announcements, yearbook, and your social media. Know what you want and help me make your experience one worth investing in.
I hope this information proves useful for you when choosing your photographer. If you choose AJ Photography, I look forward to working with you! I am so excited to see you OWN your future and take charge of your senior year. Congratulations, Senior!
