January 30, 2025

What To Wear For Senior Portraits: Our Best Tips

Believe it or not, Senior Portrait Season for the Class of 2026 is right around the corner—Yikes!  Senior Year is a busy and exciting time.  But it can also be stressful.  The last thing you want to be stressed about is your wardrobe for your pictures.  One of the most frequently asked questions I get is “What to wear for Senior Portraits?”

Don’t fret, with many years under my belt photographing High School Seniors, I have many tips and tricks to offer.  Below are just a few.

Your Senior Portraits are your time to shine as well as highlight your personality.  That being said, you will want to look put together and polished.  So where do we start?

A Consultation For Senior Portraits Is Key

One of the first things I do with my clients is talk ahead of time about clothing options and location choices.  Many times, a location or activity will dictate what type of clothing you want to wear.  For example, if you want pictures on your team field for your sport, your uniform might be a great choice.  Discussing your ideas ahead of time will really help you narrow down what you want to be photographed wearing.

What to Wear for Senior Portraits
Your sports uniform might be a good choice for a few images during your Senior Portrait Session.

Where Should I Shop?

First stop—your closet!  I don’t expect my Senior Portrait Clients to go out and purchase an entire new wardrobe for their shoot.  Shopping your closet for Senior Portraits can be surprisingly satisfying.  You probably already own many pieces that will look great. In fact, you might even have items in your closet with tags still on them—what better opportunity to wear them than a photo shoot?

Thrift Stores can also be a great option for unique items for not a ton of money.  Vintage looks have experienced a real resurgence in recent years, and I am totally here for that!

Target can offer some surprisingly interesting options for very reasonable prices.  While we all love retailers like Anthropologie, Free People, etc. they can be a little pricey.  If you want to splurge on something really cool, I am loving Altar’D State.

Buyer Beware:  I generally tell people to stay away from fast fashion like Shein and Temu.  The clothing tends to be poorly made and not sized correctly.  Amazon can have some interesting items but do check online reviews for individual sellers and what the return policies are.

Don’t Forget Accessories For Your Senior Portraits!

A really fabulous way to add variety in your Senior Portrait Wardrobe is to bring some key accessories.  Accessories add variety and interest, so I love them.  Examples include sunglasses, hats, etc.

Senior Portrait Wardrobe Ideas
Accessories can offer variety and interest. This had is from my Style Closet.

Do You Have a Style Closet?

I do have a small rack of carefully curated items that clients are always welcome to borrow that includes a few key pieces like hats, jackets, and accessories.  You might find something perfect to polish off your look.

What to Wear for Senior Portraits
I love this classic formal look on Brandon!

Some General Recommendations for What To Wear For Senior Portraits:

Portrait Photography presents a few small challenges, so I do like to offer some general guidelines when choosing what to wear for Senior Portraits.

  1. Solid Colors: It can be best to avoid super busy patterns, as they can be distracting. Solid colors in flattering hues and intensity tend to work best. Think of a color that when you wear it, you get tons of compliments.  That would probably be a great choice!
  2. Logos or Text: Shirts with logos or large text are ok for maybe one look. However, they can detract from the focus on you. If you want to bring a graphic T-shirt, one would be plenty.
  3. Layers for Variety: A nice jacket or cardigan over a shirt can add texture and depth to your look. It will also give you another look!
  4. Proper Fit Is Critical: Make sure whatever you’re wearing fits well and flatters your body shape. You don’t want anything too tight or too loose.  And don’t forget the proper undergarments!
  5. Personal Touches: If you’re into sports, music, or any other hobbies, consider incorporating a subtle hint of that into your outfit (like a varsity jacket, band t-shirt, or accessory). They don’t need to be in the majority of the session, but a few photos would lend variety and interest.
  6. Multiple Outfits: Be sure to bring multiple outfit options. I always say bring more rather than less! We may not use everything, but it will give us lots of options.

Final Thoughts

I want to make sure I photograph clients in an authentic way.  This means they need to feel comfortable and confident!  Bring what you feel represents you in your best light.

Are You Ready to Book a Senior Portrait Session?

I would love to photograph you!  Use our Contact Form or call the Studio directly to book a Consultation.  Be sure to also check out our FAQs for Senior Portraits for more information on our services.

 

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