Write down your favorite things about yourself. Do you love to laugh? Are you an avid golfer? Do you have an affinity for art & music? Jot these things down!!! Consider them while choosing which outfits you’d like to wear for your senior portraits. Your photos can’t look the same as others because you’ll have your personality all over them, and there’s no one exactly like you!!

Look for outfits that look nice on your coloring, search Pinterest, and save outfits on social media: Have no clue what to wear? Which colors & patterns look nice? I have a Pinterest board that might help you find what you are looking for, for any portrait, (guy or girl.) Pinterest overall is a great place to search for outfits that people just like you or professional stylists have put together. Plus, you get to see how it photographs! Once you’ve pinned or saved these outfit ideas- go out and shop to recreate the look!

If you aren’t much for Pinterest, try clipping or saving other people’s outfits you see posted on other socials like youtube, TikTok, IG etc. May Ig influencers have links to their amazon lists for their favorite pieces. ‘Like it to know it’ is also a great app to help you find exactly what you are looking for or similar pieces from an image online.

Think Props: Decide if you want props. I’d say they add to an image, and I’ll make sure whatever we do isn’t cheesy. What do I do with my hands??? Well, props solve that problem! If you are taking portraits in your softball jersey, for example, it would be nice to have a mitt, a ball, a bat, etc. Some of the best sports shots I’ve taken have included many items, they give you something to do and tell a story. Not an athlete? Bringing a chair, stool or bench to sit on always gives more posing options, bring your instrument, your piano even, flowers, hats, and shoes, paint brushes, bubblegum, deck of cards. I’ve even had seniors bring bubbles, baby photos… anything that shows your personality and brings on the nostalgia!!

Scout for locations, you don’t have to go far… if you want a town look it could be as easy as driving through the alleys and looking for neat old sheds, wall textures, old cars, etc. If you are looking for a country look- take a drive! Many farms have their own junk yard and neat equipment.

I love to shoot where there are trees, tall grasses, large rock formations, old buildings, old pickups, bales, equipment & cars always makes for a great shoot. Find out who owns the land and ask for permission ( I’ve never had anyone ever turn me down). If you aren’t motivated for this step I always am on the lookout- I live in the country and frequent the back-roads running lunch and parts to my hubby during haying season.

Maybe you want a mountain shoot? I have favorite spots in the Black Leaf Wilderness, Teton area, Swift Dam, East Glacier & St. Mary, MT. ( My Ranch has amazing views near/ Marias River too!)

Collect a few photos where you like how you look. I know you aren’t a professional model and I can show you a few poses to practice. I really aim to make things simple and mainly fun! Bring a friend, your parents, your siblings anyone that you know will be fun and positive through the whole process that you won’t mind posing or moving in front of. Pack snacks, water, caffeine, a play list & a Bluetooth speaker too!