5 Things to Bring to Your Senior Session

I get asked a lot when working with seniors, is “what do I bring with to my senior session?” And I remember back when I was a senior I had asked my photographer the same thing! When it comes to packing for your senior session here are 5 things that I suggest you bring with you!

Number 1

The first thing that you should consider bringing with you to your senior session is a bag or some sort of container to carry your outfits and props in. Now this can vary depending on how much walking or outfit changes we plan for your senior session. But having a bag to hold all of the things in can be very helpful as we move from background to background. In your container you should be able to carry any props, outfits, mirror, hairbrush, extra makeup if you need. Basically anything you will need can be easily found in one place, and we won’t have to hike all the way back to the car if we are far away from it.

(p.s did you know that I pack a portable changing tent for seniors? This way we can avoid ducking in the trees, nasty public bathrooms, or having to try and wiggle into a pair of jeans in the backseat.)

Number 2

The second thing (or things I guess) I suggest you bring to your senior session (which I sort of mentioned in number ) is to bring a hair brush and maybe a little mirror! When posing, I use a lot of movement based prompts, and these are really great for natural and candid images. However it can make your hair get a little messed up. So if you care about that sort of thing and making sure your hair is exactly how you want it in for your entire session having a mirror and a brush to fix yourself up in between backgrounds and poses is great! Even packing a little makeup bag with you is super helpful to make sure you look your best :)

Number 3

Thirdly I suggest you bring a friend! Yes I know a friend isn’t a thing, but bringing someone with you that you are comfortable with can really help you relax during your session. Most seniors bring either a parent, sibling or best friend with to their session! When thinking about who you want to bring, remember to think about how they make you feel. Do they make you laugh, or do they laugh at you? Do they make you feel confident, or do they make you question yourself? This is important, I try my hardest to make you feel comfortable and confident in front of a camera. But I’m not dumb, I KNOW that meeting a stranger you have never met before and then also having your picture taken by them is scary, and can make you feel totally uncomfortable and awkward. And nobody wants uncomfortable and awkward senior pictures. So when you pick someone to bring with you, make sure its someone who makes you feel confident, and can help relax you during this experience!

Number 4

Up next to remember to bring for your senior session are any props or ideas you want to incorporate into your session! I love being able to get creative and to include the things you love into your session. So bring your baseball bat, your guitar, favorite piece of artwork you created or even your dog! Senior sessions are all about showcasing and highlight YOU as you are in this season of life so bring the things that are important to you and we will find a way to create awesome images with them!

Number 5

And lastly, when figuring out what you all need to bring to your session, I suggest you bring water. It seems super simple and weird to think you should bring some water. But senior sessions typically happen in the summer. Which means that it is HOT, and the last thing you want to be in your senior session is red and sweaty. If the temperature is super bad, we will take car breaks to cool you off. But having a water bottle with and taking short water breaks can really help you keep your body temperature down so that your cheeks don’t get so red in your images. There can be a lot of walking involved during your session so being prepared is ever a bad thing!

Senior sessions are so fun, and stressing about what to expect should never happen, that’s why I am dedicating this month to helping you have all the resources you need go into your senior session prepared and ready!