Senior picture what to wear advice

What to wear can be one of the most stressful, exciting and/or overwhelming parts of your senior picture experience. Because of this, my senior clients receive a welcome magazine with tons of advice, tips and inspiration. I do a consult call and some even text me pictures of their outfits. But before you dive headfirst into shopping, keep these three things in mind.

Consideration #1 – The weather

What season are your senior pictures in and what weather is likely? Summer is the most popular season for senior pictures here in Michigan so it can be hot and humid so you’ll want to keep that in mind if your session is June – August. Consider light breathable clothing in the summer like cotton, linen, etc and stear clear of polyester, leather, etc.

If your pictures are scheduled Sept – November our weather here in Michigan is truely unpredictable so it’s a good idea to be prepared with layers. It could be a beautiful sunny Fall day and 70 degrees or it could be 40. I’ve had shoots at the end of October where it was 80, I’ve also had it snow! In those transition times layers are the way to go! A cute sweater or jacket could go over a dress if it’s a little cool but can come off if it’s warmer then planned. Over all in the colder months go with wool, cashmere, etc and layers.

Consideration #2 – Location

I tell my seniors you either want to choose your location(s) first so you can keep it in mind when shopping. Or you want to shop and then choose your location(s) based around your style. Location and style go hand in hand. If you want to do pictures in a field in the summer a little black dress and heels wouldn’t look right. On the other hand, if you have picked out a romantic soft dress and want to go barefoot, you’d look really out of place in cool downtown area. This goes for fabrics, style and vibe. Some outfits work beautifully in both nature and city, but definitely not all. Try to picture your location with the outfit or the outfit in the location and if it feels like they “go” together.

Consideration #3 – Timing

In our world of online shopping you now have to considering timing! Some seniors prefer to shop and try things on in person, some prefer to shop online and most will do a mix of both. I recommend getting serious about 4-8 weeks before your session.

If you’re shopping in person it might take longer to hit all the stores. You may even have to still order things online if your size isn’t available in store. If you’re shopping online you’ll need to give yourself enough time for things to ship and return or exchange if it doesn’t fit or it’s not what you thought. If you wait until too close to your session you could end up scrabbling if something shows up and you don’t like it.