What to Wear For Your Senior Portraits

Senior portraits are so important. It’s what you will have immortalized in your yearbook forever and often your families last professional portrait of you before your wedding. It’s very important to make sure you wear something that will show who you are while still leaving you as the focus of the photo. Your photographer will tell you to bring lots more clothing than you’ll need but when you look at you closet – no matter what rules the photographer gives you for clothes it can be overwhelming.

I’ve put together 5 different outfits for girls to wear to their senior portrait session. All the outfits are trendy enough without being over the top and can probably be replicated by pairing together items you own. This isn’t a shopping list it’s an idea list!

Outfit 1 – Classic look to cover flaws

This is a really soft feminine look. The v neck in the top isn’t so low that it’s revealing too much but it draws the attention right up to your face. The empire waist and the loose shirt will also help hide any flaws you may percieve in your weight by not hiding your body but not launting it at the same time.
The solid colors and contrast between the top and pants will stand out in any natural setting or location. A nice accent of a simple necklace or headband would complete this look. I am a fan of the blue pants look rather than jeans – this look feels more polished with pants which adds a hint of sophistication to the portrait.

Pink Top from Target | Blue Pants from Aeropostale | Sparkle Headband Set from Forever 21

Outfit 2 – For Leggings Lovers

For those of you ladies who like leggings this is a nice look. The yellow shirt has a lot of detail but not a lot of high contrast color. That means those closeup /head shots will be more interesting than with a solid tee shirt but will still allow all the attention to be on your face and eyes – were you want it!

The light denim skirt creates a nice transition between the yellow top and the dark leggings.

Yellow top from Macy’s | Light Denim cutoff Skirt from Forever 21| Black Cropped Leggings from Old Navy

New** Recommended Reading

Someone turned me on to this eBook, Let’s Model: Your Complete Modeling Guide, and for under $20 it’s wonderful it’s got lots of really helpful tips for new and aspiring models. It’s the kind of ebook that I’d like to email to all of my models before I work with them!
– Terri Ann

Outfit 3 – Lacy Neckline Layers with Shorts

You don’t want to wear shorty-shorts for you senior portraits – even though you are getting them taken in the spring/summer/fall. Bermuda shorts are a perfect length for portraits. The cover enough up to make you look classy and sophisticated but give your look a fresh summer time feeling. Perfect with flip flops or low sneakers – but best barefoot!
Layering a cute lace cami a different color – but close in color range adds some nice detail to a simple outfit without pulling attention away from your face. This classic layered look can easily be tailored to any skin tone, hair color or eye color based on the shirt colors.

Old Navy Lace Cami| Solid Henley from Aeropostal| White Bermuda Shorts from Aeropostal

Outfit 4 – Urban Scarf Accents

Scaves have grown more an more popular in recent years – for your head, nect and belts. Incorporate a bold printed scarf with a very plain outfit to make a really great outfit for your portrait. A scarf around the next needs to be a good color that will compliment your skin tone and hair.

So just jazz up your every day simple look with a scarf.

Plain Grey Tee Shirt from Forever 21| Coordinating (but not oo bright) Scarf from Forever 21| American Rag Jeans from Macy’s

Outfit 5 – Plus Size Look

For plus size girls – or even just girls who are uncomfortable with how their arms look in pictures – it’s important to wear long sleeves. The skin on your arms draws attention away from your face – which isn’t what you want. Long or 3/4 sleeves fix that problem. Your photographer will know how to pose you to de emphasize everything but your face to make you look the way you feel in your pictures – happy and full of life.

Blue Cowl Neck Top| Cropped Skinny Jeans| Silver Bangle from Forever 21