Tips for timing, choosing a location, outfits, and more!
SENIOR Portrait Session
PLANNING YOUr
I'm so excited to be working with you and I can’t wait for our time together during your senior pictures! It’s normal to be a little anxious about your session -- that's actually one of the reasons why I put together this guide!
It covers things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a location, outfits, hair and makeup, and more!
Hopefully, it helps you feel fully prepared for our session, but should you have any other questions or need advice, please feel free to reach out!
- Brittney
After booking your session, you should have received a senior questionnaire to help me learn a little more about you and your vision for your session (email me if you didn't!)
This questionnaire will assist me with choosing locations, helping you put together outfits, and making your session experience custom to you! The more info you include, the better suggestions I can make to ensure your senior portrait experience is the most FUN it can be and we capture images that are true to you!
You've waited a long time to get here, so let's celebrate this season with an unforgettable photoshoot tailored just for you! This session is all about making you shine!! Do you want to go wake boarding in a suit? Let's do it! Love doing makeup? Bring it along and we'll do some fun photos with it! Do you want to add your significant other or family at the end of your session for a few photos - let me know and we will work that into your session timeline!
A CUSTOM EXPERIENCE
TIME & LIGHT
There isn’t a “good” or “bad” time to take your photos, but I normally plan sessions based on the particular “look” my clients have in mind - spring flowers for example - or based on schedules!
Sessions are 30-90 minutes depending on the package you've booked, and when I can, I love to shoot during golden hour, which is about 2 hours before sunset! I prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright patches of sun on your face. (Sunrise is also an ideal time to shoot if evenings don't work!)
I schedule sessions during what I believe will be the best light of the day, which means it’s super important to be on time! If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets more harsh as it rises.
SPRING
FRESH FLOWERS & SUNNY DAYS
Even though spring technically begins in March, I typically don’t begin shooting portraits outside for another 6 weeks because the weather in our area is still pretty chilly and various shades of brown/grey, which is not ideal! When I schedule spring dates, I typically schedule both a primary date and a backup rain date because April showers (or snowstorms!)
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SUMMER
IF ONLY IT COULD BE LIKE THIS ALWAYS
In spite of the heat, summer is definitely the most popular season for senior portraits! Your skin is bronzed, your hair is perfectly sunkissed, and the sunsets are unmatched! Because of the later sunset, sessions sometimes begin as late as 8:30pm. I recommend bringing extra makeup and a few blotting sheets or powder to make sure you stay fresh throughout your session!
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WINTER
SNOWFALL, COZY COATS, and indoor sessions
If your session takes place during the winter, we could begin shooting as early as 2:30pm to catch the sunset. I recommend dressing in layers so that in between photos you can warm up! Make sure you bring a little extra makeup and tissues in case your nose starts running. Pocket warmers and thick socks hidden in cute boots can also help keep you warm without showing up in images!
Winter is also the perfect time for indoor studio sessions or a chance to get photos for all of your sports!
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Even though spring technically begins in March, I typically don’t begin shooting portraits outside for another 6 weeks because the weather in our area is still pretty chilly and various shades of brown/grey, which is not ideal! When I schedule spring dates, I typically schedule both a primary date and a backup rain date because April showers (or snowstorms!)
Fresh Flowers & Sunny Days
Spring
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In spite of the heat, summer is definitely the most popular season for senior portraits! Your skin is bronzed, your hair is perfectly sunkissed, and the sunsets are unmatched! Because of the later sunset, sessions sometimes begin as late as 8:30pm. I recommend bringing extra makeup and a few blotting sheets or powder to make sure you stay fresh throughout your session!
IF ONLY IT COULD BE LIKE THIS ALWAYS
Summer
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Fall is one of the prettiest times of the year in the midwest and because of the beautiful leaves, my schedule typically book up quickly! If you have your heart set on a fall session, I recommend scheduling early!
COLORFUL LEAVES AND LAYERS
FALL
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If your session takes place during the winter, we could begin shooting as early as 2:30pm to catch the sunset. I recommend dressing in layers so that in between photos you can warm up! Make sure you bring a little extra makeup and tissues in case your nose starts running. Pocket warmers and thick socks hidden in cute boots can also help keep you warm without showing up in images!
Winter is also the perfect time for indoor studio sessions or a chance to get photos for all of your sports!
snowfall, cozy coats, and indoor sessions
Winter
A few things to keep in mind during each season:
Locations
MY favorite places to shoot
Your session is going to begin at a location we choose based on the answers in your questionnaire! Don't know where to shoot? That's what I'm here for! Read through this section to find some ideas to get you thinking!
I've got favorite parks and nature preserves all over the lakes area. Here are just a few of my favorites!
Sucker Creek
Tamarac
Dunton Locks
The City Park
Grass fields
NATURE
Love the look of downtown for photos?
Let's go! We'll stay in areas with good light and fun backgrounds. The textures of buildings old and new look great in photos!
DOWNTOWN
Your home may be a great place to have your portrait session! I love to explore family properties because they're often sentimental to my clients and their families!
YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY
When you live in the land of 10,000 lakes, why not have photos on the place that we all love to spend our summers?! Be ready to get a little sandy (and possibly wet) at the end of your session!
THE BEACH
Within a 15-mile radius of Detroit Lakes - no travel fees
Within a 30-mile radius of Detroit Lakes - $25
Within a 60-mile radius of Detroit Lakes - $50
Anything over a 60-mile radius - custom quote
TRAVEL FEES
I know some family members just happen to be furry, and I love when my seniors choose to incorporate pets into their sessions! Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet-friendly location so if you have your heart set on a specific spot, just make sure pets are allowed!
I recommend planning for your pet to be part of the beginning of your session and bringing a friend or family member to help hold them in between shots if needed!
If you’re going to bring a pet, I recommend exercising them before the session and bringing their favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot.
MANAGING FURRY ONES
- Be comfortable! If there are pieces in your closet that make you feel self-conscious or uncomfortable, don’t include choose them for your senior pictures! We will also most likely be sitting on the ground, laying down, walking, and doing other things that could be difficult if your clothing is uncomfortable!
- Try to choose colors that POP and that compliment your hair + skin colors! Primary colors and jewel tones photograph beautifully!
- Adding texture to your outfit can help prevent images from looking dull! Combine textures you may not normally wear together, like sequins + chunky sweaters or leather + fur!
- Have a variety of looks! Choose 2-3 from these categories: casual, cozy, dressy, school-related, sports-related, preppy or edgy, and you'll have a good mix of styles!
Wardrobe Tips
for the GIRLS
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When planning your outfits, don’t forget to plan accessories! Stacks of bracelets, dainty necklaces, statement pieces, scarves, hats, fun shoes, and other add-ons can make or break an outfit and bring personality into your photos!
Don't be afraid to bring more than what you think you need! We can always take some photos with and some without so you have a variety of looks in your gallery. Adding a jacket to your dress and then changing shoes and doing some photos without the jacket is a super quick and easy way to "change" your look without having to completely change clothes!
Accessories
for the girls
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ASOS
J. Crew
Anthropologie
ROOLEE
Free People
Jessakae
Petal & Pup
Pink Blush (Maternity)
H&M
VICI Collection
Baltic Born Clothing
Madewell
Favorite Shops
EVEREVE
Zara
Modern Citizen
Hill House Home
Reformation
Rachel Pally
Ruthie Grace
Abercrombie
Rylee & Cru
Clad & Cloth
Ivy City
Everlane
for the girls
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I highly recommend my senior clients invest professional hair and makeup! If it's in your budget, hiring a professional for your hair and makeup will make a drastic difference in the quality of your photos and senior portrait experience! You're already making an investment in your photos experience, so why not make it the best it can be?! Here are a few local salons that I love and recommend for hair and makeup:
b.Salon | True North Salon | Envision Salon | Conviction Salon
If this is not in your budget, plan to wear slightly heavier make up than normal, including blush and lipstick/gloss that are at least slightly darker than your natural lip color. I also highly recommend false eyelashes. These can be purchased for very affordable prices at Target or most drug stores!
If you’re planning to do any spray tans or waxing, schedule those a few days before the session to give your skin time to recover.
One last tip: don’t forget your nails! During your shoot, a lot of the poses we do will have your hands close to your face and in the frame so make sure your nails look just how you want! Try to avoid any chipped polish or crazy patterns. French manicures, light/natural colors, and even nails with no color at all photograph best!
Hair & Makeup
for the girls
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You can’t go wrong with crisp button up. Consider layering a blazer or sweater over the top and style with jeans or your favorite khakis or chinos! And bowties are always a good idea!
Be careful not to choose a pattern that's too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.
Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin.
Cozy sweaters layered over button ups are a great way to stay warm and stylish during the cooler months!
Wardrobe TIPS
for the GUYS
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With the way I schedule my portrait sessions, I typically leave certain days reserved as "rain days" since the weather can be so unpredictable in the Midwest! Leaving space in my schedule helps me make sure your photos happen in a timely manner and you shouldn't have to wait too long after your original date, as long as the weather cooperates!
I'll check in the week of your session to confirm the time and location we’re meeting and chat about the weather if needed. I know it takes a lot of time to get ready for session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain. Let me know what works best for you, but if the weather looks like it won’t be great, I typically try to make the call at least 12 hours in advance.
Inclement Weather
what to do if it rains
When it comes to posing for your session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I'll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If I tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because I know it’s going to make you laugh - and that’s the photo I'm actually looking for!
Throughout your session, I'll keep an eye on your hair, makeup, and outfits to make sure things stay in place. I want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your senior portrait experience!
"What do I do with
my hands"?
"What do I do
with my hands"?
POSING
Yes, you are welcome to print the images on your own! If you do this, I recommend making sure that the printer does not color correct the images (many automatically do this.) I also recommend looking for a high-quality printer. While 10 cent prints sound great in theory, the cheaper printing quality often won’t do your images justice. Paper quality, color correction and a handful of other factors play a big role in the way your prints turn out. This is one of the reasons why I LOVE offering prints to my clients.
A:
Can I print the images on my own?
q:
While I don’t guarantee an exact number of images, I will make sure I capture you thoroughly! Most seniors should expect to receive at least 100 edited images following their session.
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How many images will I receive?
q:
I guarantee that your images will remain in an online gallery for at least a year. While your galleries may stay up longer than that, I cannot guarantee it. Once your gallery has been delivered, I highly recommend downloading all high resolution images to several devices. Consider investing in a portable, waterproof external hard drive.
A:
How long will I have access to the images?
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While turnaround times can vary by season, I aim to deliver all images within four weeks of your session.
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When will I receive my images?
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Frequently asked
questions
Absolutely! I never get tired of seeing my photos in #seniorsunday posts! To ensure my work is properly represented, I ask that you refrain from making any edits to the photos on your own. I also appreciate image credits and tags as they help me to continue to grow as a business!
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Can I share the images on social media?
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By default, the creators of images always own the rights to the images. However I'll give you a release to use, print and share your images. The only thing you won’t be able to do is sell your image as a stock photo. I won’t do this either without your written permission!
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Do I own the rights to the images?
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I do light retouching on all of my images. This means that if there are any glaring objects that should be removed (such as a scratch from softball practice), I'll remove them. Or if you ask me to remove specific blemishes, I can do that! Larger edits (such as removing tan lines or heavy skin retouching) require additional editing hours and fees may apply.
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Will you retouch MY images?
q:
As soon as possible after your session is complete, I'll back up your images and begin the editing process. Unless I have a holiday closure, you can expect to receive your edited, digital images between 3 and 4 weeks after your session. Typically previews are up within 5 days!
Your Images
When to Expect
I'm a big believer that images aren’t meant to solely exist in a digital space. One day, most likely, Instagram will be gone, your phone will be replaced, and images that you can physically hold in your hand will be the best way to remember the precious moments we captured!
Think about this fact: 15 years ago, if we had delivered you digital images, they would have been on a floppy disk! With the fast updates to technology, you would have no way to access those images today. Even the online galleries we deliver will eventually fade away!
But prints? Those last. I bet your family still has images from your grandparents (maybe even great grandparents!). And that was likely from a time when cameras were expensive and prints were harder to come by.
Bring Your Images to Life with prints
Perfect for those who value legacy. These heirloom albums are a great way to house a large number of images in a beautiful way. Leave them on display as coffee table books or protect them with a legacy box.
Albums
Framed and matted prints are the perfect way to fill your walls with memories! With a variety of frames to choose from, I'll help you select the perfect image pairings for your space.
Prints & Wall Art
Details for ordering will be delivered with your gallery
Easy to hang and easy to change out. Canvases are one of my favorite ways to decorate a space. They also work great on little easels placed around the home.
Canvases
I know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your portrait session. However if there is something I missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email me!
brittney@brittneyandcaleb.com