Oh man, where to begin. COVID-19 took us all by storm. It canceled plans, changed dreams, ruined experiences, evoked stress and anxiety. But, you are surviving and thriving in this new environment. You have learned to be flexible, learned what's most important to you, learned how important it is to say ‘I love you’, found new hobbies. That's not to say how challenging this time has likely been for you...

You probably had this vision of how senior year should go. You might’ve been planning your outfits for homecoming week, looking forward to senior prom, or excited to tour college campuses. Those activities that you look forward to might’ve been taken from you or really changed from what you knew from years past. We don’t want the accomplishment of your senior year to get lost due to this pandemic. You deserve celebrations and accolades and to dress up in that dress you wanted to wear. Sarah Lindsay Photography wants to capture you in this moment. The senior year that you uniquely had. We want senior pictures to be one of the “normal” things you do during your senior year that marks this major accomplishment. It can be fun to have some of your images capture what was happening during your senior year so that when you look back you clearly remember this unique experience. Below there are some fun ideas that you could incorporate into your senior shoot that are COVID inspired. 

This might be the easiest senior pictures idea for a prop to remember COVID-19. Maybe that's because you just naturally bring your mask everywhere now and happen to have it for our shoot. Or maybe because it's the main message we have been hearing so that's how you will remember this time. Whatever the reason is a mask can be a fun addition for a few of your photos. (Quick little side note, Sarah Lindsay Photography naturally stands 6 feet away to capture the best images of you, but will also wear their masks for the entire shoot.) 
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You might have a favorite mask that captures your personality or that might make your eyes just pop. Bring that! Any type of prop has a purpose and can add so much to your shoot. As an example, a close up with your mask on with your gorgeous eyes can be so fun. This could be used as just a simple way to remember this time when you look back or it might be fun to put on your graduation announcement to bring light to this situation.

Letter boards with simple sayings can add some sass and attitude to your senior pictures. It can add to specific memories of your senior year. So, with the senior year you have had, you probably have specific sayings or events that you really want to capture. A play on words or one powerful word can be so fun. Here are some fun examples from The Type Set Co.

1. Keep calm and wash your hands
2. Take care of yourself, take care of each other
3. Currently in quarantine - please send wine
4. Alexa, homeschool the kids.
5. Quarantine Friends Forever
6. Quarantine and chill
7. This must be the art of doing nothing at all.
8. Peace, love, and laying on the couch.
9. “Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping.”
   - Fred Rogers
10. During Quarantine, I’m only telling inside jokes.
11. Is it acceptable to social distance from my kids?
12. Apparently, I am a professional face toucher
13. Dear 2020, Can I get a refund?
14. Trying to chill out, but this is new for me.
15. I’m sorry for what I said during quarantine
16. In 20 years, this will be known as The Great Quarantine of 2020
17. 2019: There’s no place like home. 2020: I wish we could go somewhere.
18. Will trade kids for toilet paper
19. Can't touch this has taken on a whole new meaning.

Can you find toilet paper? Any Clorox wipes? What about hand sanitizer? You probably asked about one of these things during this crazy time and thought to yourself ‘what is happening?’ This might be a running joke for a while… 

All jokes aside, it might be fun to make light of the experiences you had during your senior year by using things like toilet paper, Clorox wipes, gloves in your photoshoot. For example, you could write something clever on the toilet paper and then hold it up. Something like “Class of 2021” or “Done with this crap” or whatever fits with your vision. On google there are a lot of COVID inspired puns that might be a lot of fun to play with to remember what a crazy year this has been. Another example might be using blue latex gloves and snapping them over your hands for a shot. Click here for an example shot. It's important to have fun in your images and if these ideas speak to you, then let’s do it!! 

It's important to make light of the situations we are handed. We're not saying that it can’t be hard and really suck, but finding the good is important. We hope that in this uncertainty, senior pictures can be that light in the tunnel and add some normalcy into your life. If you're interested in working with Sarah Lindsay Photography for your Senior Pictures click here or Find out more about Sarah Lindsay here.

I will never forget the first prom that I went to. My parents and I headed to pictures and when we were halfway there I realized I forgot some important things. The tickets in my clutch, the corsage/boutineer, and my clothes for after prom. I remember getting to pictures in tears, worried and anxious about what my date would say and how I would get those things. It completely changed the tone of the night. When your plans don't go exactly how you picture, it can flip an experience and mood. Have you ever had something similar happen to you? 

Well, this feeling is one we want to avoid for you on your photoshoot day. The day of your senior photoshoot we want to be laid back, fun, and all about you. No stress or anxiety creeping in, eliminating all possible reasons to have those feelings come in. Looking back, I know that on this prom day I was feeling crunched for time and the list I had in my head was gone. If I would have allowed extra time and actually wrote down everything I needed to remember, that would’ve helped. First things first- for your photoshoot we will allow for plenty of time for professional hair and makeup, drive time to your location, and some down time to eat prior and change into your first outfit. We don’t want time to add stress into your day. Second, this guide will help you list out everything you need to bring with you to your shoot. I don't know about you, but being able to cross off things on a list always helps me feel prepared. We hope that this guide will help eliminate possible stress on the day of your shoot! 

Here are 3 must-haves for your senior pictures session...

You may be thinking... "Well, duh! Of course I need to bring my outfits." But did you remember to pack all of your shoes, socks, a strapless bra, nude underwear, or jewelry? For a 2 hour photoshoot, we recommend having 4 or 5 different outfits. That’s a lot of clothes to remember! It’s not just remembering to bring the different jeans or the dress, but it's remembering everything that goes with that outfit change! For example, you might need to change an undergarment due to the color of the shirt or pants. You wouldn’t want to forget that as it could really impact the way you feel in your images or the way the final images turn out. Another example, you might change your shoes mid shoot. Forgetting socks or the “right” pair of socks could impact how you are feeling in your shoot. My sister actually brought the wrong socks to her shoot and we had to switch socks in the middle of her shoot! The ones she accidentally brought were too high for the shoes she was wearing. It’s tough to remember all those small details for each outfit! But super important that you do. 

This is why we recommend gathering each outfit and putting them in separate piles the night before. You will want to make sure you remember: shoes, pants, shirt, socks, undergarments, and jewelry. Doing this for each outfit helps make sure you have EXACTLY what you need for each. Then, putting each outfit in a separate bag and into your car is a great tip to eliminate possible day of worry. 

You'll want to bring a small bag of makeup essentials to make touch-ups to your makeup in between shots. Adding a little extra lip color or covering up some smudged mascara can make you feel infinitely better before jumping in front of the camera again for your next shot. We also recommend bringing translucent powder or oil blotting paper if your skin is on the oily side. Surprisingly, oily skin is one of the hardest things to correct when retouching an image.
Here's what should be in your bag: mascara, foundation, concealer, chapstick/lipstick/lipgloss, translucent powder and/or oil blotting papers, and a small mirror.

Special items or props can enhance your senior session. They can help tell your story of your accomplishments and personality in high school. So, please don't be afraid to bring props to use in your shoot! If you plan to use some props for certain poses, we have to make sure you remember to bring them and that you plan ahead on having those props ready. About a week in advance you want to start setting out and finding those props. As an example for my senior photoshoot, my mom wanted a picture of me looking at my kindergarten graduation picture. For about two days we searched for the exact picture we wanted to use before finding it and printing it out to use. If we would've waited to look until the day of, that pose might not have been used. Setting out and putting those props with each specific outfit a couple days prior to your shoot helps ensure your full vision is captured for your shoot.

If you have watched Grey’s Anatomy you might know this saying. If you haven’t, that's okay! Your person is someone who builds your confidence, is there whenever you need them, and always knows the right things to say. For your shoot, it's important you don’t forget to bring that person. There are so many benefits to having someone with you for your shoot. 

Don't have a person? Bring your furry bestie! Plus we can put both of you in front of the camera and really get the party started.

To help ease your day of jitters, we hope this guide eases those. You deserve that perfect photoshoot where you feel amazing. Let’s make sure we take away anything that might flip that experience. 

Are you interested in working with Sarah?  Our schedule fills up very quickly so contact her today to get started.

Senior year brings lots of emotions to light. Excitement, joy, fear, worry, you name it, that emotion will probably show up. With those emotions comes questions. What's next for me? Where will I go to college? Who will remember me and what will I be remembered for? How can I fit everything in? Those feelings and questions you might be asking yourself are real and it's important to feel and process each one of those. Senior year is a big transition year! But as a senior, there is so much you, your family, your friends want to remember. One way to remember is by doing a senior photoshoot. 
So if you find yourself questioning if a professional senior portrait session is worth it or if you have the time for it… let's take a look...

One of those questions that might be swirling in your mind is who will remember me and how will they remember me? One way they might remember you is from your infectious smile or your sports accomplishments or the goals you had in life. A lot of these things we can capture in a professional senior photoshoot. ​

A senior photoshoot is tailored to you and your vision. So, if you want your senior class to remember something specific about you, then we will incorporate that into your shoot. For me it was important for me to have some images in my soccer uniform because soccer was a huge part of my high school career and a way people knew who I was. For my sister, it was playing her viola in some pictures because orchestra was something very meaningful to her. Each of you may want to showcase something different. Hence why it is YOUR shoot. Having images to pick from that are unique to your personality and capture you in this moment, will give you the option to pick that perfect picture for the yearbook. The yearbook photo that you choose tells a story about who you ultimately are! Down the road someone may pick up the yearbook and see your photo and your smile, outfit, location, specific props might spark memories of you from high school. That professional senior photoshoot is one way to help make a statement about how you will be remembered. 

While how your class remembers you might feel like the most important thing, your family wants to freeze time and remember you like this forever too. Graduating is a big deal for your family as well! How your family remembers you as a senior in high school is captured through senior pictures. These images can capture your accomplishments, goals, and personality. All the things that parents want to bundle up and never forget. By doing a professional senior portrait session, we can capture the "youest" you and give your family, and you, the gift of remembering this time.

You might be thinking that you haven’t accomplished or done everything that you wanted to in high school or that there is so much left for me to do. I get it; my senior year I wanted to do everything. I felt like it was my last chance to get dolled up for homecoming, to play powderpuff football, or to get all-state. But, while I felt like that, I also realized that I had more time than I thought and that sometimes prioritizing things was a must. 

As a senior you deserve that special moment where the spotlight is on you. You have accomplished and grown so much in these years. Senior pictures are that opportunity! It might feel like it is just another thing to add to your plate, but we promise it will be worth it and we will make the process as easy as possible. Sarah Lindsay Photography understands the pressures of time and feeling overwhelmed by everything you have planned. Because of this, we make the trip to you. No extra time spent commuting! Your time is valuable and we want you out doing everything you love. From your wardrobe and design consultation, to your viewing and ordering session will be done in the comfort of your home. We try our very best to accommodate dates that work best for each of you beautiful girls, our schedule does fill up quickly. Reach out to Sarah Lindsay today to get your first choice date for your senior portraits. When you look back we want you to see how beautiful and special you truly are in this monumental time and that can be caught through professional senior pictures. ​

You have worked your butt off to get here. Class, homework, extra credit, extra curriculars, sports, clubs... not to mention being social and hanging out with friends. You want to celebrate all the things you have accomplished in the 4 years you've been in high school - and you deserve it! A professional session for your senior pictures is the best way to celebrate being a senior and your last year of high school. Let's celebrate YOU!

If you're interested in book a session with Sarah Lindsay Photography,contact us here.

Senior photoshoots take a lot of preparation. Preparation includes the act of scheduling senior pictures, planning outfits, and then things such scheduling those beauty appointments. Things you might not have necessarily have thought of when planning to have a memorable photoshoot. Now that your photoshoot is in sight when to schedule those haircuts, waxes, manicures might be a question you are asking yourself. For this reason, we have a list of 4 appointments you should complete a few days to a week in advance! Completing these things prior to your shoot will ensure that you look and feel your best!

When should I get my hair cut or colored before my Senior Pictures?
Fresh haircuts and/or fresh color can make you feel like a new person. There’s no denying that. However, it is important to have your hair done about a week or two before your scheduled photoshoot. By doing this it ensures that your color has set in and that you are confident in the way you look with your updated hair! We recommend not drastically changing your hair prior to your photoshoot. This is because we want to avoid any sudden changes that could change how confident you are in your appearance and how beautiful you feel. However, if you got your hair done a week prior and you had some concerns about the outcome… you would have some time to try and “fix” it before the photoshoot. ​

When should I get my nails done before my senior pictures?
If you are a person who never wears nail polish, don’t feel like you have to get a manicure or pedicure. If you are a person who always has their nails done, make sure you get your nails done before your shoot. You don’t want grown out polish! If you are a person who feels more confident having your nails done, then go have yourself a spa day! 
We recommend that if you are going to get a manicure and/or pedicure to schedule it for a few days in advance. One reason we recommend getting a manicure is because your hands are visible in a lot of your images. A lot of the poses will include your hands. Hands can draw attention to your most loved parts of your body and add dimension to your shoot. Because of this, we want you to feel confident in how, especially, your nails look. We also don’t want you feeling stressed about time on the day of your photoshoot, so although it may sound like a good idea to get your nails done on the day of your shoot, appointments can run late, the color can be wrong, and other things can happen. Getting them done a few days earlier will relieve some of that day of stress that you might feel. 

Should I get a spray tan before my senior pictures?
​Having that summer glow can give you so much confidence. That rich skin tone that might make your freckles pop. Or that tan that takes away those sport tan lines. We get it. Being tan is a confidence booster! Your form of tanning may differ based on the time of your photos. For example, in the winter you may choose a spray tan whereas in the summer you might just lay out in the sun for a few hours each day. If you chose a spray tan, make sure you book that appointment 5 days prior to your shoot. There is a chance that your spray tan may not turn out the shade you want or may be splotchy. If this is the case, doing this days prior to your shoot will ensure that some of that color will fade creating a more natural tan. The last thing we want is you feeling self conscious- we want you to feel amazing! ​

When should I get my eyebrows waxed before my senior pictures?
Sadly, as girls, we have probably all heard beauty is pain. This is one of those appointments that personally I couldn’t agree with that statement more. Even though I feel like a new person after I get my eyebrows/lip waxed, it doesn't change the fact that it hurts like hell. Maybe that's true of you too. If you are one to get your eyebrows and/or lip waxed, make sure you schedule for a week out. You don’t want that red, irritated skin to show up in your images. Or if you happen to have a small breakout from the wax, you might want time for those to disappear as well. Completing this appointment a week early will give your skin time to rebound and you won't have to worry about that redness/blemish appearing on camera! (But if you do have some acne, don't panic, that's what Photoshop is for!)

These are the top 4 appointments we would strongly recommend completing a few days to a week in advance. By doing this it ensures that you feel the most confident and most beautiful for your senior photoshoot! 
If you're interested in booking a shoot with Sarah Lindsay Photography, contact us now! Our schedule fills up very quickly.