Tips and tricks that you dont want to forget for your senior portrait session: Senior Portrait Checklist

Your senior portrait session is important! These images will be seen by so many people for years to come. It sits in the yearbook and serves as a memory of who you are in this moment. You and your parents will bring these pictures up for many reasons down the road! Like showing them to your future kids or reminiscing on the high school years with your friends. This is why we want to make sure this experience is as fun and worry free for you as possible. Here’s a checklist of all the things you will want to make sure you complete prior to your shoot and also what you will want to remember to bring with you the day of. ​

Tips and Tricks for The Best Senior Pictures

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One Month Before Your Shoot

• Decide your vision for the shoot. Is it urban and trendy? Is it classic and elegant? Is it a mix? Does it compliment the authentic you?
  
• Pick a location for your shoot! 
  
• Start laying out outfit options for your shoot. Ultimately you will want to have 4 or 5 different outfits. But, starting with more early on will help make sure each outfit will photograph the way you want it too. 
  
• Start looking at ideas for poses or props you could bring. You could pin them to your pinterest board so that you can refer to them later. 
  
• Schedule a haircut/color for 1 to 2 weeks before your scheduled portrait session. (It can be hard to get in with hair stylists so better to schedule early than not get one at all!)
  

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One to Two Weeks Before Your Shoot

• Tanning→ Depending on the time of year this tip varies. 
  • Winter shoots: Get a spray tan 5 days prior. This allows the color time to set in and compliment your natural skin tone. 
  • Summer shoots: Stop tanning 5 days prior. You don't want to be sunburned or peeling in your images! To get that nice glow we recommend laying out for a couple hours each day. 
• Get your eyebrows and/or lip waxed a week before your shoot! Don’t want that red, irritated skin on camera! 
• Go to the hair appointment you scheduled! 
  • Don’t do anything too different or crazy from your ‘typical’. This makes sure that you are confident in your hairdo!! 
• Pick out the exact outfits you want to wear. Try them on, mess with how you might want your hair, try on different jewelry, play with how you could incorporate props you picked. Once you have your outfits decided, set them aside, don't try them on again, and don’t spend too much time starring! Stick with your gut! ​

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A Couple Days Beforehand

• Get your nails done. Have yourself a spa day and make sure the color you pick is neutral and timeless. 
  
• Iron or steam the clothes you will wear. I know ironing is so old school, but wrinkles can take away beauty from your images. So for this go old school! 
  
• Email Sarah Lindsay Photography the poses you liked and example pictures you would love to get! 
  
• Glasses→ If wearing glasses is an important piece of who you are and give you some extra confidence, we want you to wear them. However, the lenses can create glare. Start looking a few days before and find a pair that you love, maybe an old pair or a look-a-like, and pop the lenses out! 
  
• Lay out all the jewelry you plan to wear. Box it up and set it next to your outfits.  
  
• Pull out the props you are thinking of using. They should tell the story of you on a deeper level. ​
  

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The Day Of!

• Get your beauty sleep the night prior. 
  
• Eat breakfast, lunch, and at least a pre dinner snack before you leave! 
  
• Bring a towel if you plan to do some water shots. This is a fun way to end a session and the images are gorgeous!! But only if you are up for it!
  
• Bag up each of your outfits. Don't forget allllll aspects!! (peep the reminders below) 
  
  • Change of bra? Some of your outfits might require a strapless bra or a different color bra so that you can’t see it in the images 
    
  • Neutral colored underwear? Make sure you wear something that won't show through any of your outfits! 
    
  • Socks? 
    
• Check to make sure all your jewelry is in the bag
  
  • Sentimental necklaces? 
    
  • Rings? 
    
  • Watch? 
    
  • Bracelet? 
    
• Bring extra lip gloss/lipstick so you can reapply throughout your shoot 
  
• Bring a ponytail, scrunchy, bobby pins, and/or barrets to use if you plan to change up your hair for a specific outfit
  
• Bring any props that represent you! 
  
  • Musical instrument? 
    
  • Camera?
    
  • Cap and gown? 
    
  • Younger pictures of you? 
    
  • Artwork? 
    
  • Senior ring? 
    
  • Prom dress/parachute dress? 
    
  • Cowboy hat? 
    
  • Flowers? 
    
  • Old car? 
    
  • Trophies or medals? 
    
  • Sports equipment? 
    
    • Letterman jacket
      
    • Cleats, shoes, boots 
      
    • Uniform/jersey 
      
    • Pom poms
      
    • Specific ball
      
    • Helmet, hat 
      
    • Bat, goggles, gloves, racquet, golf clubs, skis, snowboard, skateboard, bike
      
  • School gear for your high school or future college? 
    
    • Flag
      
    • Sweatshirt, t-shirt
      
    • Face mask (2020 made us do it)
      
  • Pets? 
    
  • Anything that makes you feel happy, confident, and fits your vision!! 
    
• Bring your mom, sister, grandma, best friend, anyone you want with you!  
  
• Bring your favorite playlist! Listening to your favorite music can help ease some of your worries during your shoot. Or dancing around to your music could create some amazing photos! ​
  

How To Get The Best Senior Pictures!