Portrait by Ricardo Groenke Images

How do you take good senior portraits?

Long gone are the days when high school senior portraits only include girls wearing a black drape and guys wearing a classic tuxedo, or just a single mugshot for your high school senior pictures yearbook. Senior portraits are now used to artistically capture a senior’s accomplishments and personality. This occasion only happens once in a high schoolers career, so it’s important to make it memorable.

Now, on with the tips:

1- Getting to Know You

I will first spend some time getting to know you to ensure we create images that fit your personality or style. We’ll discuss your likes and dislikes, what makes you laugh and what moves you. We will talk about your favorite things, your hobbies, your favorite places, etc.

Portrait by Ricardo Groenke Images

2- Picking the Best Location

Together we will pick the location that best fits your personality and the look and feel you want in your final images. As I get to know you, I will be able to narrow down the best locations for you. This can be anywhere from a park, urban landscape, sports field, or any place that is meaningful to you or fits who you are.

3- Prep Your “Props”

Real life “props” are a great way to help depict your personality and remember the things you enjoyed as a high school senior. Maybe it is your guitar, or baseball bat, ballet shoes or your new car… if it is something that represents who you are today, let’s plan on having it as part of your session. Just make sure it is camera-ready!

4- Test Your Hair and Makeup

If you’re getting your hair and/ or makeup done professionally, test the look before you have your photos taken. This way you’ll avoid unwanted surprises the day of your photoshoot!
Even if you don’t normally wear makeup, mascara and concealer are great ways to highlight your natural beauty. At the bare minimum, you should bring chapstick with you to keep your lips hydrated.
It’s always a great idea to bring makeup or oil absorbing sheets on hand for some extra touch ups before you get behind the camera.

Portrait by Ricardo Groenke Images

5- What to Wear

High school senior pictures outfits don’t need to be overly complicated. Choose clothing that you feel the best in and that shows off your personality. Bring 4- 5 outfits, so we can narrow them down together or mix and match.
Aim for a range of clothing options like casual to formal to create a variety of looks for your photos. Don’t forget to incorporate different necklines, textures, and fabrics in your selection. If we’re shooting in the fall time, consider layering your outfits! Just keep an eye out for stains or snags on your pieces and wash them accordingly.
For whatever colors you choose to wear, they should complement each other. Incorporating a color scheme for each outfit will give you a put together look with minimal effort. However, make sure your outfits don’t upstage you. You’re supposed to be the focal point of the images, so your outfits should enhance your looks not take away from them.
Plan your outfits ahead of time, to avoid the stress of choosing the night before. Don’t forget to actually try the outfits on too, so you can see how the pieces work together. After you’re done trying on your clothes, remove the wrinkles and placing them on a hanger so they are ready to go!

6- Don’t be Afraid to Accessorize

Accessories are a great way to show off your personality! Hats, scarves, jewelry… keep accessories in mind and bring a selection with you. These can also be a great way to add a pop of color and interest to your images.

Portrait by Ricardo Groenke Images

7- A Few More Things to Keep in Mind for your high school senior portraits

Pack a comb or hair brush and any necessary make-up for last minute touch ups. Bring some snacks and a water bottle, and please arrive on time.
I look forward to rocking this session together!

If you want to learn more about this memorable experience, get in touch by clicking on this link

You can also download this short guide by clicking here!