SENIOR SESSION PREP GUIDE

Yay! You've booked your senior shoot! Here are some pointers to get you, and your parents, through it alive...

First, don't stress. Really. I got this whole photo shoot thing covered. And I'll help you with whatever I can from start to finish. Any time between now and your session you can ask me questions, talk about ideas, show me pics of your outfits and send me Pinterest finds that you like. I want this to be fun and easy and all about you. You should feel free to incorporate any of your interests into your session to make it unique to you. Horses, dirt bikes, motorcycles, snowmobiles, cars, trucks, camps, sports, fishing, tractors, guitars, guns, dogs, cows and even a bunny are just a few things that have been included in sessions. 

Many times a senior session is the first time you've ever had your photos taken solo--so you might be a bit nervous. Totally normal. You'd think with all those selfies you guys take that you'd be more comfortable in front of my camera! Just kidding--not many people, including myself, are really comfy in front of a camera. Again, don't stress--I got you.  I'm going to tell you where to stand, how to stand, where to put your hands, where to look.......I'm going to fix your hair and your shirt and help you decide which outfit to wear at which location. And I'm going to have your mom do jumping jacks behind me to make you laugh and get genuine expressions outta you. You're going to look great. Here's a couple more ways to keep your stress levels low:

*Take the day off work if possible. You don't want to have to rush home from work and get ready for your shoot.  And you don't want to worry about having to be anywhere after your shoot. There have also been times when I've rescheduled an evening session to the morning because of rain in the late-day forecast.  Just chill today. Of course this doesn't work for everyone. If you must work, or have something else happening, just try to leave some wiggle room before and after your session time for snafus. 

 *Choose your outfits early. Don't wait till the day before (or, eek, the day OF) your session to start thinking about what you'll wear. If you're ordering outfits online make sure to allow enough time for delivery and return/reorder of your items. If you need jerseys or uniforms make sure to ask your coach about it early.

*Think about the locations you'd like to use. It could be anywhere-downtown, a park, your gramma's backyard, the farm, the school, the river-wherever. Let me know the spots you like and we'll come up with a plan. Or give me a general idea what you'd like and I'll help you come up with a location. Field of flowers? I know a spot. River? Everywhere. Bridges? I know a few.  I might even just drag you off the side of the road somewhere if it's a great looking spot. My shoots are adventures.  Bring shoes you can walk through weeds in and bring bug spray. If you want to use the interior of your school for any shots, you will be responsible for making sure we can gain entrance. 

 *Don't worry about that breakout on your chin, or that small cut on your lip or that bruise on your shin. I do normal portrait editing for you, and a little more if I need to. I edit blemishes, lighten dark eye circles, erase small scrapes or scratches. I have even had to erase mosquito bites. 

Basically I just want you to relax and have fun! I'll do all the work. Well, you'll be doing SOME of the work, but I'll do most of it. 

LET'S TALK GROOMING.......

*Make any haircut/color appointments a week or more out from your shoot. I'm not gonna tell you not to do anything drastic to your look right before your senior session.........nope, I lied. Don't do anything drastic to your look right before your senior session. Unless you REALLY want to. Then go ahead. It's your day, man. 

  *If you're getting your hair done the day of your shoot get that appointment scheduled NOW.  Don't wait till 3 days before your session to try and find someone to do your hair or makeup. If you're having makeup done, go with your natural look kicked up just one notch or two. Neutral, natural cosmetics/colors are best.  Now is not the time to try out glamour length false lashes or dramatic looks. 

*Guys, you just do you. Get your hair cut about a week before your session. Shave when you need to in order to look fresh the day of your session. Or don't shave, and drive your mom crazy. 

   *Don't get too much sun right before your session. Sunburn sucks for a couple of reasons and one of them is that it's a huge pain in the neck to edit. Super-obvious tan lines (think, white forehead from a hat.....shoulder strap tan lines in the strapless dress you wanna wear.......or face tan lines from your sunglasses) also fall into the "huge pain in the neck to edit" category. For real, I don't do it. I send that out and charge your mom more for editing. So don't skip the sunscreen, k?

LET'S TALK WARDROBE......

Iron. Your. Outfits.  Or hang them in the bathroom during your shower. Or throw them in the dryer. Whatever you do to get the wrinkles out of your clothes, do that. I cannot and do not edit wrinkles. Have your outfits ready to put on--take new shirts out of the bag (and IRON them), take tags and stickers off items. Keep your stuff on hangers--even when you bring it to the shoot--there's hooks in your car just for this. Use them.

Other than that, it's up to you. I won't attempt to tell you what to wear. You want to wear a Pink Floyd t-shirt? Go for it. Pretty dresses and accessories to match every single one? Sure. Your favorite shirt with tiny flamingos all over it? Have at it. Buy all new stuff or wear pieces that you've already got. Whatever you want. But nothing TOO worn out or stained,  alright? Wear what you love and what you look fabulous in. Wear what makes you feel fabulous. It's super important that your items fit well. Not too tight, not too loose, not too short--you'll be moving around a LOT--sitting, bending, wading in rivers, raising your arms, etc....you want to be comfortable. TRY EVERYTHING ON before your shoot.  Make sure nothing's gaping or pinching anywhere, make sure undergarments aren't showing and aren't going to show in any of your posing. 

Oh, and be prepared to do your outfit changes in the car. Bring the biggest car ya got. And maybe a sheet or something to hang in the window while you change. It's tricky, but everyone does it and lives to tell about it. You will, too.

LET'S TALK SOCIAL MEDIA......

I do most of my sneak peeks and session posts on Facebook, so if you/your parents are on Facebook LIKE MY PHOTOGRAPHY PAGE so I can tag you when I post your images.  If you share any of your images to social media please tag my photography page. Facebook and Instagram are both @kristabrownphotos

Now you'll be ready for an hour or so of me bossing you around and making really bad jokes.  I'll also be making amazing images of you. Bring your walking shoes and some bug spray.  Keep the people you bring to your session to a minimum.  Mom and/or Dad and maybe a friend.  Whoever you bring will end up being the person carrying all your stuff.  Or my stuff.   This isn't a party and you don't need a bunch of extra people there distracting you. I like to have fun but we've got a job to do. And I may goof around and act like a twit but I take that job pretty seriously. It's important stuff, your senior portraits. You ready? I am. Let's do this.