Dear grad,
You’re all set - your senior session is booked! Let the fun begin!!! In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about your senior session from outfit tips, to posing tips. Be sure to keep this link handy as it’ll likely answer most of the questions you may have!!
Let’s chat:
time
location
styling
posing
image selection
gallery delivery
yearbook selection
WHAT TIME?
If we haven’t already decided on a time to meet, just expect us to shoot in the evening! I prefer evening light, typically 1-2 hours before sunset. In recent years, I’ve met my seniors at their selected location around 6 or 6:30. If that time won’t work for you, we can certainly find another time of the day that works better! Evening is wonderful for a number of reasons including fewer people at the location, cooler temperature (especially in August!), and soft evening light.
WHERE?
I have a handful of favorite locations in the Madison area! The location you choose depends on the vibe you’re going for - urban, nature, little bit of both? I’ve spent years photographing seniors most often at Epic, Allen Centennial Garden, Paoli, Pope Farm Conservancy, Downtown Madison, even at their homes. The location is entirely up to YOU. If you have two locations in mind, we can chat about what that would look like. This is only an option if you’ve booked the Extended Session (two hours, two locations, 4-6 outfits). If you’d like to upgrade to the Extended session, just let me know! You can see sample galleries of some of my favorite locations here.
STYLING
Let’s chat outfits!! This is undoubtedly one of the most exciting (and challenging) parts about your senior session. Is it absolutely crucial that you buy all new outfits for your session? Absolutely not!!! Borrow clothes from friends, dig a little deeper into your closet, go thrifting! Be intentional about the pieces you choose. Below are some tips for dressing for success!
STYLING TIPS
BE YOURSELF
Your senior photos should be a true reflection of who YOU are. Choose outfits that represent your unique style and make you feel comfortable and confident.
PLAN AHEAD
Be sure to try on your outfits ahead of time, ensuring everything fits well. Look at yourself in the mirror from all angles. Be sure to bring along any undergarments that may be necessary for each outfit - it’s a bummer when we have to spend time hiding straps!!
DETAILS
Consider trimming your nails, painting or getting them done at a nail salon. Schedule an appointment to get your hair and makeup done too if that is something you are interested in! Generally, when being photographed, more makeup is encouraged than what you might normally wear.
WHAT TO WEAR
COLORS + PATTERNS
Solid colors tend to photograph well and will help keep the focus on the you! Avoid neon colors and red, as these will cause color to cast onto your face. I prefer my seniors to wear earth tones and neutrals, as they edit really beautifully with my personal editing style!! Patterns are welcome; I love floral patterned dresses but stripes can sometimes be too busy. If you are unsure about the colors or patterns of your outfits, shoot me a text and we can discuss!!
CLASSIC LOOKS
I often encourage pieces that will be timeless and age well (don’t be like me, horrified at what I wore to my senior session!!!). Find styles that reflect your personality but won’t feel dated when you look back at your photos in the future. However, styles will change, as they always do, so you may find yourself cringing someday anyway, ha!
COMPLEMENT YOUR SKIN TONE
More recently, color analyses have become popular and we know that certain colors look best on us based on our skin tone, eye color, and hair color. I haven’t done a seasonal color analysis myself but incorporating colors that make me look alive is fun! Hold different colors up to your face and see what looks best. Avoid colors that may wash you out - we want you to look vibrant, healthy and alive!!
JEWELRY + OTHER ACCESSORIES
If you love jewelry, your senior session can be a fun time to choose a few statement pieces. Seniors often bring different earrings or necklaces for each outfit. Simple accessories tend to photograph best as they aren’t too distracting. If you aren’t sure what to wear, bring a few options along and I can help you decide!
SHOES
Your feet WILL be photographed often so bring along multiple pairs of shoes - one for each outfit. We can do a few barefoot photos as well if that’s your style! Personally, I love the casual feel of barefoot images. Bring heels, sandals, tennis shoes - whatever reflects your personal style!!
WHAT NOT TO WEAR
Neon colors
Too many colors or patterns
Logos and text
Anything too trendy
Uncomfortable clothing
Revealing outfits
A FEW MORE TIPS
PREPARATION
Iron or steam your clothing before your session to avoid wrinkles. Bring clothes on hangers (please don’t throw outfits into a bag!!!). Bring a lint roller for any dark clothes and remove any hanger loops ahead of time.
VARIETY
Bring a variety of styles for your session! For the Classic Senior session, I encourage a dress, a casual outfit with jeans, and a third outfit that you love. Some people choose to wear three dresses as their outfits, some wear none. It is entirely up to you!
ORDER
The order in which you dress depends on our location. If shooting at Epic, I often like to begin with the most casual outfits and end with a dress or skirt. You can ask me ahead of time if there is a specific order I’d like you to wear but you don’t have to!
CHANGING
At some locations, we aren’t able to access a bathroom or a changing room. When this is the case, I have always had my seniors plan on changing in their cars. If this is an issue, I have a spacious vehicle with tinted windows and you are more than welcome to change in mine!
POSING
Posing is one of my favorite part of senior sessions!! It’s so fun to see how each senior takes my instruction for posing and makes it their own. I will be giving many suggestions for posing, how to position your hands, feet, body, etc. I will help adjust hair as well.
HOW CAN YOU PREPARE?
Browse images of other seniors — on Pinterest, instagram, older siblings. Notice how they are positioned. Find poses that you like and practice them in the mirror. Screenshot and save photos that you like and bring them to your session so I can see too!
Remember to RELAX! As hard as it may be, staying relaxed during your session will make your photos look even better. Don’t worry, we will have FUN and you won’t even need to be thinking about relaxing after a few minutes!!
IMAGE SELECTION
Please through this entire process - it is important!!
AFTER WE SHOOT TOGETHER…
My process is slightly different than some photographers but it has worked so well for me the last few years!! I like to share your images with you within ONE WEEK of your session - fast right?! But, these images are untouched initially. This gives you the opportunity to find the photos that you like the BEST: which outfits you find yourself loving most, the angles you prefer, your favorite smiles, the way your hair lays, the backgrounds we used. This allows you the chance to pick the best of the best - not just MY favorites!!
STEP ONE ~ RIGHT AFTER YOUR SESSION
Immediately following your session, I go home and get your photos onto my computer. Depending on which session you booked, I will have shot anywhere from 400-800 images!! I cull through these to find the ones that are perfectly in focus, with your eyes open, and I eliminate the duplicates (because I definitely over-shoot!!). I will then upload the selected photos to an online gallery, called Pic-Time. These photos, as I mentioned, will be UNTOUCHED. Your job is to look through the images and select your favorites!! This is very easy by selecting the flag that shows on each photo.
STEP TWO ~ ONE WEEK AFTER YOUR SESSION
One week after your session you will receive an email from me to “Begin Your Selections.” It is your job to select your favorite 75-125 images (amount depends on the session you booked) by selecting the flag on your favorites. The faster you choose your favorites, the faster I will be able to get them back to you!! Once you’ve completed your selections, you’ll select “send to photographer” and I will be notified and be able to begin working on your photos!
STEP THREE ~ THREE WEEKS AFTER: GALLERY DELIVERY
As long as you’ve made your selections within a reasonable time, I will deliver your completed gallery within three weeks. You’ll receive another email with a link to your gallery where you’ll now see completed photos that you have chosen. This means I will crop, straighten, brighten, adjust color, soften skin when necessary, remove distractions, blemishes, etc. I will also deliver a few black and white images to you and am happy to deliver any others you’d like in black and white.
STEP FOUR ~ AFTER GALLERY DELIVERY
Once you’ve received your gallery, let me know if you have any questions or concerns that we can get sorted out right away!
YEARBOOK
It’ll be your job to send your yearbook photo to your school - you should receive instructions from your school. If you need your image cropped, adjusted in any way, filename changed, format changed, etc. please let me know! I am happy to help.
DOWNLOAD YOUR IMAGES
Your gallery will be accessible for three months. After this time you will no longer have access to your photos and you will be responsible for your images. I encourage you to download your entire gallery immediately in BOTH high-res and web-size. Back them up on your devices!
SHARE YOUR IMAGES
You’re free to share your images as you wish!! Blast them on social media (but PLEASE tag your photographer!!! @alexakatephoto ;) ), share them with family and friends!!
PRINT YOUR IMAGES
One of the best things you can do is print your images!!! Seeing your stunning pictures on something other than a screen is magical. Framed photos make fantastic gifts for parents, grandparents, significant others, etc so PRINT PRINT PRINT!! You are able to print through your gallery which is a professional printing company that will send them directly to you! If you’d prefer to print them elsewhere, please DO NOT print from a quick, cheap, company (Walgreens, Costco, Walmart.) I highly recommend printing through mpix, locally through Camera Company, or Shutterfly. Some places will ask for a print release from your photographer which you can find here!
LEAVE A REVIEW
It would mean the WORLD to me to hear how your experience was with Alexa Kate Photo! Seniors are my passion, I love working with you guys and want to give you the best possible experience. Please tell me what you loved and what you didn’t! We can all use a little constructive criticism every once in a while ;) You can leave a review here!
THANK YOU, thank you, thank you for choosing me to capture you during this exciting time of your life!!!
xo, Lexi
