Preparation Tips for Senior Guys Photo Sessions

Being well prepared for you senior photo session can make the difference between average and fabulous photos. Follow these easy tips and you’ll be well on your way to looking your absolute best. If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me.

Mindset

Photographing males is much different than photographing females and we understand that. We’ll make you look like a guy, so relax. You won’t feel uncomfortable or have to do any awkward, girly posing.

Arrival

Arrive early or on time to your appointment. Showing up late means you lose camera time, and we don’t want that. If you’re coming from out of town, give yourself plenty of time to find your way around. The streets in Centennial aren’t the easiest to navigate and having a buffer in case you get lost will save you some stress.

Style

As a general rule, guys are more complacent when it comes to photos. Even if it’s just for your mom, please come prepared.  We (and mom) want you to look your best. Dress in a style that expresses who you are, but dress nicely.  If your style is a bit sloppy or you’re rather apathetic, have your mom, girlfriend, or other girls that are just friends help you. Trust us on this one.

Clothing

Bring A LOT of clothing options. The more clothes we have to choose from, the better. This will give us flexibility in matching your clothing to the surroundings. Group your clothing together on hangers. Make sure items are free of wrinkles and ready to go. (Please don’t come everything stuffed into a gym bag like many guys have done.) Make sure you’re comfortable in your clothing and that it flatters you. This will ensure that you like how you look when viewing your photos. Avoid stripes and plaid. Solid colors work much better than patterns. Bring a variety of colors and mix the level of styles. Some should be dressy, some dressy-casual, and some casual. Bring black and/or dark gray t-shirts to wear under other shirts. White undershirts stick out and photograph poorly. Avoid t-shirts with large graphics or logos. They distract from the main subject, which is you.

Shoes

We don’t expect you to get as excited as the girls about shoes, but bring a variety of casual and dressier shoes. Avoid gym shoes or flip-flops since these will appear too casual when viewing your photos.

Shaving

Please come to your session cleanly shaven. Retouching stubble costs extra and won’t look as good as a clean shave. If you have facial hair that your mom despises, do her a favor and shave it off. We promise it will grow back.

Hair

If you have longer hair, make sure it will stay out of your eyes during your session. Have it trimmed if necessary. Don’t make any drastic changes like shaving your head or dying your hair around your session date. Otherwise you’ll look back at your photos and wonder “What was I thinking?”

Props

They’re great! Bring props that help show who you are. Some popular choices are:

• Sports equipment (football, basketball, baseball bat, etc.)
• Sports uniforms
• Musical instruments
• Activity related items (dance, art, school clubs, etc.)

Glasses

Most lenses have a glare. The safest option is to check with your eye doctor and ask if they’ll loan you a similar pair without lenses.

Complexion

We retouch your photos, so please don’t be concerned about minor breakouts. We have you covered! If your acne is more severe, you’re still okay. We had bad acne is high school and understand! We’re happy to help you out with some extra retouching.

Friends & Parents

Friends or parents are welcome and often can be a help. However, if they distract you, it may be best to meet them when the session is over. You’re welcome to have a couple of shots with a girlfriend, best friend, sibling, or parent at no extra charge.

Weather

Don’t worry about clouds because they actually even out the light and make for ideal shooting conditions. But falling rain is an issue and we have to reschedule. We will try to contact you first, but please call us at 773.495.7398 if you have any doubts or concerns.