5 Easy Steps to a Killer Outfit | High School Senior Fashion Trends

Today, we’re going to be sharing five easy steps to a killer outfit for your senior portraits! Whether you are already a fashionista, or prefer to live life on the plainer side, I’ve got you totally covered. When it comes to your high school senior portraits, you want to feel like a rockstar while also maintaining what it is that makes you…you.

Choosing your wardrobe for senior portraits can be stressful for some people. It’s my job to make that 100% easier on you, so here we go! There are five main things you will want to pay attention to when it comes to picking out the perfect out for your portrait session. They are color, texture, patterns, layers, and location. Let’s go over each one…

Pops of Color for Your Wardrobe

When you think of choosing colors for your outfits, it doesn’t have to be complicated. When I say color, I think pops of color. Many times, this is the easiest thing to implement when you have more a plain wardrobe with not much color variation. That’s okay! To be honest, if you look at my closest, you’ll see mostly black and gray. True story.

What’s great about pops of color, is that you can bring color into any outfit in multiple ways. And the best part is, you don’t have to break the bank to do it! Whether it’s the accessories you wear, or your actual clothing, you’ve got options!

When you think about accessories, think head to toe. Hats, scarves, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, belts, and shoes. Consider all of these items.

Hats and scarves are really fun to play with during your portrait session. They can help switch up posing, and give you something to do with your hands. Even a statement piece like a pair of sunglasses is a great way to have fun during your senior portraits!

Jewelry is just really fun. If you want to wear clothes with plain color palettes, consider wearing jewelry that will bring a little pizazz to your outfit.

Shoes, I think, are a pretty easy go-to for most girls. Wedges, sandals, tall boots, short booties, barefoot. I love it all. What you choose to wear on your feet totally matters.

Bring Texture to the Table

Texture is a really great way to add balance to your senior portrait images. If you wore all cotton, things could start looking pretty “blah.” Instead, think about adding some wool elements or pieces that flow and move with the wind. Since an actual photo is only 2-dimensional, adding texture to your wardrobe choices will help make the end result look more 3-dimensional.

Choosing Patterns for Your Portraits

Adding clothing with patterns can be tricky. The biggest piece of advice I have here is to not go too small. When what you’re wearing has a really tiny pattern on it, it plays tricks with the camera when photographed. The actual image will show some super wonky things going on that aren’t really going on in real life.

So, with that said, choose patterns that are a bit larger. This will add an interesting element to your images and it will photograph beautifully.

Add Layers to Your Look

Layers are quite possibly my absolute favorite thing. Layers are easy and simple ways to switch up your overall look in seconds. When you have limited outfit options, no worries! Just bring multiple layering items to switch out while wearing the same outfit! You’ll get two looks in one, and your gallery will end up looking very cohesive.

For easy layering, choose jackets and coverups that go with multiple looks. Bring a scarf or two that you enjoy wearing. Wearing multiple layers for your senior portraits will help create depth and dimension to your images. Similar to texture, layers are super important for an overall cohesive look to your final gallery.

Location. Location. Location.

Last, but certainly not least, location matters. When considering your outfit choices for your senior portrait session, you really want to think about the locations that you will be using. For instance, if you’re shooting in the city, you probably don’t want to be wearing your cowgirl boots, jeans, and a flannel. Get the gist?

You want the colors you choose for your outfits to complement the surroundings. Wear bright, fun colors for city shooting, and something that flows and moves with the wind if you’re on the beach.

Sometimes, you may even want to choose an outfit that will intentionally contrast your surroundings. For example, a cute dress and heals at an old rundown warehouse.

Whether you’re just beginning to plan your senior portrait session, or you are just days away from your shoot, implementing a few of these tips is super easy and affordable, even if it’s last-minute. I hope this helps you choose a few killer outfits for your big day. If you haven’t yet scheduled your senior portraits, and would like more information on what I offer, check out some of our favorite past seniors (Malloree, Erica, Lisi, Anna and Riska) and get in touch with me to schedule your senior session today!