7 Things to Do the Week Before Your Senior Photo Session

Your senior portrait session is almost here. The locations have been selected, your ideas are coming together, and it is time to take care of the final details.

The week before your session is not the time to completely reinvent your appearance or make stressful last-minute decisions. It is the time to organize what you have already planned, care for yourself, and make sure you can arrive feeling relaxed.

Use these seven steps as your final senior portrait preparation checklist.

1. Try On Every Complete Outfit

Do not wait until the morning of your session to discover that an outfit no longer fits comfortably, requires a different undergarment, or does not look the way you expected.

Try on every complete look, including:

• Shoes

• Socks or hosiery

• Undergarments

• Jewelry

• Belts

• Jackets and other layers

• Any accessories you plan to use

Look at each outfit while standing and sitting. Walk around, bend your arms, and make sure you can move naturally without constantly adjusting your clothing.

Behind the Lens Images senior sessions generally last between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, and I encourage seniors to bring four or five wardrobe options depending on the locations and session plan.

You may not wear every outfit you bring. Having several prepared options allows us to select the looks that work best with the light, weather, locations, and variety we create during the session.

2. Prepare Your Clothing and Accessories

Once you have chosen your strongest options, organize each complete outfit together.

Clothing should be clean, pressed or steamed, and placed on hangers whenever possible. Remove lint and pet hair, check for missing buttons, and inspect shoes for dirt or scuffs.

Place jewelry and smaller accessories in labeled bags so they do not become tangled or lost. If an outfit requires a particular pair of shoes or undergarment, keep those items with it.

A garment bag can help keep everything protected while traveling between home and the session location.

3. Keep Grooming Familiar and Gentle

The week before your session is a good time for routine grooming, but it is not the ideal time to experiment.

Avoid dramatic haircuts, unfamiliar hair color, aggressive facials, chemical peels, waxing products you have never used, or a first-time spray tan immediately before the session. Skin irritation, uneven color, or an unexpected result may be difficult to reverse.

If you regularly receive a particular service and already know how your skin or hair responds, schedule it with enough time for any temporary redness or sensitivity to disappear.

For haircuts and color, follow the timing recommended by a stylist who understands your hair. Do not make a major change simply because senior portraits are approaching.

Keep your skincare routine gentle and familiar. If a blemish appears, avoid picking at it. Temporary blemishes can generally be reduced during professional retouching of the selected final images.

4. Confirm Hair and Makeup Arrangements

If you are working with a professional hairstylist or makeup artist, confirm the appointment time, location, expected duration, and travel time to the portrait location.

Make sure the artist understands the style you want and whether the session will take place indoors, outdoors, or in several environments.

I have trusted makeup artists I recommend whenever their schedules allow. However, they may not be available for every session date, so arrangements should be made early.

Professional hair and makeup are optional. If you prefer to prepare yourself, use familiar products and practice the complete look before session day.

5. Gather the Items That Tell Your Story

Make a final list of the personal items you want to include.

These might include:

• A sports uniform or letterman jacket

• A ball, helmet, bat, racket, or other athletic equipment

• A musical instrument

• Dance or performance attire

• Books or art supplies

• A cap and gown

• A college shirt, flag, or banner

• A sentimental family object

• An item connected to a hobby or future career

Props are never required. Bring an item only when it genuinely helps tell your story.

Large, valuable, fragile, or unusual items should be discussed in advance so we can plan the timing, location, transportation, and safest way to photograph them.

6. Check the Final Logistics

A day or two before the session, review the plan so there are no avoidable surprises.

Confirm:

• The starting time and meeting location

• Estimated travel time

• Parking instructions

• Any admission costs, reservations, or permits

• Who will attend with you

• Whether a pet or another person will appear in any photographs

• Where outfit changes may take place

• What the weather is expected to do

Outdoor conditions can change quickly, especially wind and temperature. We will make a final decision if weather could affect safety, comfort, or the location.

Clouds or a light breeze do not automatically ruin a session. They may create softer light, movement, and a more interesting sky.

Do not cancel or alter the plan based solely on an early forecast without speaking with your photographer.

7. Pack a Small Session-Day Kit

A compact essentials kit can solve many small problems without creating extra clutter.

Consider packing:

• Water

• A hairbrush or comb

• Hairspray and hair ties

• Lip color and simple makeup touch-up products

• Blotting papers or tissues

• Deodorant

• A lint roller

• Safety pins and fashion tape

• Comfortable walking shoes

• A light jacket when appropriate

• Any required medication or personal item

Pack only what you are likely to need. Carrying multiple unnecessary bags can make moving between locations more difficult.

The Night Before Your Session

Place your clothing, accessories, personal items, and essentials kit together in one location. Charge your phone, check your travel time, drink plenty of water, and get a good night’s rest.

Avoid staying up late trying to perfect every final detail. Preparation matters, but you do not need to arrive looking or feeling flawless.

Your photographer will guide you through posing, movement, expressions, locations, and lighting. You are not expected to know how to perform in front of the camera.

On the Day of Your Senior Portrait Session

Eat something before the session, continue drinking water, and give yourself more time than you think you will need to get ready.

Arrive with your clothing organized and your personal items easy to access. If something has changed or you are worried about a particular detail, say so before we begin.

Most importantly, arrive with an open mind. Inspiration and planning give us direction, but some of the best portraits may come from an unexpected expression, movement, location, or moment.

Explore the Behind the Lens Images Senior Portfolio →

Serving Southern Nevada and California since 2009, with travel available for select sessions throughout Arizona and Utah.