Senior Prep Guide

Casual summer outfit with flowy white tank top and light wash jeans against rustic brick wall with fire escape.

I know you are busy so I like to keep the planning simple. This guide will walk you through what you can expect and give my best tips for preparing for a great photo session.

1. Styling Your Session

2. What You Need to Know

3. Tips for Success

4. What’s Next

Styling Your Session

Choosing what to wear for your senior session can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be! Your photos should feel like you, and your outfits play a big part in that. Here are four simple steps to help you choose the perfect looks.

Step 1

This is your time to shine, so pick outfits that make you feel confident and show off your personality. Whether your style is sporty, classic, laid-back, trendy, or a little of everything—that’s exactly what we want to capture. When you feel like yourself, it shows in your photos! Incorporate meaningful items into your look, whether it’s your favorite pair of jeans, a well-loved tee, or something that reflects who you are.

Step 2

Bring a few different looks to give your gallery more variety! Think about including one casual outfit, one a little more dressy, and maybe something in between. Layers like jackets, cardigans, flannels, or accessories (like hats or jewelry) add visual interest and give us more posing options without a full outfit change. If you play sports, are involved in band, or have a letterman jacket—bring it! These are fun ways to personalize your session.

Step 3

To keep your photos looking classic for years to come, it’s best to skip neon colors, busy patterns, or large logos. Neutral tones, earth tones, or soft colors tend to photograph beautifully. That said—don’t be afraid to add a fun twist! A statement necklace, a bold shoe, or a colorful scrunchie can add a pop of personality without overpowering your look.

Step 4

To make the process even easier, I offer an online interactive styling service that helps you visualize outfit combinations and find pieces that fit beautifully together. Whether you’re pulling from your own wardrobe or looking for something new, this tool takes the guesswork out of finding the perfect senior session outfits.

My goal is for you to feel confident, comfortable, and effortlessly authentic—so your unique personality shines through in every image. Together, we’ll create something timeless that beautifully celebrates this important chapter of your life.

A person in a white lace dress sits on a rustic wooden fence surrounded by lush greenery on a sunny day.

GREAT SESSIONS BEGIN WITH GREAT PREPARATION.

How to Prepare

I’m sharing my best tips to get the most out of your photo session and truly enjoy your experience. I want you to feel prepared, enjoy yourself and love the photos.

Get a good night’s sleep.

Feeling rested makes a big difference in how you look and feel in your photos.

Drink plenty of water.

Hydrated skin looks fresh and glowing—plus, you’ll just feel better overall!

Lay out your outfits the night before.

Make sure everything is clean, wrinkle-free, and ready to go (shoes and accessories too!).

Bring a small bag of essentials.

Toss in things like lip balm, hairbrush, bobby pins, makeup for touch-ups, water, and any accessories you plan to wear.

Iron or steam your clothes.

Wrinkles are tough to hide in photos, so prepping outfits ahead of time is key.

Think about your nails.

Clean, neutral, or freshly painted nails look polished in close-up shots—same goes for toes if you’re wearing open-toed shoes.

Plan your hair and makeup.

Whether you’re doing your own or booking a pro, aim for a look that still feels like you. Don’t try something totally new the day of the session!

Relax and have fun.

This session is all about celebrating you! Trust the process—I'll be there to guide you every step of the way so you can relax and enjoy the experience.

A person in a white dress sits casually in a sunlit field with autumn foliage in the background.

Before Your Session

Prior to your session, check off these steps to set yourself up for success.

1. Questionnaire

Please fill out the questionnaire sent in the email. This tells me a little more about what you want from the session and helps me plan for anything special in advance.

2. Choose Your Outfits

Using the advice in this guide, begin choosing your outfits in advance. I am always available to help with any advice needed!

3. Begin Thinking About Prints, Albums and More

Get the most out of your investment. Plan how to use your photos.

4. Final Checklist and Invoice

One week prior to your session, I will confirm the session date and time. You will also get a reminder about a final invoice for the balance due.

If you have any questions leading up to your session, feel free to reach out!

Candid portrait in white dress standing on dirt path with sunlit bokeh background during golden hour.

Session Day

Arriving

Plan to arrive to your session location about 10-15 minutes early. This allows a few minutes to get introduced to each other and walk to where we'll start photographing.

Posing

During our time together, I will pose you and tell your what to do, so you won't have to worry about any of that. You may be nervous, but you really don't have to be-I'm very easy to get along with and will make you feel comfortable soon enough. Most importantly...relax and enjoy the experience!

What's Next...After Your Session

You can celebrate a mini victory after your session is done. But there is more fun still to come – seeing your photos for the first time and finding ways to continue enjoying them. Here’s what to expect.

Within 2 Days After Session

Sneak peek is posted. Share with friends and family.

3 Weeks After Session

Link to a custom slideshow of your images set to music is sent to you. Gather the whole family together and enjoy this memorable experience of seeing your photos for the first time.

2 Days after Slideshow

Full gallery is delivered. You'll be able to download your high-resolution images directly from your gallery. You'll also have the opportunity to purchase prints, wall art, and albums at this time.

Your gallery will be active for one month. Please ensure you download your images and order all wall art, albums, and prints by the expiration date or there will be a $50 reactivation fee.

After Gallery is Delivered

Check In and request for a review on Google and Facebook. As a small business owner, these are appreciated so much!

2 Weeks after Ordering

The beautiful photos you purchased arrive at your home ready for you to enjoy!

Important Reminders

Share Your Images

Share your beautiful images with friends and family!

Download and Backup the Images

I recommend saving your images in at least two separate locations. This could include your computer's hard drive, an external hard drive, a flash drive, or a cloud based service.

THAT'S A WRAP

Person in casual attire sitting on concrete steps by black railing and greenery in urban setting.

Thank you again for the opportunity to work with you!

If there is anything I can do for you along the way, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm here to serve you the best that I can.

I’m so excited to work with you and can’t wait to see what we create together! These will be memories that you'll treasure forever.

Contact

Phone number: 317-434-4855

Email: sara@sarahousephotography.com