In Part One, we focused on what works best for your senior session. Now let’s talk about what to avoid. Senior portraits are all about highlighting your personality and capturing your true, confident self. The goal is to remove anything that distracts from your natural features or takes away from the timelessness of your images.


Here are some key things to steer clear of as you prepare:


Neon & Bright Colors

Avoid wearing neon colors, especially bright greens, yellows, and pinks. These tones reflect light onto your skin, creating unnatural color casts in your images. Instead of enhancing your skin tone, they can make you appear pink, red, or even green-tinted. It’s not a flattering look and it’s hard to fix in editing.

 

Instead: Choose jewel tones, earth tones, or neutral colors that complement your skin and don’t steal the spotlight.

 

A dreamy golden sunset scene in a field of vibrant sunflowers and wildflowers creates a magical summer backdrop.

Busy Patterns, Logos & Graphics

Loud prints, bold graphics, and logo-heavy shirts distract from you. These styles can feel trendy in the moment, but they’ll quickly date your images and keep the viewer’s attention on your clothes instead of your face.

 

Instead: Stick with classic, solid-colored pieces that highlight your natural beauty and won’t go out of style.

 

Wrinkled Clothing

Wrinkles are more noticeable than you think, especially in close-ups and high-resolution images. Take the time to steam or iron your clothes in advance, and bring your outfits on hangers or in a garment bag to keep them looking fresh.


Shiny Makeup & Hair Challenges

Shimmery or glittery makeup tends to reflect too much light and can make your skin look oily or uneven in photos. Opt for matte makeup products instead, which photograph more naturally.


Hair with movement can look beautiful, but keep weather conditions in mind. If it’s very windy, consider a low ponytail, braids, or a loose updo to keep hair from blowing across your face or sticking to your lip gloss.

 

Test your makeup and hair look ahead of time by snapping selfies in natural light. If you’re unsure, do a full trial run before session day!

 

Dry Skin or Chapped Lips

Flaky skin or dry lips will show up on camera, so it’s worth prepping ahead of time.


  • Hydrate in the days before your session
  • Use lotion, lip balm, and sunscreen
  • Avoid excessive sun exposure or tanning beds


These little details go a long way in helping you look radiant and fresh.


Drastic Changes in Appearance

This is a big one: Don’t make major hair changes right before your session. Whether it's a bold new color, a big chop, or a completely different style, you might not feel comfortable with the new look yet, and that discomfort will show in your photos.

 

If you’re planning a big change, try to do it at least 1–2 weeks before your shoot so you have time to adjust and feel like yourself again.

 

Lack of Sleep

Pulling an all-nighter before your session? Please don’t. Tired eyes, dull skin, and under-eye bags are hard to edit naturally—and may require additional retouching fees.

 

Aim for a full night of rest before your shoot. You’ll feel better, smile easier, and glow from the inside out.

 

Stress & Perfection Pressure

Here’s a little reminder: You don’t need the “perfect” outfit, hair, or pose. What makes your session stand out is you. Your style is a part of that, but your personality is what really shines through.


Don't stress over posing or trying to recreate every Pinterest idea you’ve ever saved. While inspiration is always welcome, remember that we don’t always know what lighting, location, equipment, or editing style was used to create those images.

A colorful urban graffiti wall serves as a backdrop for an energetic fashion pose against street art, showing senior being her fun self.

 

Have a vision? Send inspiration images ahead of time, we’ll use them as a jumping-off point while still making your shoot original and uniquely yours.

 

final thoughts

Trust the process, trust your prep, and most of all, trust yourself. When you feel good, you look good. And I’m here to help make sure your session is not only successful, but also fun, relaxed, and totally you.

Get in touch

Have questions or ready to book your senior portrait session? I’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re just starting to explore options or you already have a vision in mind, I’m here to help guide you every step of the way. From choosing the right package to planning the perfect location, we’ll create a fun and stress-free experience together.


Please fill out the contact form, or feel free to reach out directly by phone or email. As a small business owner, I do my best to respond within 1–2 business days. I can’t wait to learn more about you and help tell your story through portraits that are Simply Junique.

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