The Easiest Outfit Choice for Senior Pictures: The Little White Dress!

Deciding what to wear for senior pictures is no easy task, and sometimes it can be even tougher when us photographers recommend all kinds of different tips & tricks - try a pattern, but make sure it’s not too small! Wear a bright color, but make sure it’s not too fluorescent. Wear something you feel comfortable in, but make sure it’s also flattering!

While I do think all of those tips are important, I also think that sometimes it’s important to just have a few solid recommendations that anyone can follow. Enter: the white dress!

The “little white dress” (short white dress with short sleeves) has been trending in senior photos in recent years, and for good reason! There are so many reasons why a little white dress is a great choice for senior pictures.

IT PHOTOGRAPHS SO WELL

A white dress photographs beautifully, and white dresses come in all different styles, making them a flattering choice that helps the subject stand out from the background without being too in your face! The little white dress works with a variety of different backdrops (natural, urban, floral, historic, etc.) making it a great choice regardless of the location or background you choose for your photos!

IT’S CLASSIC & TIMELESS

White dresses are also classic & timeless. They may decrease or increase in popularity, but for the most part, they are a staple in many women’s wardrobes across generations.

…YET ALSO TRENDY

Right now, white dresses are so in for senior photos! So you have the added bonus of choosing a trendy piece for your senior session, while at the same time, having something that is so classic. It’s a win-win!

ALTERNATIVE IDEAS

Though the short white dress is what’s currently in, if you’re unsure if you want to go too trendy, try adding a twist to your white dress choice by:

• Choosing a longer length instead of a shorter one

• Choosing a dress with sleeves over something short sleeve

• Adding a different color shoe (other than neutral or white)

• Adding a different type of accessory

Below are a few of my seniors who have chosen the white dress option in recent years! Many of them purchased their dresses from Altar’d State or Francesca’s.

INTERESTED IN MORE SENIOR PHOTO CONTENT?

Check out the blog posts below!

What Colors Should I Wear for My Senior Pictures?

One of the most common questions I get when it comes to prepping for a photo session is: what color clothing should I wear for my photo session?

While there are some general rules of thumb to use – no fluorescent colors, consider a piece of clothing with a color that “pops,” etc. – I have always been a bit stumped by this question. I’ve found that while some colors work great on some people, those same colors can wash other people out, making them look sickly and/or pale in photos.

Enter: color analysis!

If you’ve never heard of color analysis (also referred to as personal color analysis, or seasonal color analysis), it essentially is a tool for determining your best colors based on your own features (skin, hair, eyes, etc.). Each person generally falls into one of four larger categories (winter, spring, autumn, or summer), which are then further broken down into more specific palettes (i.e., deep winter, cool winter, bright winter, light summer, soft autumn, warm spring, etc.). With each of these seasons (and sub seasons) comes a specific array of colors that help a person “pop” (for lack of a better word!).

You can imagine that when it comes to photos, everyone wants to “pop!” We all want to look our best when we are having professional photos taken. And while I could recommend a few specific colors for people to dress in for their photos, I think there is a lot more value in steering people towards the concept of color analysis, and discovering what their best colors are that will make them pop!

I can’t claim to be a professional color analyst (or even a mediocre one at best!) so I’ve compiled some resources below for those who are interested in discovering what their best colors are! As well as a few simple tips to use if you don’t want to go through the whole color analysis process.

First, below is a link to a great comprehensive video for finding your “season” and your best colors!

If you’re looking for a quick way to determine your best colors, here’s what I would suggest:

Find a wide variety of different colors of clothing/fabrics (they don’t have to be yours - go through the closets of your family members, find blankets/scraps of fabric), and sit in front of a mirror (make sure you don’t have any makeup on and that your hair is down). Simply hold up those fabrics right beneath your face, covering your chest and collar bone area. Pay close attention to what colors enhance your features, and what colors wash you out. It may not be completely obvious to you at first, especially if you don’t have lots of different colors in different shades.

If you are struggling to find a wide variety of different colors of fabrics, you can also head to a store and simply hold different colors of fabric up in front of the mirror. Pay close attention to what colors lift your features, and what colors wash you out… then be sure to take note and buy clothing that corresponds!

Obviously, this isn’t a true test for determining your best “season” and true color analysis, but I do hope it is helpful in finding the best colors to suit YOU for your photo session! I’ve also included some photos below of some seniors who I think knocked it out of the park with their color choices!

(PS - there are also some pretty great filters on TikTok that will give you lots of color samples to help you find what suits you best!)

Blog Post Ideas for Senior Photographers

Is blogging dead in 2024?

While I consider myself a fairly consistent blogger (I blog about 60-70 times per year), I’ve wondered this myself as we enter the golden age of apps like TikTok, Threads, and YouTube. Does blogging have any value for a small business owner, and maybe more specifically for photographers, in 2024?

I might be biased, but I say a resounding YES! And I say this emphatic “yes” because of some simple (yet compelling) reasons:

• Content from my blog STILL drives TONS of traffic to my website (especially when I’m consistently sharing and keywording images from my sessions), which is great for my SEO rankings on Google. Google likes activity, and they reward websites with “good” activity with higher rankings (meaning that when someone searches for you, your website/blog post will pop up on or closer to that coveted first page of Google!)

• Blogging is an easy way for me to answer frequent questions that clients have for me, and in turn, allows me to serve my clients better. When they email me, I simply send them the blog post I’ve already written instead of typing out that answer again and again and again. Plus - answering your clients questions positions you as an expert in your field. Imagine someone Googling “where should I have my senior photos taken in (insert your town)?” and YOUR blog post pops up with some beautiful images from your favorite locations. Do you think that person is going to trust that you are an expert and that you know what you’re doing? Of course! And that puts them in a great position to want to invest in your services and experience. Score!

For me, those are two awesome reasons to continue blogging, even into 2024 and beyond. And I believe that anyone can “up” their rankings on Google by consistently posting to their blog, even beginning in 2024. It’s not too late to start!

One of the most difficult things about having a blog can be the age old question of “but what do I write?” As someone who has been blogging for 10+ years, trust me, I GET IT. I feel like I’ve written so so many blog posts throughout the years that I barely have any content left to write about. But then I get a question from a client or photograph a senior at a new location, and suddenly, I have an idea for content!

In this particular blog post, I’d love to share some ideas with you for blog posts that will actually help you rank on Google and that will help you serve your clients well. Because you need those inquiries… and you need to take care of those clients who have already trusted you with their memories and money!

Today, I’m going to share some blog post ideas specifically for Senior Photographers.

UNIQUE BLOG POST IDEAS FOR SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:

1. Highlight the best images (could be 5, could be 25!) from every senior session you photograph in a separate blog post for each client. Yes, every single one. Chances are, you’re most likely editing some sneak peeks for your client, so go the extra mile and throw those sneak peeks in a blog post - but don’t forget to keyword those images (that’s the secret sauce!). This one is such good low hanging fruit, too, because these blog posts basically write themselves. Share the images, share some info about the senior (maybe where they go to school, what they plan on doing after college, what hobbies they are interested in) and wah-la! You have an easy, repeatable way to blog consistently throughout the year. (Click here to see a sample blog post!)

2. Highlight your favorite locations to take photos of seniors

   • This could be one blog posts with a long list of locations and sample images

   • This could also be individual blog posts highlighting your favorite images from each location

   • This could even be your favorite locations within different categories such as urban, nature, architectural, etc.

   • Click here to see a sample blog post from this category!

3. Share your favorite hair and/or makeup artists. Do you encourage your seniors to book hair and makeup artists for their session? Instead of typing up a list every time someone asked for a recommendation, what if you were able to simply send a link with some of your favorites? (Linking to each artists’ website, of course). This will make it SO easy for your clients to find the info they need!

4. Have a hair or makeup artists write a “guest blog post” for you with simple tips for how seniors can do their hair and makeup for their session (how to make their hair/makeup last longer in humidity, etc.)

5. Write about what seniors should wear for their photos. You could make one post for the ladies, and one for the guys. You could even break this into different seasons (i.e., what to wear for summer senior photos, what to wear for fall senior photos, etc.) (Click here to see a sample blog post from this category!)

6. Write about what seniors should NOT wear for their photos (again, one post for the ladies, one post for the guys).

7. Write about the best time of year to have senior photos taken. Wherever you live, there is probably a “peek” season for photos. Tell them why and write about it! Or, you can talk about when makes the most sense in terms of senior year/yearbook submission timing. (Sample post here!)

8. If there is a specific season you want to take photos in MORE, do a blog post featuring photos during that specific season, talking about why it’s so great (I live in Pittsburgh and have a blog post about why I love winter senior sessions!).

9. Write a letter to parents of seniors about what you want them to know going into their child’s senior session. This could be a great way to set parents up for success. One season, I had a few moms that were very unencouraging during their child’s senior session, which visibly deflated the senior and led to a difficult time getting happy emotions out of them. Talk about how parents can support their senior when it comes to their senior session!

10. Write about what props seniors can include during their photo session. If you’re a senior photographer, I have no doubt that someone has asked you to incorporate some sort of sport prop or instrument into their senior photos. Create a blog post with your best images and give some alternative ideas for props, too! (I love to encourage my clients to bring fresh flowers to their sessions!)

11. Write a blog post and feature some images from your own senior session (if you had one!). This can just be a fun way to let your senior into your life! People need to know you before they can trust you and buy from you… showcase your personality here! And if the photos were a super long time ago and aren’t your style anymore, talk about how senior photos have evolved into something so much better in modern times.

12. Do one big FAQ! Do parents and seniors ask you a lot of the same questions before, during, or after their senior photo session? Tackle all of those questions (or each one individually) on your blog! This will give you TONS of great content to refer your clients to when they have questions.

13. Write about your favorite senior photo trends. Do you have any current trends you love? Talk about why you love them on your blog!

14. Write about what senior photo trends you think are outdated. Is there a pose that is so 2015? What makes senior photos look outdated, to you? Talk about those things on your blog!

15. Write about the ways you go the extra mile for your senior clients. Do you have a changing tent you bring with you so your clients can change on location? Do you buy every senior their favorite Starbucks drink before their session? Do you have a gift you give them before or after their session? These small things will set you apart from the competition, and they should be celebrated! This could easily veer into bragging territory, so just be careful about how you frame it.

16. Make a video walking through how you edit your senior photos. Everybody loves a good behind the scenes! This will show your clients how you take the time to edit their images to perfection (Click here for a sample post!)

17. Write about the tools you use for your craft. What is a must-have for you when you photograph a senior session? For me, it’s my reflector… and I love talking about how big a difference it makes in my images!

18. Talk about the best time of day for a senior session. What is your favorite time of day to shoot, and why? Share it with your clients so they know when they can expect their session to be!

When you blog, don’t forget to think about what your perspective client might be Googling… in fact, that’s where you should start! What do they want to know? What is important to them? How can you serve them before you sell to them?

I hope this post was helpful, and happy blogging!

Interested in senior photography education?

Check out the resources below!

Gaby O: Grove City College Senior Photos

Meet Gaby!

Gaby is a senior at Seneca Valley, and a cheerleader! She chose a different location for her photos... Grove City College, which was so much FUN! There are so many beautiful architectural elements around the campus, so there was no shortage of beautiful backdrops for us to use. And with this session being in the summer to fall transition timeframe, we had some beautiful florals AND fall leaves to work with. It is one of my favorite times of the year for senior photos!

Congratulations on your senior year, Gaby!

Josh K: Hartwood Acres Mansion Senior Photos

Josh is graduating this Spring with the class of 2023!

He's a super smart guy who's planning on studying biomedical engineering after high school at Duquesne University. And as you can tell, he came dressed to impressed in a suit and one of his favorite bow ties!

Congratulations on your senior year, Josh, and thanks so much for letting us celebrate with you!

What is the Best Time of Day for Senior Pictures? Answered by a Pittsburgh Senior Photographer

Is there a “best” time of day for senior photos?

The answer to this question might vary from photographer to photographer, but generally, the answer is yes! There is a “best” time of day for taking photos - or in my case, there are two times of day that are my personal favorites for taking photos! These times of day help me…

• Make sure my client’s skin looks its most flattering (almost luminescent!)

• Make sure my client is not squinting their eyes during their session

• Have an easier time controlling the available light

• Not have to use off camera lighting (my preference is natural light, paired with a reflector!)

A few important things to note: as a primarily “natural light” photographer (or in other words, as a photographer who uses the sun as her main light source usually without the addition of artificial lights!), I plan my sessions around when the natural sunlight is best. And for the way I prefer to shoot, the best light of the day is generally found within two hours of sunrise and two hours before sunset. This is when the sun is lowest in the sky, which gives me the ability to maneuver it a bit easier! It’s also softer and warmer within both of these time frames - the higher the sun gets in the sky, the harsher the light becomes, creating harsh lines, highlights, and shadows on my subjects (and makes them squint!)… and I want every person I photograph to have that beautiful, flattering soft light that can be found at those two times of day, so that is typically when I plan my sessions for!

However, on a cloudy day (we get lots of those here in Pittsburgh!), the rules can change a bit.

On a cloudy day, the clouds act as a giant soft box for the sun - meaning that the light is less harsh, and doesn’t create harsh lines, shadows, and highlights on my client’s face… so we can get that beautiful soft light throughout the entire day! There are even times when the cloud coverage is so heavy (blocking so much of the sunlight, effectively creating an “earlier” sunset) that I actually have to move my session up an hour or so.

But because I plan my sessions so far out in advance (usually a few months out), I always schedule my sessions within two hours of sunrise, or two hours before sunset. That way, we know we will always have the best light of the day whether it’s sunny or cloudy! And then I watch the sunlight and cloud coverage throughout the day to see if the timing needs to be adjusted.

Below are some photos that were taken within two hours of sunrise, or two hours before sunset!

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How to Take a Good Senior Yearbook Picture

Taking a good senior yearbook picture can be a daunting task. Not only will your senior yearbook photo will live on in the yearbooks of hundreds (possibly thousands) of your fellow students, but it will also represent who you are during one of the biggest seasons of your life… for the rest of your life.

So no pressure, right?!

Hopefully I haven’t scared you off yet! But if you are feeling a bit nervous about what you might need to take into consideration to have a great photo to submit to the yearbook - fear not! That is exactly why I created this blog post - to walk you through all of the necessary components of getting the perfect shot for the yearbook that you will LOVE for years and years to come!

Without further ado, let’s start right at the very beginning. The first thing you need to do is…

KNOW THE YEARBOOK REQUIREMENTS

This includes knowing…

1. When your yearbook photo is due. This information usually gets sent out at the end of junior year, over the summer between junior and senior year, or at the beginning of senior year.

2. What the requirements are for the photo. Is it required to have your photo taken on a white backdrop? Can your photo be taken outside with outdoor scenery? Are your hands allowed to be in your photo? Most schools send out a list of requirements when they send out the date that the yearbook photo is due.

3. What the requirements are for the actual photo submission. The school will also let you know what format they want the photo to be submitted as. Usually, they want the photo submitted as a JPEG, portrait orientation, sized at 300 dpi for print - that’s all fancy file talk, but your photographer will be able to help you make sure you have the correct format!

4. Who needs to submit the photo. Does the senior photographer have to submit the photo, or can the student or parent? This is also something that varies from school to school.

5. How the photo is to be submitted. Most senior photos are submitted nowadays via email, but I work with a few schools that still accept photos on a USB drive, so be sure to know how that photo needs to be submitted!

6. Where the photo is to be submitted. In most cases, the yearbook photo will be submitted to a yearbook advisor or member of the yearbook staff.

After you know the requirements, it’s important to find (and book!) a photographer who can help you look and feel your best! But with SO many senior photographers to choose from… how do you go about finding the right one for YOU?

FIND A GREAT SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

1. Figure out the style of photography you’re looking for. Start looking hashtags on Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest and save all of your favorite senior photos to a folder. After you’ve saved 25-50, come back to that folder and look at what those photos have in common. Is there a specific editing style you saved more of than others? Are the majority of the photos you saved more candid, more posed, more fashion inspired, more casual? Make a note in your phone (or elsewhere) of the characteristics that stand out as themes, and then start looking for photographers in your area that have that style!

2. Find a photographer who specializes in that style, or in a location you like, in your area. This one is probably the easiest in our technologically advanced day, but start looking for photographers in your area! Many of my clients find me through hashtags on Instagram (#pittsburghseniorphotographer), and sometimes through Googling/searching a specific location that they are interested in using for their senior session. For example - I photograph a TON of seniors at a very popular location in my area for senior photos, Hartwood Acres Mansion. I’ve had many seniors book with me because they’ve seen photos I’ve taken at that location… I know that spot so well, and sometimes that helps seniors and parents of seniors feel confident that they will be able to get awesome photos at that specific location, too!

3. BOOK ‘EM! Be sure to reach out when you find them - you don’t want to miss out! If you’re interested in reading more about how far in advance you should schedule your senior photos, check out this blog post, where I list out all of my tips: When Should I Have My Senior Photos Taken?

PREPARE YOURSELF

If you book with an experienced senior photographer, they will most likely give you lots of guidance on what to wear, what not to wear, and how to prepare for your senior pictures to make sure you love the results! One general tip I love to give my clients is to look at my senior photo galleries before their session so they have an idea of what poses/prompts I might use for them during their session. This familiarizes them with what they can expect during our time together!

On top of all of that, I give my clients a general timeline for how to prepare in the months, weeks, and days leading up to their session. Take a peek below!

One to Three Months Out:

• Schedule any hair, makeup, or nail appointments you might want!

• Start thinking about what you might want to wear - go through your closet in advance to see if you’ll need to purchase any additional garments

• Choose a location where your senior photos will take place (click here to see some of my favorites for Pittsburgh Girl Senior Photos, and click here to see some of my favorites for Pittsburgh Guy Senior Photos!)

The Week of Your Session:

• Finalize and steam or iron all of your outfit choices (wrinkles be gone!) & props!

• Drink LOTS of water! This is good for your skin and will give it a nice glow!

• Make sure you are applying chapstick, especially if you are prone to chapped lips! (Chapped lips can’t be fixed in photoshop!)

• Make sure your nails are clean or, for the ladies, painted!

• Refrain from wearing sunglasses for the week leading up to your session so you aren’t squinting during your session!

The Day of Your Session:

• Give yourself plenty of time to get ready – more than you think!

• Don't forget to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before our scheduled start time. Your session will begin at the time we set in advance, not at the time you arrive.

• Eat a snack before you come – it’s not fun getting your photo taken while you’re hangry!

What to Bring:

• Any outfit changes you might have

• Any props you may want to include (an instrument, soccer ball, pet, etc.!)

• A change of comfortable shoes to walk in

• A hair brush or comb (or anything for on location touch ups!)

• A parent or friend (moral support is always a good thing – plus, if you’d like they can step in for a few photos at the end!)

TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

This piece is crucial! You hired them… now trust them to do what you hired them to do! If you’ve seen their work in advance, you have an idea of how they’ll pose you… so trust them! Some poses and prompts might feel silly, but sometimes what looks the best in a photo feels a little funny… like pushing your forehead out and tilting your chin down. Yeah, definitely not something you’ll do in real life, but it looks great on camera and you won’t be able to tell that you’re in a wonky position!

However - if a pose/prompt makes you feel really uncomfortable, be sure to voice that to your photographer. The worst thing a subject can be while having their photo taken is uncomfortable. It always shows in the final images!

CHOOSE YOUR YEARBOOK PHOTO!

So now you’ve made it through your actual senior session - congrats! Once your senior photographer delivers your gallery, the hard part begins… choosing the actual photo that will go in the yearbook!

Hopefully you’ve given your yearbook requirements to your photographer in advance of your session so that you’re able to have a solid handful of images to choose from that fit your yearbook requirements. Like I mentioned above, most yearbook pictures are portrait orientation, and most of them are closer up (typically at least head to chest, sometimes closer). You’ll be able to narrow down your favorites within your gallery by looking at options that are shot closer up!

Something to note: if there is a photo you really love and want to use for the yearbook but is the wrong orientation (horizontal) or isn’t cropped in as close as the yearbook requires, ask your photographer about a re-crop. I have many seniors ask me about this, and usually I’m able to make it happen for them! The only times I am not able to make it work is whenever the photo is too far away to begin with. As you crop in on a photo, you lose quality, and if you crop way too far in, sometimes the photo can become pixelated. Trust me… you do not want a pixelated photo in your yearbook, especially if you paid good money for your senior photos! Try to steer away from asking your photographer to crop in full body photos to just head & shoulders.

Below are a few examples of what some of my seniors have submitted as their senior yearbook photo!

And there you have it! I hope that this blog post has given you the confidence you need to KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that you can (and will) have an awesome yearbook photo!

If you’re based in the Pittsburgh area, I would absolutely love to take your senior photos. Please feel free to click here to reach out to me via my online contact form, or email me directly a jhidingerphotography@gmail.com for more information about senior photos!

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

One of my favorite ways to prepare my clients for their senior sessions is through my blog! Check out the popular blogs below to see if any of your senior Q’s can be answered, or reach out using the contact tab in the navigation above to start a conversation! ☺️

• Pittsburgh Area Location Ideas for Senior Girl Portraits

• Pittsburgh Area Location Ideas for Senior Guy Portraits

• 4 Tips for Preparing for Your Senior Photo Session

• When to Have Your Senior Photos Taken

• 4 Ways to add more “Umph” to Your Senior Photo Outfits!

• 4 Reasons to Have Your Senior Photos Taken Over the Summer

• Why Professional Prints are Worth the Investment

Julia E: Phipp's Conservatory Broderie Room Senior Photos

Say hello to Miss Julia, who is a part of the class of 2022! Julia plans on studying Psychology after high school, and has such a sweet spirit! She loves reading, writing, and baking.

It was such a treat to be able to photograph Julia a few weeks ago at Phipp's Conservatory in the Broderie Room! If you didn’t know, the Broderie Room at Phipp’s is modeled after a formal French garden, and (in my opinion) it’s easily one of the most beautiful rooms they have!

Phipp’s ended up working out perfectly for Julia’s senior portrait session - her photos needed to be completed with enough time to use them for senior announcements this summer, so they couldn’t be scheduled too late into the Spring. But Julia also wanted some beautiful greens and florals as a backdrop, which usually begin to pop up in the Spring timeframe. So when I suggested renting a room at Phipp’s for her senior photos, I was so excited when she and her mom jumped on the opportunity!

Did you know that you can actually rent a room at Phipp’s? It’s true! Click here to find out more about a room rental at Phipp’s. A room rental at Phipp’s might be a great idea for a senior session for you if…

• You don’t want to have to worry about inclement weather the day of your shoot! Phipp’s is a covered, enclosed greenhouse, making it a great indoor option - which would mean that you wouldn’t have to worry about rain, cold, or snow!

• You want to have a more private space for your session. Public spaces & parks can be busy during the summer months. Phipp’s is a private space where people won’t be able to interrupt!

Renting a room is actually the only way to have a professional photo session take place there (just so you know!). But it really is a fantastic option, even a great backup rain plan!

Congratulations on your senior year, Julia! It was such an honor to celebrate this season with you!

Pittsburgh Senior Photographer: Senior Photo Highlights 2020

Another year, another highlight post for the seniors I’ve photographed in 2020! Some represented the Class of 2020, some the Class of 2021 - but all were an absolute pleasure to work with!

Honestly, I wasn’t sure how many senior sessions I would get to photograph this year with the ongoing pandemic - but, thankfully, it’s easy to photograph people outdoors with long lenses, even in the midst of so many changes and regulations! 😉To all of the parents and seniors who still trusted me to capture this season for you: THANK YOU! I really can’t say it (or type it!) enough. Thank you for letting me be a part of this year with you! And a huge congratulations again to the seniors and parents of seniors who made it through this crazy year!

If you are a Class of 2021 senior who has yet to schedule their photos, or a Class of 2022 senior who is looking to have their photos taken, feel free to reach out via the contact tab above, or directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com. I’d be more than happy to give you some additional information!

Jeremy G: Historic Harmony Senior Photos

Jeremy was my first guy senior post-COVID, and we had the best time walking around Harmony for his senior photos! BUT, we did forget to get a photo of him with his mask on to commemorate a very interesting senior year!

Jeremy is a senior at Seneca Valley who hopes to be an animator, and who loves all things dinosaurs and fossils! He even wore some subtle dinosaur-themed garb for his photos, which ended up being the perfect color & style for all of Harmony’s colorful backdrops!

Jeremy, congratulations on your senior year. You are going to do amazing things! So thankful to have been able to take these photos for you!!