Senior Portraits are the celebration of who they’ve already become and the start of the journey to discover who they are meant to be.
In the blink of an eye, they go from toddlers to Seniors in high school. You hear it all the time, the days are long, the years are short. Senior Year is full of so many lasts, which is really just preparing for so many amazing firsts…
Table of Contents
What’s a Senior Portrait?
Ok, we all know we need Senior Portraits but honestly, why? It’s not just a rite of passage, it’s marking a moment in time. One that is a huge transition. A transition from child to adult. From carefree to having responsibilities. From whimsical to practical. It’s a time when the sky’s the limit, you can be anything you want, and you have this whole big world in front of you.
But it’s also a time to celebrate and reminisce, yesterday they were toddlers now they’re becoming gorwen adults with amazing thoughts, opinions and an incredible take on this world and their future.
Senior Portraits get to capture the magic of this moment in time. We capture not just beautiful images but also their true personality. All the tiny little things that make them, them. So, when you look back at your images when you’re 50, you can say, wasn’t I magnificent?
Top 5 Questions About Senior Portraits:
- When should I do them?
- We recommend doing Senior Portraits the Spring/ Summer after your Junior year, but if you have a Fall look in mind, do it early in September. But the most important thing to remember is to check with your school and know when they are due!
- Do I want in-studio or outdoor Senior Portraits?
- This is a great question that frankly has no right answer. We do Senior Portraits both outdoors and in-studio, so go with whichever fits your style. Keep in mind, if you want outfit changes, you should consider in-studio. If you want to include instruments, dance or other activities/ sports that take place inside, think about in-studio. If you want sweeping views, think about outdoor pictures.
- What should I wear to my Senior Portraits?
- This is the biggest and hardest question, but the simple answer is whatever makes you feel amazing! Click here for lots of examples!
- Do I bring props?
- Yes or no! This is a totally personal preference. If you have an instrument, sport, or specific interest that easily translates the answer is yes! Bring your viola, your basketball, or your megaphone. We’ve seen folks come alive when they are showcasing their passions. If you swim for example, that’s not as easily translated in-studio or outdoors so we’d recco you skip the googles. We always recommend bringing your stuffy or lovey! The juxtaposition between a Senior and something that was so tied to who they were as toddlers is incredible.
- Do I wear my cap and gown?
- Check out your schools’ requirements. Some will require a cap and gown image; some will specify the photographer for cap and gown while others will just give image specs. We do always recco doing some images in cap and gown, it’s an amazing memory and accomplishment!
What do I wear to my Senior Portrait Session:
The first question and the most prep for your session goes into deciding what you are going to wear. So we have some thoughts based on our years of experience.
So many of the ladies wear white because it’s tradition, it’s just a bonus that it looks amazing! People wear white for graduation as a symbol of fresh starts and new beginnings. Historically, the tradition allowed women to maintain a uniform look under white graduation gowns or showcase distinct unity, tracing back to the early 20th-century suffragette movement and academic honor ceremonies.
The trick is to find the shade of white that looks best with your skin tone:
- For olive skin tone, the best whites are ivory, cream, and warm off-whites. These shades harmonize with your natural complexion’s warmth. Conversely, stark or optical white often clashes. The blue undertones in pure bright whites can drain your natural color or give your complexion a dull, greyish, or overly green cast.
- For cool skin tones, the best whites are crisp, icy, and clean shades that contain subtle blue, gray, or silver undertones. These colors perfectly harmonize with the natural blue, pink, or rosy hues in your skin.
- For dark brown skin, crisp/true white provides a stunning, high-contrast pop that makes your complexion glow. If your undertones lean more golden or warm, cream or soft off-white is deeply flattering. Avoid chalky or very pale pastel whites, which can sometimes wash out rich deep tones.
- For yellow-toned skin, soft off-whites, cool-toned bright whites, or soft beiges are the most flattering. You generally want to avoid creamy, heavy yellow-whites, as they can blend into your complexion and make you appear washed out or sallow.
Wear what makes you feel amazing! White, not your thing. That’s totally cool, we have lots of Seniors who wear jeans, floral dresses, or done black outfits that all look amazing. The secret to really amazing pictures, is to feel amazing. So, we always recommend being true to yourself over trends. Wear what you love because if you feel confident, it shows!
Other Tips Include:
- Don’t Pinterest,
- We’ve got you. You might be looking at images from the rocky mountains, while beautiful, not relevant here in Philly! Or you might be looking at images for someone who’s petite or someone who’s tall or doesn’t match your body time, or vibe! We’re going to be able to capture who you are, if you’re fun and outgoing or shy and reserved. If you’re funny or serious, don’t try to be someone else! If you have a vision, we love that and encourage you to share that with the photographer! But just be careful that it’s realistic. We’ve seen Pinterest boards with California or Colorado views, that’s simply not realistic just outside of Philadelphia! Some will bring poses for folks who don’t match their body type, while you can do those poses, they won’t be the most flattering. So, we believe the session prep should focus on what you wear and let our team focus on the poses that are going to make you look amazing!
- Don’t get your makeup done. Honestly, don’t. Totally cool to get a haircut or freshen up your color before the session, even a blowout is amazing. But if you get your make-up done it’s going to look heavy and you’re not going to feel yourself, skip it!
We’d love to introduce you to our 1st class of Senior Ambassadors!
Kah’Myah, Garnet Valley High School Class of 2027
Fun Fact : She wanted to be an actress when she was little!
Caroline, The Baldwin School Class of 2027
Fun Fact : Caroline met her best friend in second grade at a school picnic!
Avery, Central Bucks West Class of 2027
Fun Fact : Avery’s favorite Taylor Swift song is ‘Love Story’!
Morgan, Penn Ridge High School Class of 2027
Fun Fact : Morgan wants to be a Medical Pediatric Speech Pathologist!
At Ivory Tree we celebrate all the milestones, Senior Portraits are certainly a big one! We were recently chatting with Caroline, Baldwin Class of 2027, who said, “Wait, I’ve been here before, I remember taking pictures here when I was little”. We love looking back at kids through the years and watching their growth – inside and out.
But we also love all of our Moms out there watching their babies grow into amazing humans and know this is a bitter sweet moment in time!
So, spread your wings Class of ‘27, we can’t wait to watch you fly! We can’t wait to see you in the studio (or outside), book here!
Share this page