What not to wear for senior pictures is not something we often talk about. But it can be just as important as what you do wear. Choosing the right senior session outfits can really elevate your senior pictures. For more information on what to wear, be sure to check out this post about finding your perfect colors. While there aren’t a lot of things I like to tell my seniors not to wear. After all this is your session and I want it to be a reflection of you. But there are a few general guidelines of thing you may want to avoid. Keep reading below for a short list of what not to wear in senior pictures.

      Please note that all the images below are not example of what not to wear in senior pictures. They did an amazing job coordinating their outfits. 

      SHORT SKIRTS & DRESSES

      The length of your skirt or dress can limit posing during your session. You want to be sure to wear clothes that will give you a great range of movement so that you can have a variety of poses throughout your senior pictures. Want to take it  a step further? Pick one outfit with a skirt or dress with a lot of fabric! This means that you can twist and twirl which will give you lots of candid and carefree movement in your pictures.

      BUSY PATTERNS

      When it comes to patterns, keeping it simple is usually best. Yes, simple stripes and floral patterns are totally ok and can really look amazing, but patterns that are bold or bright in colors and repeating in a heavy pattern can actually draw attention away from your face. Still want to wear something with a fun and crazy pattern? Go bold with one of your outfits for a statement look that is meant to be fashion forward rather than timeless. Or use bold patterns on smaller pieces (like a scarf, shorts, or shoes) and anchor it with a complimentary solid. 

      WRINKLED OUTFITS

      Oh boy, this one’s HUGE. While noone ever intends to arrive with wrinkled clothes, what you do leading up to your session can make a huge difference. The biggest mistake I see is tossing your clothes into the car. Even though it may not be a long drive, if your clothes aren’t hung up for the drive, they have a change to get wrinkled. Bonus tip: Spend the day before your session organizing each outfit on a hanger, ironing them, and even matching your jewelry and accessories with each outfit by placing them in a baggie and pinning it to the correct outfit on the hanger. This will not only keep you collected & efficient the day of the session, it will also make sure that you look your absolute best. 

      THE SAME STYLE FOR ALL OUTFITS

      While we all have our favorite style, when planning your outfits for your senior session, think variety. Change up the style of outfit you wear, the color of each outfit and even the material and textures of each outfit to maximize the variety you can get out of your entire session. The more variety in outfits you have, the more variety you will have in your images. Want to  kick it up a notch? Use accessories to really drive your variety to the next level. A denim or leather jacket, wide brimmed hat, and even sunglasses can be thrown on to any outfit for a few shots to extend the variation of your outfits even further. 

      COLORED UNDERGARMENTS

      While the focus is on picking the perfect outfits, don’t forget about your undergarments. The most important thing to remember is to wear NUDE undergarments that match your skin tone. This helps ensure that lines of contrast won’t be seen through lighter fabrics or lighter colors in the outfits. Even white undergarments have a tendacny to show lines, so opt for natural skin tones. 

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