Suzanne Deaton Photography

Ok girls, it is FINALLY your senior year!  A year for last times . . . last prom, last homecoming, last senior night, and last chance for the most AMAZING senior portraits ever.  In the past 12 years I have photographed a thousand or more seniors for this special occasion.  Here are my BEST tips, pass them along and share with everyone.  This info is a must have!  Photographers everywhere will thank me for passing along.  I can hear the clapping now . . .

1.  Your nails WILL show.   Please don’t wear chipped red or blue nail polish.  Please and I’m begging.  And if you do paint your nails a pretty blue on purpose, ask yourself the question, “Will this look good 20 years from now at m class reunion up on the big screen?”  If the answer is no, skip the blue.

2. Your arms will show! If you hate your arms, don’t bring a bunch of sleeveless tank tops!  Add a cardigan, a jean jacket, a fur coat, just don’t go bare armed and expect your photographer to “fix” your arms.  I am 5 foot tall and semi-skinny.  I still don’t show my arms.  I am,  ahem, 4oish,  and do not lift weights, so I wear sleeves.  This keeps the back jiggle fat part hidden from you gorgeous young girls.   Maybe you don’t know if you hate your arms, so just be safe and pack something to layer over the upper arm area.

3. Don’t be mean to your mom!   She is super excited for this day as well.   The next stop is the wedding day.  Give her a little bit of attention and I promise she will jump for joy.  This is a bittersweet day for her.  She will always remember your first day of Kindergarten, and senior portrait day.  So, no eye rolling or grumbling aloud. Don’t expect her to have everything ironed and organized and put up with a bad attitude on this day.  It’s just not a good mix.

4. If you get a spray tan, do it 3 days before. No sooner.  You don’t want to be orange or blotchy.  If you do become blotchy as it starts to fade, try a little bronzing powder.  If you don’t have any, we typically do.

5. EAT!  Eat a good breakfast and a snack before your session.  Here’s a more in depth article about what to eat and why.

6.  Let’s talk shoes… Shoes are so cute and adorable!  But, they only show in about half the pictures, half the time.  That means about 75% of the time your shoes won’t matter.  Pick shoes out for every outfit by all means, but DO NOT stress if they aren’t the perfect ones.  We can just make sure not to show them with that particular outfit.  I kick mine off half the time too.  There are just a ton of things to worry about today, shoes doesn’t have to be one of them. Cute yes, necessary all the time, no.

7. ZITS,  BLACKHEADS, BLEMISHES, CUTS,  will not matter.  All professional photographers know how to remove and retouch zits.  Please don’t stress about a major breakout.  Or, the big red zit that pops up on your nose on the day of the shoot.  This is a good time to mention that if someone is taking your pictures that just has a “good camera” they probably aren’t going to be able to remove those zits.  The “good camera” doesn’t take the zits away, the artist does!  Please hire a professional.  Here’s an awesome video on all the reasons why you should listen to me on this.

8. Hair: Come to your senior portraits with clean fresh hair.  Or, go to your hair stylist with clean fresh hair.  Or, come with second day hair if second day hair typically works best for your.  YOU know your hair better than anyone.  If it’s summer and you frizz easy, apply a heat protectant before you get to the studio.  We keep different sprays for different types of hair so don’t worry if you forget something.  We have curling irons and straighteners too.

9.  Makeup:  a clean moisturized face is the best surface for applying professional makeup.  Many professional photographers know what looks great on their seniors and have products they love to use. Check with your photographer.  We prefer Revlon’s line of photo ready  products for the foundation.  Everything else we apply is plethora of the latest, greatest, professional, trendy, glamorous products!

10.HAVE FUN!  Whether you are skinny or curvy, tall or short, shy or outgoing, having a fun, great attitude will make your senior pictures better than anyone else’s.  After all, there’s only one YOU.  There’s only one me.  I can’t be all things to every senior so find a senior photographer who will match your style and bring out the best in YOU.   Don’t sweat the small stuff.  Have FUN.  Make the most out of this day by being yourself.  That’s what your photographer wants too.  We don’t want a bunch of clones running around in the world.  Be original.  Be you. . . and have a good attitude. Congratulations on being a senior.  Now, go have some fun.

~Suzanne

(if you are interested in being one of the ONLY 100 seniors a year we shoot please click here for more information)