Seniors, Look your Best!

A guide to making your senior session fun and your senior portraits awesome!

Make your portrait day fun and try not to worry before the session. This is the start of your ‘Senior Experience’ and it begins with your senior portrait. Be positive, have fun, and you and your photographer will create some amazing images.

Our photographer’s work style is casual and relaxing, making the session more comfortable
for you. We may sacrifice a perfect pose to capture that image that really expresses your essence.

Our goal is to capture who you are!

Hair: Don’t try a new hair style for your session; have it cut about a week before your appointment.
Skin Problems: Don’t worry if you develop a skin problem. Our finished portraits are fully retouched to eliminate blemishes and soften hard lines. 
Tattoos: Visible tattoos are a part of you. It is entirely up to you if you want a tattoo to show in your portrait. There is an extra artwork charge to remove unwanted tattoos or piercings. 
Facial Scars: If you have a visible scar. Please let us know if you would want it retouched or softened. 
Glasses: Problems with glasses can lead to extra retouching charges. We can remove normal glare on glasses, but tinted lenses cannot be lightened. If your glasses are tinted or exceptionally thick, they can distort the way the camera photographs the eye. In this case, please contact your optometrist for a pair of frames without glass for your portraits. If you have additional questions about glasses please contact us.
Braces: Braces can be removed for an additional charge. If your braces will be off soon, you can always wait to be photographed.

Solid colors, or small prints, are best for portraits.

Bring belts, jewelry, matching socks, and all accessories.

Casual portraits look great when wearing comfortable clothes in solid colors or soft pastels.

We do not suggest wearing white for your formal head and shoulder school portraits.
White tends to make subjects look larger.

We do not recommend strong patterns because they can be distracting in an image.
Avoid clothing that is busy, or has large logos.

Colors for summer and spring – medium tones in blue, green, pink, purple, tan, or brown
look good. Darker shades tend to be more slimming.

Colors for fall – we recommend medium to dark tones; black, green, brown, rust, wine or blue.

Long sleeves and slacks, or denim, always photograph well.

Please wear outfits that fit well. Clothing that is too tight will look tight. Clothing that is too
loose, looks big and baggy.

Make sure toes and fingernails are painted and/or please remove old polish.

Undergarmet straps are often removed digitally which costs you money. Please keep straps in mind when preparing your outfits.

We recommend that you wear makeup no heavier than you would for an evening out. Do not apply heavy make-up over blemishes. Blemishes can be removed within our portrait package options. Ladies, we recommend a light foundation and powder to reduce facial shine and to even your skin tone. Please bring your powder for touch ups. Powder would be great for guys as well.
Wear your hair the way you like it best. Haircuts should take place a week before your session. Fresh cuts show skin that isn’t tan. Gentlemen, come in with a fresh shave.
Five o’clock shadows cannot be retouched.
Very light hair spray will tame loose ends that may catch light and show in an image.

The goal of any fine portrait is to direct the viewers eye to the face in the portrait. Choose your clothing carefully for this pose, select something simple in both color and style for this. Guys can choose a suit, sport coat, sweater or shirt. Girls can wear a plain dress, sweater or blouse with a simple neckline is best. Guys and Girls should wear long sleeves to keep the eye from being drawn to the shoulders. Use these images to compare options for the yearbook.

Express yourself and your world!
Props will make your images more meaningful and personal.
If you have a hobby, then bring it along!
Musical instruments, art supplies, theatrical garb, cheerleading or athletic uniforms and equipment, band uniforms, skateboards, artwork and cars!
Click here to view more ideas for your props!

We love animals too; from dogs to guinea pigs we’ve seen it all!
If your pet is going to be included in the portrait, bring a water dish, travel kennel or a pet handler. Your pet will not be in every image. We have a pet chain in our backyard if needed.

*Please let us know in advance if bringing pets.

Make sure you are well rested.
Dress head to toe. Many poses include feet. Poses may be taken barefoot as well.
It’s best to reschedule your session if you’re not feeling well, you have noticeable tan lines, sunburn, black eyes, ect. These may be digitally fixed, which will result in additional artwork fees. It’s not an issue. Just give us a call.

Informal portraits invite much more variety in clothing color and style.
Girls can choose a favorite casual outfit, dress, prom dress, shorts, jeans outfit – the clothes you really enjoy. 
Guys can go formal or causal as well; Anything from a suit to the clothes you live in everyday, including a school or other jacket. 
Black is a good choice efor black and hite portraits or for a dramatic look in color. Seniors who like out “white on white” portraits should bring a white or very pale pastel outfit.
Bring along extra outfits and we can help you choose!

Images are typically ready to view online within 2 business days.
An order consultation is often set prior to your session day, or this happens the day of your session. Burns Photography offers discounts on portrait orders placed within 2 weeks of your session. Our sales associates and customer service personnel are here to answer any questions you may have.
We’re looking forward to meeting you!

Nails – Please remove/touch up nail polish or Band-Aids that you don’t want in the image. Trim, file and remove and/or touch up old polish from your fingers and toenails. These things cannot be fixed or removed later without paying additional artwork fees.
Glasses – The best way to photograph glasses is to remove the glass and be photographed in frames only. For this reason, we suggest you speak with your optometrist about borrowing an empty pair of frames that resemble yours. We are very capable of photographing glasses, however, glass glare will happen. Artwork fees are available to remove the lighting seen.
Tan lines, sunburn, black eyes, ect. These may be digitally fixed, which will result in additional artwork fees. It’s not an issue. Just give us a call.

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