3 Senior Photo Tips for the Not-So-Girly-Girls

I wish I could say I am a girly-girl but sometimes I STRUGGLE when trying to do my hair, makeup, pick an outfit that looks right, do my own nails, you name it. Being so for real, I was the kid who would smack their head with their hairbrush because I would get SO frustrated trying to do a new hairstyle or even just get my hair into a simple ponytail without bumps. Safe to say, stereotypically girly things do not come naturally to me. 

But that’s okay!! Since I wanted to still feel/look girly, especially in photos, I learned simple ways that elevated my natural look without being too difficult to master or maintain. That’s what I’m here to share with you. Everyone deserves to feel pretty in their senior pics, so here are some ways that have helped me without being too difficult or without feeling like I’m not myself, because nothing is worse than looking back at photos of yourself and barely recognizing who is in the picture! 

Also, you don’t have to do any of these things to be pretty in your senior pictures! These are only if you want to and if it would feel fun for you. 

Now let’s get into the tips!

1.

If you don’t normally wear dresses or skirts, don’t feel like you have to wear one just because you are getting your photos taken. If you want to wear one, then disregard and have fun. But if dresses/skirts just aren’t your thing, don’t force it. Any discomfort you have wearing it can, and likely will, reflect in your gallery. 

Instead, wear a fancier version of what you would normally wear. For example, if your go-to outfit is a t-shirt and jeans, then wear your cutest pair of jeans that you feel the most confident in and pair them with a nice top. Standard, boxy t-shirts are not the move unless you are wearing them as a bonus outfit, like if it is your college tee or reflects a club or sport you are involved in. A generic t-shirt usually does nothing for your physique and can make the overall vibe of your gallery feel too casual. A form-fitting top with details is the way to go. The color, amount of details, and how extravagant the top is is up to you, and there are plenty of simple tops that are a step above a casual tee that look great in photos. I have included a few examples below. 

2.

Next up, nails. You do not need to get your nails done for your senior session, BUT, a simple, clear-polish manicure goes a LONG way. If your hands are in rough shape due to your sports, jobs, or hobbies, consider going into a nail salon, ordering the simplest manicure, and having them use a clear or neutral paint color on your nails. The manicure will clean up your cuticles and remove dead skin as well as shape your nails so they are all rounded evenly. If your hands are doing pretty well and just need a little TLC, try your best to shape them at home with your nail clippers and a nail file, and paint a clear top coat on your nails after. The clear polish enhances your natural nails by making them glossy but not to a point where they are distracting or stand out.

I am professionally awful at using my left hand to paint my right and my right hand tends to come out with uneven layers of paint and overall not looking the best. That is NOT the case when I paint my nails with the clear top coat polish! It is almost impossible to mess up with clear polish because, duh, it is clear. You pretty much can’t see any mistakes you make making it the perfect solution to those who are nail polish-challenged like myself.

The reason this is so important is because there will likely be a few up close poses in your gallery where you can see your nails. Whether you are holding something like a college pendant or a bouquet, or you are touching your face in a close-up shot, expect that your nails will be visible in your photos. If your nails look unkempt, your eyes will be drawn to the nails, but if they look neat and normal, no one will even look at them. Just trust me when I say a simple, clear-polished manicure will elevate your look without much effort at all. 

3. 

The final tip. This one goes out to all the girls who don’t really know how to do their makeup and don’t really want to try. Stay tuned for a simple makeup routine later, but this guide is a step below that and even easier and accessible for those who are not inclined to do makeup. 

Let me start by saying you do not need to wear any makeup to your senior session to look beautiful. That being said, the camera likes to accentuate blemishes, uneven skintones, dark circles, and overall make you more plain than you are. There are things I do when I edit your photos to try to combat that, but the best solution is to prevent it from the source.

Coming from a girl with rosacea (red spots and splotches on my face), using a tinted moisturizer, or even better, a tinted SPF moisturizer, helps a ton when trying to even out your skintone. Rather than using a thick foundation that you have to blend and apply more makeup on top of, opt for a lightweight, tinted moisturizer that you rub into your skin just as you would with normal moisturizer. You have to make sure it is rubbed in all the way since it does have tint, but other than that, it is super easy to apply. Tinted moisturizers offer light coverage, so you do not need to add any contouring or blush on top (unless you want to, of course). It will barely even look like you’re wearing any makeup so you don’t have to worry about looking in the mirror and not recognizing yourself, haha!

Next up, chapstick. I 1000% recommend chapstick and I also recommend applying chapstick multiple days before your session to reduce any dry skin peeling on your lips. Chapstick has the same benefits the clear nail polish has for your nails but for your lips. It adds some shine and glossiness without overdoing it with any color or intensity. That being said, they also make some great tinted chapsticks and you can find a color similar to your lips that when applied, will accentuate the natural color of your lips. Tinted chapstick is usually pretty weak, so you don’t need to worry much about it staining your face and teeth if it smears. Another benefit to having a tinted chapstick is if you are pretty pale or do not have much redness in your skin, you can dab a bit of the chapstick on your cheeks and blend it in for a simple and barely noticeable blush. 

Lastly, put on some mascara. Mascara is an easy way to help make your eyes pop without feeling like you put on a ton of makeup. It is way more user friendly than trying to apply eyeliner, or honestly any other eye makeup. You can go with a classic black mascara, or look into shades that make your eyes pop or shades that blend in closely to your natural lash color. You can also find clear mascara that just helps shape them and add a bit of gloss. As long as you don’t choose a waterproof mascara, you can usually get your mascara off by gently scrubbing with just face soap and water. Trust me when I say mascara is super easy to apply if you haven’t used it before and pretty hard to mess up. 

Those are all the tips I have for now! I hope I was able to help you feel more confident and prepared for your senior session. 

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If you are new to my blog, hi, my name is Sonia and I am a Washington senior portrait photographer. I am based in Kitsap County and serve seniors all around Washington as well as around the Santa Cruz, California area. If you are looking for senior portraits and live or travel to any of those areas, reach out – I’d love to chat! Thanks for reading and I hope your senior session goes amazing :)