The Ultimate Checklist: 15 Things to Bring to Your Senior Photo Shoot

Congratulations! You’ve booked your senior portrait session, and it’s getting close to your big day. As a senior photographer, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is: “What should I bring to my session?”

Other than your perfect smile, your unique style, and hyped energy, I’ve created a list of 15 must haves, good ideas, and optional items you may want to bring with you to your photo shoot that will only enhance your senior portrait experience further. 

Must-Haves

Number 1:

Outfits. You’ve spent weeks curating your looks down to 3-5 jaw dropping styles and you’ve been tossing them into a corner, or piled on that catch-all chair. Now, more than likely they’ll have tons of wrinkles that need ironing. Please do not show up with your clothes stuffed into a duffle bag and pull them out when you are already on site. I will not waste hours in Photoshop editing out what could have been prevented beforehand. The difference is shocking. Hang your outfits together by outfit in your car to keep them from creasing in transit. Your images will thank you for taking that extra time getting them photo ready.

Number 2:

Accessories. The most overlooked item is the icing on the cake. You’ve spent weeks finding that perfect outfit and are so excited to finally wear it that you completely forget those items that make it shine. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, sun glasses, hats, scarves, belts, all add interest and sparkle to any image. Don’t forget to pack them too! Pro Tip: hang your outfits together on one hanger and include all your accessories so that you won’t miss a thing, including undergarments and shoes specific to that outfit.

Number 3:

Water. Your session could take up to 3 hours, and I may make you climb, hike and work your way through the session. Especially if your session date is in the summer, temperatures can spike in the late afternoon and reach well over 100 inland and hydration is key in keeping it fun and cool during your shoot. Let that $$$ Stanley cup shine and fill her up, she’s about to showcase!

Number 4:

Snacks. If you’re anything like a normal teenager then you know exactly what it means to be hangry. You likely haven’t had much to eat the day of your session as you run around getting things buttoned up. Probably skipped breakfast and even lunch, and now you’re sitting with your stylist for hair and makeup on an empty stomach. Trust me, you’ll be wishing you could stop off at the nearest Mickey D’s as we head to our first location, and we won’t have time. So, pack a few items that are easy to munch on, as we travel from location to location that won’t drip or spill on any of your outfits. Something that will keep your blood sugar from dipping mid sesh.

Good Idea

Number 5:

Chapstick, Lip Gloss, Lip Stick. With all that smiling we’re about to do more than likely your lips will need some retouching, or simply some moisture. Cracked lips, or dry lipstick just isn’t going to be annoying, but they’ll be front and center in every photo. If you have a tendency for dry lips best to bring some backup so we can keep your kisser looking plump.

Number 6:

Hair Brush. Not sure if you’ve noticed or not, but it can get pretty windy around here, and even though your stylist sprayed a ton of hairspray, if we’re headed to the beach, we’re going to need to do some touching up. And by touching up, I mean some serious mane control. Pro Tip: A bristly brush can calm down those flyaways without pulling all the way through to the scalp, leaving the top smooth, but also keeping those curls tight.

Number 7:

Hair Control. Things like hair spray, bobby pins, and those clear mini hair rubber bands can help in situations where the wind just won’t let up. We live on the coast and weather can be unpredictable, so it’s best to be prepared when a situation out of our control arises.

Number 8:

Lotion. If you have dry skin, lotion will be your best friend. You should be moisturizing daily a few weeks before your session, but in case you forgot to moisturize before you headed out, that lotion bottle will come in handy.

Number 9:

Toothbrush. Ok, hear me out…if you are snacking in the car then you most likely have something in your teeth. A dry toothbrush can quickly scrub those front-and-center pearly whites and clear any debris left behind by your hangry snacking binge.

Optional Items

Number 10:

Music. Bring a portable speaker and your curated senior photo shoot playlist and let’s get this party started! We’ll dance all the way through your session, and keep the energy high til sunset.

Number 11:

Mosquito Repellant. No explanation required on this one, however any mosquito, tick, or bug repellant is always a good idea. We’ll be walking through and sitting in tall grass, rocks and nature, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to spray yourself down to prevent an itchy situation later.

Number 12:

A towel. If you plan on getting any part of your body in the water, ocean, or sand you’ll want a towel. You may need it to sit on in the car, wrap up in after, or use to brush off those sandy toes, either way, a towel is a great idea.

Number 13:

Flip Flops or Sandals. These are great while walking to and from the car at a beach session. They are easy to slip on and off as we shoot and walk to locations around the beach. That way you aren’t getting a wood sliver or stepping on glass or something sharp as we go from one place to another.

Number 14:

Cap and Gown. If you have access to a cap and gown from your school this would be a great opportunity to sneak in a few images of what you’ll look like come graduation day. Most grad gowns come folded in a package and you’ll want to use a bit of steam to get them smoothed out beforehand, then hang them up with the rest of your outfits to keep it looking crisp.

Number 15:

Lint Roller. If your outfits are dark in color you may notice small bits of lint or pet fur have velcroed to your outfit without you noticing. A quick swipe with a lint roller will quickly pick up any leftover bits that won’t make it to your final images.

Don’t forget to bring your squad too. Anyone who pumps you up, supports you and can help you with outfit changes, stray hairs, taking behind the scene photos or straightening your dress is someone you want in your corner. I love it when a client brings their parents, friends, and even their furry friends (as long as they have someone who can look after them when we’re not shooting with them).