What Does a Senior Guy Wear For Senior Portraits?
Senior year goes by quickly. Before you know it you are booking senior photos and celebrating the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter. While senior girls have Pinterest boards of outfit inspo and look forward to styling their sessions, senior guys may not be that invested in their clothing selections and may dread the prospect of shopping . Whether you are a parent trying to help your son choose outfits or a senior guy looking for help, I am here to help guide you in making your selections. My clients are welcome to send me clothing options and ask for advice if they would like it at any time.
Comfort is Key
The number one rule for senior guys: dress in clothes that feel like yourself! Parents, if your son is most comfortable in a tee, jersey or even shorts, let him wear them! When he feels good, he looks confident and that confidence always shines through on camera. A plain tee paired with jeans and boots can look fantastic. Avoid large logos or graphic tees so the focus stays on the senior and not the designer. With that being said if he is comfortable in a dressier look go for it! There is no "right" or "wrong" so much as what is right for your senior.
Style Comes in Many Forms
- Layers always photograph well, and weather permitting, give options for variety. A lightweight sweater, the trending quarter zip or a casual jacket all add visual interest. They can also help the "skinny" guys look a little bigger in photos if that is a concern.
- We live in Texas and it is HOT which can mean uncomfortable sessions. Warm weather staples such as polos and short sleeve button downs are timeless, comfortable and look great on camera. With warm weather also comes the topic of shorts. Yes, shorts are absolutely acceptable and encouraged. If it is 100+ degrees out it is much more comfortable to be in nice shorts and fashion sneakers (Skip athletic shoes as they can look chunky and outdated outside of the gym!). Look for tailored shorts with pockets over athletic style shorts for the most stylish final look.
- Color choice is equally as important as the cut and style of an item. Select colors that make the eyes pop and do not wash out skin tones. Whites and creams will wash out pale skin. Color and patterns can look amazing and are often overlooked by seniors (and moms) wanting to play it "safe". If you are heading to college in the fall choose something in your new school colors to celebrate.
- The suit. You can never go wrong with a suit! It is timeless and elevates senior portraits instantly. It celebrates the accomplishment of graduation and you can put a personal spin on it too. Skip the tie, wear a fun tie, add a nice watch or fun socks...make the suit show your personality and you will not regret it. For an Express Session just the suit is great. For a longer session you can do a suit and a casual look for variety.
- Accessories. Jewelry, watches, hats, coats, even fun socks. Add a little something personal to the outfit to really make it stand out.
Final Thoughts
Senior photos should represent who the senior truly is! Confidence and comfort will show through and you will have images you love and your senior guy may actually enjoy taking in the process.
If you have a senior guy that has been dreading senior photos I make the process painless and move around a lot so the time goes by quickly. I have had so many senior guys tell me it was way better than they thought it would be and even tell their moms it was good! Let me help you enjoy this experience and give you amazing images too!
