How do you find ideas for senior guys’ pictures? Which outfits to choose for a senior photoshoot? How to prepare for senior portrait photography? These are the questions that we, as senior photographers, regularly receive.
Senior photography is a once in a lifetime photo session, and preparing for it is crucial. The more you prepare for this photoshoot, the better the picture outcome will be.
In this article, we want to dig into what makes up a successful senior photoshoot. We will discuss tips and ideas for choosing the right location, outfits, and props for an authentic senior boy photoshoot.
SENIOR PICTURE REFERENCES
Every photoshoot begins with a photographer & client in-person consultation. This is an excellent time for you to meet each other and start discussing ideas and preferences for the upcoming senior photoshoot.
It’s a good practice to select some reference images, so the photographer will have a better idea of what pictures you are looking for. References are inspiration photos that represent your personal style. Reference pictures are roughly the same style and the same location setting. These pictures inspire or solely create an atmosphere for the photoshoot.
Sure the photographer will have photoshoot ideas for you, but it’s important to know what vision and style you have of your own. In our digital and social media age, it’s not hard to find plenty of picture ideas.
One of the best social media platforms for image references is Instagram. I’m pretty sure that almost every senior has this app and uses it daily. You can find senior photographers on Instagram by doing a simple hashtag search. If you like their style of photography, you can get a lot of inspiration ideas from that account.
When you are looking through your Instagram feed, you can easily save favorite photos into a specific folder. Then you can access these pictures at any time when you need a photo reference.
You can also try looking for senior picture references on Pinterest and pin all your favorite images to a mood board. It’s easy to share your Pinterest mood board with the photographer, to get their feedback and input. This app is very easy to use, and lots of people take advantage of it for photoshoot preparation.
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PERSONAL HYGIENE & GROOMING
There are a few tips for seniors on personal hygiene when getting ready for a portrait photoshoot. Of course, there are many more details that need to be considered for girl seniors, but there are also essential pointers for guys.
Let’s go over some of the most important things you have to pay attention to when preparing for a high school senior photoshoot.
• Always plan on getting proper rest the night before the portrait session. Not only you won’t feel tired in the middle of the photoshoot, but also you will look more fresh on the face. You will be in a much better mood and will enjoy the whole experience.
• Take a shower and wash your hair on the day of the photoshoot. You want to look and feel your best for the pictures, and a shower can really refresh you.
• Style your hair in your favorite hairstyle. If you have any facial hair – make sure it’s neat and freshly groomed.
• Make sure your nails are clipped and clean – you don’t want to let them ruin your pictures.
• Always inspect and prepare your photoshoot clothes and shoes ahead of time. Make sure your outfits are clean, not stained, and freshly ironed (if necessary). Bring your extra outfits on hangers, to prevent wrinkling.
Equipment that I use: Cameras: Canon EOS R5; Canon EOS R6
Lenses: Canon RF 85/1.2L; Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L; Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L
Light: Profoto B1 500 | Computer: Apple MacBook Pro | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
OUTFIT IDEAS FOR SENIOR GUYS
Let’s talk about outfits already.
We suggest that you bring two to three outfits to the photoshoot for more variety. Choose outfits in a casual and semiformal style – something cute and comfortable. Bring your favorite outfit and at least a couple more different tops.
When putting together outfits, pay attention to the colors and styles of your clothing. Dark bottoms go well with light-colored tops, and vise versa. Dark top and dark slacks work quite well too, just stay away from pitch black outfit.
If you use a belt, make sure it matches with the color of your pants. The same goes for shoes. Ensure that your shoes are in style with your overall look, and are also clean.
There are a few “don’ts” when it comes to choosing the right outfits.
• You should stay away from clothes that are too big or too small for you. It will really show in the pictures if the clothes are not fitting.
• Stay away from bright and neon colors. These shades give off a lot of reflection on the person’s face, and you don’t want your outfits to overpower your whole image.
• Don’t wear t-shirts with large logos or imprints. Buzy patterns are also very distracting and will make your outfit seem outdated.
The main idea for your outfits is to have a timeless look. You must keep that in mind when putting together outfits for your senior portrait photoshoot.
It’s best to discuss and finalize your outfit choices with your senior photographer. They will be able to advise you on what will look best at the given location.
PHOTOSHOOT LOCATION IDEAS
Senior boys have slightly different photoshoot location preferences than girls. You can find out more about what locations work best for senior girls here.
From experience, we can attest that guys lean more towards urban/city locations, at a ranch, at a sports field, by some abandoned buildings, and also in the studio.
Based on your vision and reference images, the photographer will be able to help you select a photoshoot location that will complement your personality the most.
SENIOR GUYS PICTURE IDEAS
There are so many creative ideas for senior pictures in different locations. Let’s dive right into the most popular ideas for high school senior boy pictures.
WITH THE CAR
• If you own a car or a truck, it’s a great idea to include your vehicle in the photoshoot. These images can turn out to be the most memorable for you.
AT A SPECIAL PROPERTY
• If your family or relatives own a unique and impressive property, why not take senior pictures there? You will have an opportunity to take exclusive pictures that will be unlike anyone else’s.
SPORTS PICTURES
• Do you play sports? You can take pictures wearing your sports gear at your school’s field or in a park. Write out your graduation year on the baseball or soccer ball for a personalized touch.
PICTURES WITH A DOG
• Take pictures with your dog. There are so many options for taking photos with a dog: running, playing fetch, just having fun with a best friend.
IN CAP & GOWN
• Wear your graduation cap and gown to the senior portrait session. Do some funny poses and expressions so the pictures won’t look stiff or boring.
FASHION PICTURES
• If you love posing and getting your pictures taken, consider photo shooting in a fashion style. With the right choice of location and outfits, you will come out with magazine-style senior pictures.
WITH MUSIC INSTRUMENT
• Are you into music and play guitar or another instrument? Make sure to include this “prop” in your graduation photoshoot.
CAREER VISION
• If you already decided what you want to study when you go to college, you can even make that a theme of your senior photoshoot. For instance, if you want to be a pilot, you can take portraits at an aero museum around the airplanes.
HORSES ON A RANCH
• If you are into horses, you should take pictures on a ranch. You can get very cool horseback riding photos, and wear a cowboy hat and boots.
WITH SMOKE GRENADES
• Consider using a colored smoke grenade as your senior guy photoshoot ideas. You can use this prop in some pretty creative ways, that’s for sure.
USE A SKATEBOARD
• Bring your skateboard to the photo session. Photographer can take some casual pictures of you doing jumps and stunts with your skateboard.
PICTURES ON THE STEPS
• Take pictures on the steps somewhere in downtown or another urban location. Lots of awesome sitting poses can be captured by simply using the steps!
WEAR A HAT
• Bring a hat or another accessory to the senior photo session. Using accessories with the right type of outfits will add a stylish & personalized touch.
Equipment that I use: Cameras: Canon EOS R5; Canon EOS R6
Lenses: Canon RF 85/1.2L; Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L; Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L
Light: Profoto B1 500 | Computer: Apple MacBook Pro | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
IN PARKING GARAGE
• Parking garage makes a really cool photography location spot for high school seniors. If you live in a big city with access to a parking garage, especially one with a rooftop – give it a try. You won’t be disappointed with the modern senior portraits that you can get at this awesome spot.
PICTURES ON THE BEACH
• Do you live close to the ocean and love surfboarding or spending time at the beach? Then you should go for a summer senior photoshoot at the beach. These images will beautifully highlight your hobbies and interests in a very unique way.
PICTURES IN STUDIO
• Taking creative senior pictures in the studio doesn’t mean the boring yearbook photo that every senior is getting at this time. If you go with a boutique studio photoshoot, this session will be custom-tailored just for you. With a personalized approach and styling tips, your portraits will be magazine-cover worthy.
We suggest you see our other post for lots of other senior picture ideas.
GUYS POSING IDEAS
You don’t have to be a professional male model to get modern senior portraits. A few simple tips and pointers to keep in mind, and you are all set for a successful senior photoshoot.
Standing straight can make you feel awkward or too tall. Try leaning on something – for example, a building wall, a fence, or your car. Leaning poses help you look and feel relaxed, at the same time allowing the photographer to take pictures at different angles.
Speaking of angles – certain tips help to achieve more creative male portraits. Whenever the photographer shoots from a slightly lower angle, it creates a stronger and more confident posture for the client.
Guy senior pictures are all about highlighting their masculinity, personality, and special interests.
Sitting poses are also great ideas for senior boys. Whether it’s on the building steps in the middle of downtown, on the bench, or even on the ground – the sitting pose adds variety to your senior photo gallery.
Whenever we are photographing seniors, we must not forget about hands posing. Some of the most used poses for hands are crossed-arms or one hand in the pocket. These poses not only add confidence to your whole image but also help to achieve magazine-style male portraits.
CONCLUSION
The last year of high school is a very busy and even stressful time for seniors and their parents. So many decisions must be made, so many tests must be taken. The senior photoshoot shouldn’t add to your pile of stressful decisions.
We hope that these tips and ideas will help you in preparing for the photoshoot and feeling confident throughout the whole session.
If you are looking for a professional senior photographer in the Sacramento area, California – look no further. Bidun Studio Photography will be happy to document this significant milestone in your life. See more of our senior portrait photography here.
