This is your year

Your time to shine. Your photos should reflect who YOU are at this pivotal point in your life. This guide, along with our planning session, will help you tune into what you want your images to look like and to say about you.

Here's everything you need to get ready for your photo session.

What to wear

The most important thing is that you select outfits you love and that you will feel reasonably comfortable in. If you nail those two things, you will feel CONFIDENT. And that's what it's all about!

You also want to choose something you won't laugh or roll your eyes at in 20 years. So think TIMELESS. Above all, you do you! Be true to your personal style, and choose the elements that show who YOU are.

With that said, here are a few tips to make great outfit choices:

• Start with a favorite color or something that draws out your eyes.
• Choose pieces that flatter your body. Think of your best features and what accentuates them. Think "fitted," which is more flattering than too tight or super baggy.
• Keep accessories like jewelry, hats or scarves classic and understated.
• Myth buster: Most patterns are fine, and so are dark colors.
• How does it feel? Do you tug at the waist or constantly adjust the neckline? If so, keep trying different outfits until you strike the right balance of look and feel.
• You may want to switch things up: A casual outfit, a dressy outfit, a jersey. Or just keep it simple.

A note for anyone who seems not to care about what they wear. (Guys, I'm looking at you here.) You may feel more invested if you know you can take a few photos with your favorite things, in addition to the outfit you’ve chosen together with your mom. So go ahead. Bring the well-loved T-shirt. Bring the fave hoodie. Bring the headphones. Whatever makes you feel cool and confident.

What to avoid

As a general rule, you want to avoid super trendy styles or graphics, glaring colors, busy patterns, big logos or pictures that distract from your face and eyes. Another general rule applies to the opposite: a lot of beige, gray or black can make you look washed out.

But honestly, the biggest thing to avoid is conflict. If a senior's true style is at odds with mom's vision, then let's work out a compromise. We CAN make everyone happy.

All the little details!

Hair, skin, nails

For everybody:

• First off, don't worry about blemishes. They are super easy to clear up in editing.
• Second, get a good night's rest, hydrate and take it easy the day of your shoot. Avoid being out in the sun for hours and arriving tired. It will show in your photos.
• Brush and floss your teeth and give them a quick check before your session. You don't need to whiten your teeth. If you are self-conscious about the color, just let me know and I can apply a little correction in editing.
• Avoid sunburns and heavy spray tans or tanning lotions that make your skin look blotchy or uneven.
• Speaking of sunburns, you actually want to avoid sunscreen during your photo shoot. The minerals reflect light that the camera picks up and gives an unnatural shine.
• If you wear a retainer or Invisalign, remove it during your shoot.
• If you plan to get a haircut, schedule it for the week before your shoot so it's not too fresh.

For the guys:

• Your hands will be visible in some shots, so be sure to scrub and tidy up those nails.
• Freshen up with a shave or beard trim.

For the ladies:

• Your nails will be visible in some shots, so pay attention to how you want them to look. Natural or manicured, be sure they look clean and fresh.
• Shave if you don't want hair to be visible.
• Makeup: You don't need to stray too far from your normal makeup routine. Your typical special occasion makeup is perfect. Avoid heavy concealer, glitter, sparkly eye shadow/blush and ultra glossy lips. The camera has a hard time with these!
• Bring powder, a brush and lip product for touch ups.