Why is this important?

What you wear is an important piece to making sure your senior photos are the best they can be. These are suggestions based experience photographing senior guys but there are always exceptions to every rule!

Someone wearing a navy blazer and khaki pants poses for a photo outdoors against lush green ferns and foliage.
Student in navy blazer and khaki pants poses by brick wall and column during outdoor portrait session.

dress it up


This one is for mom! She will LOVE seeing you all dressed up in at least one look for your senior photos. Dressed up doesn't necessarily have to be a suit, but they do look great in photos! you could also do nice dress pants with a button down or sweater as an option. This is your chance to show off your personality in a dressed up way.

Man wearing peach-colored polo shirt smiles while standing outdoors against blue surface at sunset.
A person wearing a pink polo shirt sits on a red bench while playing an acoustic guitar outdoors.

 

keep it casual


This one's for you! Think of this outfit as more relied but still nice for photos. What do you love to wear? For some that might mean jeans and a casual shirt and for others that could mean shorts and a t-shirt. Choose something that you feel comfortable in and that shows off your style and personality.

 

 

more wardrobe tips

 

what to wear
  • Clothing that shows your specific style
  • Clothing that fits well and is not too big or too small
  • Clothing that allows you to be comfortable but not slouchy
  • Ironed, lint-free items look best in photos
  • Layers look great! Add a jacket, vest, sweater, or other layering options.
  • Accessories finish an outfit so consider a watch, sunglasses that work with your specific outfit.
  • Deep saturated colors pop in photos. Lighter colors will give a more subdued look.
  • Sports uniforms help tell your story so consider this for one outfit for your shoot.
what not to wear
  • Wrinkled clothes will look bad in photos and will be impossible to remove in post editing.
  • Avoid colors that do not work well with your skin tone.
  • Very small, busy patterns can be distracting in photos. This means those checkered shirts!
  • Logos or brand names date the photos and distract from you, the subject.
  • Avoid neon colors as they can cast color on your skin.
  • Clothing that doesn't fit will look even worse in photos.
  • Shoes that make the eye go directly to your feet. Make sure your shoes work with the outfit and don't stand out.
  • Clothing that is the same. Don't bring the same type of shirt for every outfit, mix it up!


Side profile portraits in white button-down shirt against gray background showing different angles.
Man in navy blazer and pink dress shirt poses casually on leaf-covered path during autumn.
Young person in pink button-down shirt sitting outdoors with blurred foliage and fence in background.
Person in a checkered shirt sits on outdoor brick steps against a natural backdrop of trees and greenery.
A person wearing a white dotted shirt poses outdoors with crossed arms in a warm evening light setting.
Person in red and white checkered button-down shirt poses outdoors with hunting rifle in golden afternoon light.
Brown pointer dog interacts with someone while sitting in a grassy field near a wooden fence at sunset.
Young man in blue striped polo shirt sits outdoors in a casual pose against natural blurred background.
A soccer goalkeeper in a light blue uniform with red accents poses with a ball beside the goal net.