Confidence is not always easy to find, and a senior session doesn’t necessarily mean it comes naturally. Many junior and senior clients worry that they won’t look the way they hope, or that their perceived flaws will dampen what should be an amazing day. I know it’s not easy to feel and look confident when you may not feel that way, and I do everything I can to boost the confidence of the amazing young people I work with. There are also things that you can do to help ensure it’s everything you hope it is!
-Research who your senior photographer is: When choosing a senior photographer, who they are is going to impact your senior experience. You want to choose the right style for you/your parents, so researching is so important. You want to really mesh well with the person you choose, and feel good about the way they edit, choose locations, and listen to your opinion. That will lend itself to you ultimately feeling confident about the process, and that translates into you looking confident, too.
-Begin the process early: Rushing or stress creates a hectic and frazzled feeling, and negative emotions almost always show up on camera. By beginning the process early of choosing outfits and selecting a photographer, you can eliminate the feeling of being hurried. Our clients who are fully prepared for their shoot always feel calm and are able to be more present emotionally.
-Get honest with yourself (and your photographer): If there are things you are self-conscious about, it’s okay to feel self-conscious about them and have an honest conversation with your senior photographer. Feelings are valid even if others dismiss the things that you are having complicated feelings about. Braces, hairstyles, glasses, weight, and skin blemishes can feel overwhelming, but they can be faced with a positive perspective and a photographer who knows how to help you look your best. I work hard to hear your concerns and come up with creative ways to help you feel more at ease.
-Don’t take drastic measures to “get the look“: Please hear me out. Nothing is more important and critical than you being healthy not just for your session, but in your life. That includes mental and physical health, and so I always want to remind my clients to NEVER crash diet and risk your health to get to a certain weight. It can be tempting in the Instagram age to look a certain way, but it can be incredibly dangerous. It also impacts the look of your skin (dehydration or under-eating), or cause dizziness/fainting. I also don’t recommend doing a drastic hair color or cut right before your senior session, because it can feel really inauthentic when it’s time for your shoot. If it’s not a hairstyle or color that you’ve tried before or know that you love, you will likely look more uncomfortable in your images. Always do a test run for a new haircut or color many weeks before your senior session so that you have plenty of time to make the appropriate changes if needed. It might come out fabulously, but you want to have plenty of options!
My goal is always for you to feel amazing, and to feel confident in what is ahead for your senior experience. If you struggle with confidence and would like to speak with me, I’d be happy to work with you to determine how I can help!
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