Below is our top 10 checklist to ensure that you’re ready to go when you arrive at your photoshoot!

1. SKIN
DON’T
Don’t go crazy tanning yourself. Makeup artists’ pet peeve is dealing with dry, overly tanned skin. Even worse is orange-y fake bake on your face.

DO
Moisturize and do a gentle exfoliation & leave the bronzing to the pros!

2. HAIR
DON’T
Don’t get a whole new look for your pics.  You want to look like YOU in your pictures.
Don’t go to a new stylist who’s never cut or highlighted your hair before.  Too risky!

DON’T
Don’t spend a ton of time in the pool the week before your shoot. The chlorine dries your hair out & can turn highlights a pale green : ( If you must be in the pool, apply a conditioner to damp hair before entering & deeply condition each time you wash.

DO
Get a fresh cut, color/highlights a week or two before your shoot, to be looking your best.

3. NAILS
DON’T
Don’t opt for a crazy nail color or design. You’ll be doing several looks & have plenty of opportunity with hair, makeup & clothes to show all of your personal style. …and when you’re in college, you may look back and regret those neon green cheetah print nails.

DO
Get a fresh basic American or French manicure. Will never go out of style & will match every outfit.

4. WARDROBE
DON’T
Don’t give in to the urge to go super trendy with every outfit.  You don’t want to look back at your senior pictures & say “What was I thinking?!”

DON’T
Don’t forget proper undergarments! Bringing a strapless dress? Don’t forget the strapless bra.  Cute pair of cowboy boots? Bring some comfy socks.  White sundress? Make sure underwear are skin tone.

DO
Mix it up!! Bring a variety of styles – not just your “go to” style. It makes the day more fun to explore several different sides of your personality. For helpful tips on how to do this, check out our blog post on this topic: http://www.maxbrandinphotography.com/2012/06/13/senior-portrait-inspiration-styles/

….and check out our portfolio for ways past seniors have mixed it up:

http://www.maxbrandinphotography.com/portfolio/

5. ACCESSORIES & SHOES
DON’T
One of the biggest ways to make a shoot look average is to leave out the final touches of accessories. Headbands, Hair clips, Necklaces, Bracelets, Rings, Earrings….these are the icing on the cake. So, DO go Crazy. Statement pieces are absolutely perfect for photos. We’ll style each look so that the accessories don’t take over…don’t’ worry : )

DO
Bring vintage pieces from your family, such as a locket from your grandmother. Your mom/dad will be at the shoot, so these pieces can be safely kept when not shooting with them.

DON’T
Don’t bring old heels & flats that you’ve worn a hundred times because they’re comfy. For pictures old shoes really kill the overall look of the image. ((EXCEPTION: vintage sneakers & old, worn in, awesome combat boots!))

DO
Buy a couple pairs of fabulous new shoes! Mix it up by bringing flats, sandals, heels, and boots so that each look has it’s own vibe.

6. SCHOOL GUIDELINES & SPECIFICATIONS
DON’T
Don’t rely on “what they did last year” for yearbook guidelines.  These things can change from year to year.

DON’T
Don’t rely on info you get from your friends. Find out for yourself exactly what your school’s guidelines and specifications are for photos submitted to the yearbook.

DO
Get this important info yourself, directly from the source.

7. PRACTICE
DON’T
Don’t show up at your shoot unprepared to do a little modeling.

DO
Practice! We’ll want to do more than just big smiles. Smirks, soft smiles, fierce glare, & romantic expressions are all fun to play with throughout your shoot so that we capture everything. Use a mirror to see what you look like when you do that fierce Top Model smile, so that if it looks totally cray, you can figure it out without a camera around…..

DO
Do a mini-photoshoot with your best friend. She’s most likely getting Sr. Pics done too, and you can try out possible wardrobe together while working on your modeling skills.

8. SLEEP
DON’T
Don’t stay up all night the day before your shoot trying to put everything together last minute. Your face will show the tiredness in red eyes & a puffy face.

DO
Get your outfits, shoes, & accessories ready a couple days before.

9. TELL YOUR FRIENDS
DON’T
Don’t miss this opportunity to share part of your day with your BFF.  If she schedules her shoot right after yours, we can plan to overlap the end of your shoot with the beginning of hers.  Once she’s out of hair/makeup we can shoot the two of you TOGETHER!

DO
Plan with your friend to coordinate your final look & her first look, for a photograph that looks straight out of a magazine.

10. CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE
DON’T
Don’t plan something directly after your shoot, or you (and we) will feel stressed out trying to meet a deadline.

DO
Leave your day open & make it all about getting the best Senior Pics EVER.