How to prep for your senior portraits is more a list of what NOT to do whether than a to do list. Follow the list below and you’ll be all set for your senior pictures.

Self-tanning

Self-tanning can leave you looking a little orange. The tanner also settles funny on your hands, wrists, ankles and feet making them look old and dirty. It’s not a good look. If you still want to do this then self-tan a couple days in advance of your photoshoot. Make sure you follow the directions to the tee, body scrub before applying tanner and watch the hands and feet!

Hair

If you highlight your hair have it done 7-10 days in advance of your senior portraits. Hair looks brassy on camera if it’s freshly highlighted. If you dye your hair, especially light going to black do this a week in advance. The black will have a bluish tint and/or look very harsh.

Skin

Let’s get real, teen skin can be erratic. NO facial scrubs or exfoliants and NO new products a week before your photoshoot. You do not need to be dealing with the fall out of overdoing it. One of the reasons professional makeup is included with your photoshoot is to ensure that your skin looks, glowy and super natural. If you’d like my skin prep guide that I send to all of my clients 10 days before their photoshoot then email me (paige@paigepphotography.com) and I’d be happy to send it to you!

Sleep

The biggest NO to how to prep for your senior portraits is please don’t pull an all nighter before your pictures. One, because no amount of cover-up will conceal the fact that you’re tired. Be good to yourself. This is a really fun, super special day for you. Get a good night’s sleep.

Hydrate

I know, you’ve heard it a million times. Drink a lot of water! It makes a difference. Honestly I’ve heard my hair and makeup artists say time and time again that they know when someone’s skin is dehydrated from not drinking enough water. Your skin will be dry, flaky and not so bouncy. Now go get that glass of water and drink up!

If you follow these points on how to prep for your senior pictures, I guarantee you’ll not only look amazing on camera but feel really good too. Do you know what you need to do? Book your senior pictures NOW!

I’ve got more on how to prep for senior portraits in my Senior Portrait Prep 101, listing all of the do’s. Now that we’ve gotten all of the don’ts out of the way.