The Dos and Don’ts of prepping for Senior Portraits
- Robyn Scherer Photography
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
In case you missed it, here it is again — one of my most popular blog posts.
First and foremost, come to your senior portraits in a good headspace. Slow down, be present, and let yourself enjoy it. When you feel relaxed and genuinely like yourself, that’s when everything falls into place—and it shows in every frame. This experience should feel easy, memorable, and a little bit like pressing pause during a season that moves fast. As you begin getting ready for your session, here are a few practical details to keep in mind so you feel confident, prepared, and ready to step in front of the camera.
As a San Diego photographer who has spent years working with high school and college seniors, I’ve learned that a few simple details can make a big difference in how your images come together. The camera notices the little things—hair, clothing, posture, and how relaxed you feel—so taking a bit of time to prepare goes a long way. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s showing up feeling confident, comfortable, and ready to enjoy the experience. Here are a few tried-and-true tips that consistently photograph beautifully and help your session feel smooth from start to finish:
A great hairstyle can make the difference between a good shoot and a great one. Plan your haircut about a week before your session so it looks natural—not too fresh, not overgrown. If you color your hair, make sure your roots are touched up ahead of time.
Manicures are optional, but clean nails are not. Your hands show up more than you think in photos, so make sure they’re tidy and camera-ready.
Ladies: a little extra makeup goes a long way on camera. Consider having your makeup professionally done, or simply add a bit more than you normally wear so your features pop beautifully in photos.
I’ve seen my fair share of questionable spray tans over the years. If you’re planning to tan, go somewhere reputable and keep it subtle. Uneven or overly dark tans can photograph harshly, which is why natural skin tones always look best.
As for wardrobe—movement photographs beautifully. Flowy dresses are always a win. For guys, bring layers: a jacket, vest, or even a hat gives us variety and helps create different looks throughout your session.
And don’t forget personal touches. Letterman jackets, instruments, sports gear, pom-poms—anything that represents this season of your life adds personality and meaning to your images.
I never get tired of senior sessions—they’re hands-down my favorite. Over the years, I’ve photographed high school seniors from all across San Diego, including Canyon Crest Academy, Del Norte High, Torrey Pines High, Westview, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, Mt. Carmel, University City, and so many more. Each school brings its own energy, but what never changes is how special this season of life is to photograph.
High school and college grad senior photos have a way of growing more meaningful with every year that passes.
Right now, your high school senior is still at home—walking familiar halls, sitting at the dinner table, living in that in-between space of childhood and what comes next. But once they step onto a college campus, everything begins to shift. New friendships form, new routines take over, and little by little they grow into someone new. You blink, and the version of them you’ve known for eighteen years starts to feel like a memory.
And then, before you know it, college graduation arrives just as quickly. The campus that once felt brand new becomes the place they’re preparing to leave. Friend groups scatter to different cities, careers begin, and another chapter quietly closes. Whether it’s high school or college, these seasons pass fast—and photos become a way to hold onto exactly who they were in this fleeting moment before life moves them forward again.
That’s why senior sessions matter so much. They give you a reason to slow down in a season that moves incredibly fast. To pause, laugh, and really look at this moment for what it is: the last stretch before everything changes. These photos become more than something you hang on a wall—they become a doorway back to who they were, how they laughed, how it felt to stand right here before the next chapter began.
My hope is that when you look back on these images years from now, you don’t just see what your senior looked like. You feel this time. The anticipation. The pride. The closeness. The quiet understanding that life was about to open up in a big way.
Robyn Scherer, an acclaimed photographer based in San Diego, boasts numerous accolades. She holds the prestigious Click Pro Elite certification from Click Pro Photographers and the Unraveled Expert Artist certification from Unraveled Academy. The National Association of Portrait and Child Photographers (NAPCP) has honored her as a Master Photographer in both Lifestyle Family and Senior Photography. Her impressive work has been featured in local outlets such as OLP Magazine and Seaside Retailer, a national publication Senior Year Magazine as well as the international publication Zillionaire.
For the past decade, Robyn has served as the senior portrait photographer for San Diego's oldest all-girls Catholic school, capturing the essence of over 1,400 seniors. She has also created an online senior portrait photography course that has 1200+ students: The Ultimate Starter Guide to Senior Photography: everything you need to know!
Specializing in natural light photography, Robyn focuses on High School Senior and Family sessions. She is available for shoots in areas spanning from Poway and La Jolla to San Diego and Coronado. Robyn looks forward to meeting you and crafting timeless images that you'll cherish forever!
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