Your senior photo session is coming up, but what should you bring? You may already have the perfect outfit in mind, know you should bring a water bottle if it’s going to be hot, and have been looking up different poses you like on Pinterest, but is that all you need to prepare? If you really want to make your gallery stand out, be a unique reflection of YOU, and have a wide range of photos to choose from, here are some ideas of things you can bring to your senior photo session in Colorado:
INSTRUMENTS
Do you play an instrument? Guitars, violins, tubas, trumpets, and more make great additions to your photoshoot. It can be a way to commemorate your hard work learning to play and tell others more about what your interests are.
I thought it amazing when Isaiah brought his late-grandfather’s guitar for his senior session. Not only do the photos with his guitar reflect his love of music, but also serve to honor his grandfather’s memory, making Isaiah’s senior photos even more special. The live music while I was taking his pictures was an added bonus as well!
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
You’ve put in all the hours to being the best you can be, why not incorporate your sport into your senior photos. This could be as simple as holding a baseball bat, or as involved as fully gearing up in your uniform, or emerging from a swimming pool.
One senior session a few years back, Rachel brought both her basketball and soccer ball to the park we took her photos at. With the help of her mom holding them up for different photos, I was able to create this fun image to represent her balancing two sports:
FLOWERS
While we can do our best to find a field of flowers depending on the time of year you take your photos, there’s something special about holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers. The pop of color will add a lovely statement to your images.
BOOKS
One of my personal favorites, as I love to read, is when seniors bring books to their senior session. Whether you bring some of your absolute favorites, or some chosen for aesthetic reasons, books can add peaceful, contemplative, and even fairy tale vibes to your pictures.
PETS
They’ve gotten you through some of the toughest years of growing up. You’re going to miss them when you are off at college. Why not have a special photo to always remember your favorite pet by?
I’ve taken pictures of people with their dogs, cats, and horses – Would you want to include your pet in your senior photos?
SUNGLASSES
Simple addition but can add a fun new look to your gallery and switch things up! Not to mention giving your eyes a break from the vibrant Colorado sun.
It was the best of all coincidences when the sunglasses Danielle brought to her session just happened to match the movie theater marquee PERFECTLY:
CARS
Whether you want to incorporate your first car or a vintage ride, having a car in your photo can add a lot of possibilities and poses for your session.
To make Nathan’s photos with his great grandfather’s classic GMC truck even extra fun, I made him a special license plate:
HATS
Whether you are wearing it or holding it, hats can be a stylish addition to your senior photo wardrobe. It can help change the vibe of a photo depending on the hat/location – City chic? Country theme? Backwards & relaxed? So many possibilities!
A TRADITION
Start a new tradition or continue an old one.
Kyle’s mom made sure to bring Woody and Buzz along for her son’s senior session at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO. Her elder son had already had them included in his senior photos, as he walked away with a backpack on, so we made sure to continue the tradition with Kyle. She plans on doing the same pose with her third child in the future.
Some other tradition ideas:
- Taking a photo with a picture of yourself when you were a baby
- Photos with a shirt or a flag that has the logo of the college you plan on attending
- A picture with a cap & gown (or tossing a cap)
- A picture with your parents
- Holding number balloons of your graduation year
I hope these suggestions give you some ideas, or have helped you come up with some of your own! You want to remember who you were as a high school senior – What you enjoyed, what your hobbies were, how you spent your time, what you liked to wear… Make your photos unique to you!
If you’d like to start the planning process for taking senior pictures in Colorado with Amare Clara Photography, I’d love to hear from you:
