How to Make Your Senior Portraits Feel Like You
After nearly 25 years of photographing high school seniors across Carmel and Indianapolis, the sessions I remember most are never the ones that followed a formula. They are the ones where a senior walked in with a beat-up guitar case, a nervous rescue dog, or a worn-out pair of cleats they had been kicking around in since middle school. Those details are what make senior portraits worth keeping for the rest of your life. Furthermore, they are what separate a truly personal portrait from one that could belong to anybody.
In this senior portrait guide:
- Why personalization matters more than themes
- How meaningful props change everything
- Outfit choices that actually reflect you
- Choosing a location that fits your personality
- How we plan your session together
- Frequently asked questions
Why Personalization Matters More Than Themes
I want to be honest with you about something. I am not a theme photographer. I do not show up with props, backdrops, or a Pinterest board full of staged setups. In fact, when families ask me about doing a “theme” session, I gently redirect them every time. Because themes fade. What is trendy this year looks dated in five. And senior portraits are not meant to look dated. They are meant to look like you.
What I am passionate about, however, is personality. There is a real difference between dressing a set to match a trend and building a session around who a person actually is. One produces a pretty picture. The other produces a portrait that makes your mom cry in the best possible way when she opens that frame twenty years from now. Additionally, it is the kind of image that ends up on a wall instead of in a drawer.
So when I talk about personalizing your senior portraits, I am not talking about themes. I am talking about you. Your interests. Your style. The things that make you different from every other senior I photograph this year. That is where the magic lives, and that is exactly what we build your session around. If you are curious about what a full session looks like from start to finish, my complete guide to what to expect at your senior photoshoot walks through every step of the process.
How Meaningful Props Change Everything
I do not hand seniors a list of props to bring. I do not keep a bin of stock items in my studio for people to pose with. However, when a senior shows up with something that genuinely means something to them, the whole session shifts. The energy changes. They relax. They stop thinking about how to pose and start just being themselves.
I once had a senior bring a guinea pig. I absolutely loved it. It was unexpected, a little chaotic, and completely perfect for who she was. Similarly, I have photographed seniors with saxophones, lacrosse sticks, hand-stitched quilts, worn-out hiking boots, and the family dog who refused to cooperate for even one frame. Those sessions are my favorites because the images tell a real story.
What Makes a Good Prop for Senior Portraits
The best props are things you already own and already love. They are not purchased for the session. They are not borrowed to look a certain way. They are the items that, if your house were on fire, you would grab on the way out. Consider things like:
- A musical instrument you have been playing for years
- Your pet — dogs especially photograph beautifully outdoors
- Sports equipment tied to a sport you have played your whole life
- A hobby item like a camera, a sketchbook, or a well-loved book
- Something passed down from a grandparent or family member
The key is meaning. Moreover, the key is that it belongs to your story, not to a trend. If you are wondering whether something would work, just reach out before your session and we can talk through it together.
Outfit Choices That Actually Reflect You
Outfits are one of the single biggest factors in how your portraits turn out. Furthermore, they are one of the things seniors stress about the most. I get it. You want to look great. You also want to look like yourself and not like you borrowed someone else’s wardrobe for the afternoon.
Here is how I handle this with every senior I work with. After you book your session, you are welcome to send me photos of your outfit options. I will give you my honest opinion. Not a generic style guide, but real feedback based on your specific coloring, your chosen location, and the overall feel we are going for. I have been doing this long enough to know immediately what photographs well and what creates problems on camera that you cannot always predict from a mirror.
General Outfit Guidelines That Actually Work
A few things I consistently recommend after nearly 25 years of senior sessions in Carmel and the Indianapolis area:
- Soft, solid colors almost always outperform busy patterns
- Clothes that fit well photograph far better than clothes that are oversized or too tight
- Bring at least two outfit changes to give your gallery real variety
- Avoid large logos or text on shirts — they date quickly and pull focus from your face
- Wear something you have worn before and feel comfortable in, not something brand new that you are still figuring out
Beyond those basics, I want your outfits to feel like you. If you are a jeans-and-a-flannel person, we can absolutely work with that. If you want one dressy look and one casual look, that is a great combination. Additionally, if you want to bring something that feels a little unexpected or bold, let’s talk about it. I would rather you bring three options and we decide together than have you show up in something that does not feel right.
Choosing a Location That Fits Your Personality
Location is one of the most powerful tools we have for making your portraits feel personal. Therefore, it is one of the first things we talk about when we start planning your session. The background in your portraits is not just scenery. It is context. It tells the viewer something about who you are without a single word.
I work with seniors all over Hamilton County and the Indianapolis area, and I have a few locations I come back to again and again because they consistently produce beautiful results. Coxhall Gardens in Carmel is one of my favorites. The architecture, the open space, and the variety of backdrops within a single location make it incredibly versatile. Similarly, the Village of West Clay has a warmth and charm that photographs beautifully, especially in the golden hour light of late afternoon. Central Park in Carmel is another one I love, particularly for seniors who want something that feels a little more natural and open.
How We Choose Your Location Together
When we chat before your session, I will ask you what you want to see in the background. Do you want lush greenery? Architecture? Open sky? Something that feels urban and modern or something that feels warm and natural? Your answer shapes everything. From there, I can point you toward the locations that will serve your vision best. Additionally, if you have a specific spot that is meaningful to you, like a park you grew up in or a neighborhood you have always loved, I am absolutely open to hearing about it.
The goal is always the same. I want you to look back at these portraits in thirty years and feel like they captured exactly who you were at this moment in your life. Location plays a huge role in making that happen. If you want to explore more about planning the perfect session, take a look at my thoughts on everything that goes into planning senior pictures from start to finish.
How We Plan Your Session Together
One of the things I hear most often from seniors after their session is that they did not expect the planning process to be so personal. They assumed they would show up, get pointed at a camera, and leave with a gallery full of poses they had seen a hundred times before. That is not how I work. Furthermore, that has never been how I work.
Before every senior session, we have a real conversation. We talk about locations and what you want in the background. We talk about your outfits and I give honest feedback on what will photograph well. We talk about whether you want to bring anything meaningful to the session, whether that is a pet, an instrument, or something else entirely. That conversation is where your session actually starts to take shape.
What to Think About Before We Talk
You do not need to have everything figured out before we connect. However, it helps to have thought about a few things in advance:
- What do you want these portraits to feel like — relaxed and natural, polished and classic, or somewhere in between?
- Are there any activities, interests, or items that feel like a core part of who you are right now?
- Do you have a strong feeling about indoor versus outdoor, or are you open to both?
- How many outfits are you thinking, and do you want help narrowing them down?
The more I know going in, the better I can build a session that truly reflects you. Moreover, seniors who take a few minutes to think through these questions consistently walk away with portraits they are more excited about. It is worth the five minutes of thought before we get on the phone. And if you are still early in the process of figuring out what kind of session you want, my post on how to choose outfits for your senior pictures is a great place to start thinking through your look.
A Note on Timing
Senior sessions book up quickly, especially for summer. The Class of 2026 filled my calendar faster than any year I can remember. Therefore, if you are a junior right now thinking about your senior portraits, the best time to reach out is sooner than you think. I take a limited number of seniors each year because I want every session to get my full attention. Consequently, waiting until the last minute means potentially missing the dates and locations you really want. You can see everything about booking and investment on my senior photography page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personalizing Senior Portraits
Can I bring my pet to my senior portrait session?
Absolutely, and I love it when seniors do. Pets add so much personality to a session. Dogs especially photograph beautifully outdoors, and as long as you have someone who can wrangle them between shots, we can absolutely make it work. Just let me know in advance so we can plan the right location and timing around having an animal with us.
Do I need to bring props to my session?
Not at all. I do not provide props and I do not require them. However, if there is something meaningful in your life — a musical instrument, a piece of sports equipment, something with sentimental value — I genuinely encourage you to bring it. The best props are the ones that already belong to your story. They do not need to be purchased or planned. They just need to mean something to you.
How many outfit changes can I bring?
I recommend at least two outfits to give your gallery real variety. Most seniors bring two to three looks. Furthermore, I encourage you to send me photos of your options before the session so I can give feedback on what will photograph best for your specific location and coloring. A little planning goes a long way when it comes to outfits.
Can I choose my own location for senior pictures?
Yes, and I want you to. Location is one of the most personal parts of your session. I have go-to spots I love around Carmel and Hamilton County — Coxhall Gardens, the Village of West Clay, and Central Park are among my favorites — but if you have a location in mind that feels meaningful to you, let’s talk about it. The goal is always a backdrop that feels right for who you are.
How far in advance should I book my senior session?
As early as possible, honestly. Summer books up fast, and I limit the number of seniors I take each year so I can give every session the attention it deserves. If you are a junior, right now is not too early to reach out. Additionally, booking early gives us more flexibility with dates, times, and locations — which ultimately means better portraits for you.
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