This week I decided to focus on an often overlooked group: the senior guys. Just because killer senior portraits aren’t always on the top of their to-do list doesn’t mean that they don’t want to look great too. I’ve pulled a few different looks together for guys of all types using many of our tried and true guidelines – textures, layers, and of course, an accessory too. 

The first look is a classic casual outfit – jeans with a plaid button up, with either a cool jacket or sweater layered over top.  I think an outfit like this would suit almost anyone and almost any location too, it’s very versatile. The second outfit is the GQ look. J  I’m still waiting for a senior to come with a GQ wardrobe (hint, hint, guys!), but for the right guy it would really make the images stand out.  I can easily see a look like this paired in a modern or more industrial urban environment. The last look is for all of the hipsters out there.  I fell in love with the varsity-style cardigan, but really liked the look of the whole outfit.  Add a fedora for an extra touch!  I think this outfit would look great in an older vintage downtown area or a great coffee shop or cozy book store.  SHOPPING TIP: If you find an article of clothing that you love online, make sure to check out the different images available – retailers often show a full ensemble using the piece (like the cardigan) and it may give you ideas on putting together the rest of your outfit. 

Shopping List

CLASSIC CASUAL

Red Plaid Shirt – Old Navy $24.50 http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=78228&vid=1&pid=897953&scid=897953062
Tan Jacket – Old Navy $65 http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5286&vid=1&pid=897399&scid=897399012
Tan Sweater – Gap $59.99 http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5180&vid=1&pid=869698&scid=869698022&ssiteID=ON
Jeans – Old Navy $29.50 http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5209&vid=1&pid=574143&scid=574143022
Shoes – Piperlime $64.99 http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=21406&vid=1&pid=872954&scid=872954012

“GQ”
Suit – Express (although any tailored suit will do) http://www.express.com/suits-1420/control/page/2/show/3/index.ens
Striped Tie – Express $39.90 http://www.express.com/silk-tie-stripe-37742-825/control/page/20/show/3/index.pro
Solid Tie – Express $39 http://www.express.com/silk-tie-solid-36503-825/control/page/22/show/3/index.pro#jsLink

HIPSTER
Cardigan – Urban Outfitters $39 http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=22563860&color=061&itemdescription=true&navAction=jump&search=true&isProduct=true&parentid=M_APP_SWEATERS
Chambray Shirt – Old Navy $24.50 http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=6921&vid=1&pid=897375&scid=897375022
Khakis – Old Navy $27.00 http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=67525&vid=1&pid=776056&scid=776056002
Sperrys – Piperlime $85 http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=23881&vid=1&pid=833803&scid=833803002
Fedora – Old Navy $14.94 http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5314&vid=1&pid=896360&scid=896360012

Wardrobe is such an important aspect of your overall portrait experience, but putting together the type of wardrobe you want can often become expensive quickly!  This is especially the case for seniors who might be more fashion-conscious than the average consumer.  Well, don’t fear, you can put together several great and stylish outfits without breaking the bank!  I’ve compiled three looks from head to toe, accessories and all, for less than $175.  Better yet, substitute some of your own existing items (like boots or jeans) and save even more. 

For the classic casual look, I’ve paired a great pair of boots with a beautiful sweater and belt combo.  Add in the scarf and knit hat or wear it on its own.  If it’s too cold to stick with short sleeves, you could easily throw on a long-sleeve shirt underneath for a nice layered look.  One thing I always recommend to my cool-weather seniors is to use a great jacket to expand your wardrobe.  Throwing on a jacket can give the appearance of a completely different outfit, especially when paired with some other cold weather accessories like a colorful scarf and hat.  For the dressier look, I went with a pretty seasonal sweater dress glammed up with some fun accessories like the feather headband and necklace.  Add the jacket on top for a few shots to change it up once again!

There are great deals to be found, especially this time of year!  You can get a steal at stores like Forever 21 and Wet Seal, especially on shoes and accessories, while you can grab your staples at a great price at stores like Target and Old Navy.  Happy shopping!SHOPPING LIST

Casual Look
Jeans – Wet Seal $18.55
Sweater – Target $22.99
Boots – Target $29.99

Outerwear & Accessories
Jacket – Old Navy $25.99
Scarf – Forever21 $9.80
Hat – Forever21 $5.50

Dressy Look
Dress – Target $20.99
Tights – Target $5.60
Boots – Wet Seal $23.99
Headband – Forever21 $5.80
Necklace – Forever21 $4.80

Chandler is not only the first senior I’ve photographed for the class of 2012, she also happens to be my baby sister!  That’s the only reason she was able to sneak in while I’m still on maternity leave.  I’ve got to admit, it was a pretty surreal experience.  There are over 11 years between us, and I think in my head I will always see her as a little kid.  Needless to say, after taking her portraits I’m not sure I’ll be able to photograph my own two girls when their day comes … eek!  It was emotional!  I couldn’t be more proud of the beautiful, kind, and godly young woman she has become.  She is such a shining example for my girls, and I’m so glad that she is a part of our lives.  We didn’t have much time to shoot this day (we literally shot until the sun was down), so I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of her gorgeous face in the future too.  We will call this the “Fall Edition.” Chan, I love you so much!

I am sooooo excited to introduce you to this beautiful new product, I only hope that my description and these images do it justice.  Luckily, if you are a client you will get to see and feel them firsthand, but this should help get you excited!    These amazing leather-bound session albums hold 20 5×7 images from your session bound in a soft leather with a photo cover.  They feel …. luxurious.  That’s the only way I can think of to describe it.  They come beautifully presented in a satin lined album box, and you can choose from three leathers: black, brown, and pearl.  These are the perfect option when you want to have many images from your session but the custom designed album is a stretch for your budget.  I can not wait to put these into my senior’s hands this spring, they really do make a lovely keepsake for your one-of-a-kind senior portraits!  As with any newly introduced product, it is available to past clients as well, so please contact me if you are interested. 

Graduation announcements are one of my very favorite products to create for my senior clients.  I just love pairing their beautiful senior portraits with such an important celebration.  As one 2011 senior client put it so well, their custom graduation announcements ended up being a wonderful keepsake for friends and family.  That’s right, these are far too fabulous to get dumped in the trash like those boring school announcements. :)  Here are a sampling of some of my favorite 2011 designs:

 And now for a drumroll …. I have a very cool addition to our graduation announcement line-up for the Class of 2012!  Here they are, new Folded {LUXE} cards!

These unique cards have all of the beautiful design elements of our Flat {LUXE} cards with the added benefit of more space and images.  These come in either 5×5 or 5×7 sizes, are printed standard on luxurious linen paper, and include envelopes as well.  I am so thrilled to be able to offer these to this year’s seniors – I can’t wait to see your graduation celebrated in print!

I love what Morgan of Morgan Dawson Photography has put together just for the senior guys out there.  Here’s what she has to say:

Here in New York, we’re smack in the middle of our high school senior portrait season (my favorite!). While we’ve featured wardrobe advice for the ladies before, it’s been some time since we’ve focused solely on senior guys. Why leave them out?

Whenever I meet with clients to discuss their senior shoot, we spend some time talking about what they plan to wear. What I often find with guys is that their wardrobe is still stuck in a more youthful stage: oversized t-shirts, well-worn and faded jeans, sports or college hoodies, etc. I want them to see themselves as young adults, just a year away from heading to college. The coming year will likely bring formal events, college or work interviews, campus tours, etc.

You know what they say about first impressions…

No one needs to go out and buy an entirely new wardrobe. Not for a second. I never want anyone to buy something for a shoot that they won’t wear again. This is about looking good and making sure that your outfits say something about who you are. Think about what you’re wearing right now – do you love it? Are you happy when you put it on? Do you feel good when wearing it?

Let’s be honest. Your senior photo shoot will probably be the last time you’re really photographed until you get married someday. That’s just how it usually is. Be sure to wear something that you’ll look at 1, 5, 10, 20 years down the road and feel good about.

• You can’t go wrong with one relatively formal look. Pick out a pair of dress or dark pants that you’ll get a lot of use out of – something that would look good with either a dress shirt, polo or graphic t-shirt. Try to find a shirt color that is complimentary to your eyes and skin tone. You can start with it buttoned up and with the sleeves down, then roll the cuffs and loosen a button for a more casual look. An undershirt usually isn’t necessary, but if you’ll feel more comfortable wearing one, just be sure the color is appropriate (black with dark shirts – white with white or lighter shirts). A v-neck is a nice option since you probably won’t even see it.
• I’ll say it all day long – a dark pair of jeans is a MUST. You can wear ANYTHING with them.
• If you want a more preppy look, polos with khaki pants or shorts totally works. Boat shoes or sandals can work, too.
• Layers help you get more longevity out of your session outfits. In the second look, you can take some pics with the red plaid top, then throw on the sweater for a totally different look.
• Are you more sporty and athletic? Go ahead and bring your favorite team hoodie or shirt. Often times you can find unique or more vintage inspired team apparel. If it isn’t something you see every day (standard jersey with a giant mascot or number on the back), it will have a more subtle and timeless look.
• No matter what you wear, please be sure it fits you well. A lot of guys tend to buy larger sizes – maybe thinking it makes them look bigger? – but the opposite happens — you always look smaller and younger. If you can belt a pant or short and have extra fabric folding up, you definitely need to go down a size. If you need to, look for “athletic” or “slim/fitted” shirts.
• As always, accessorize. Chunky watches, hats, cufflinks, sunglasses, etc – they all work and can add something to your look.
• Don’t be afraid of some color. An all black/brown/grey wardrobe can get pretty boring.

Shopping Guide:

Everything was purchased from two stores – Express and Abercrombie & Fitch. While you can find examples of these types of pieces in so many places, I wanted to show that a trip to the mall doesn’t have to mean being dragged to every store in the place. You can get plenty of looks by just picking one or two places!

Look #1:

A&F Bushnell Falls Polo – $42 (comes in 10 colors)

A&F Classic Preppy Belt – $28

A&F Woodsfall Trail Shorts – $22

A&F Rugged Vintage Treads – $48

Look #2:

A&F Seymour Mountain Plaid Shirt – $88

A&F Adams Mountain Sweater – $68

A&F Slim Straight Chino – $39

Express Double Zip Boots- $158.00

Look #3:

Express 1MX Modern Fit Stretch Cotton Shirt – $59.00 (buy 1, get 1 50% off – comes in 23 colors)

Express Stretch Cotton Producer Pant – $69.00 (buy 1, get 1 for $39.90 – comes in 7 colors and machine washable)

Express 2-in-1 Reversible Leather Belt - $39.00

Express Dress Loafers – $108.00

Look #4:

Express Colorblock Hoodie – $59.90

Express Slim Fit Boot Cut Stretch Rocco Jean – $79.00 (buy 1, get 1 for $29.00)

Express Casual Suede Sneaker - $88.00

Honestly, it seems like just yesterday that I was planning and booking and scheduling and daydreaming about the Class of 2011.  Yet here we are in June of 2011, they’ve all been met, photographed, have graduated, and are preparing for this next phase of their lives.  Now it might just be the pregnancy hormones, but I am getting a little emotional typing this up!  I truly feel like I’ve made such wonderful connections with this fabulous group of 29 seniors – they have each touched me and brought joy to my life in different ways, and I can honestly say that it was an absolute pleasure to work with each and every one of you.  We planned, we talked, we laughed, we made many a mom cry (always happy tears), you shared your plans and goals with me, and I shared my stories of my life with you as well.  I hope that you enjoyed our time together as much as I did, and that the final product made you feel beautiful inside and out.  I have enjoyed running into you around town since our sessions, and I hope you’ll never hesitate to stop me and give me a hug if you see me out and about!  I know that great things are going to come from this class, and I can’t wait for your stories to be told!  So here you go … enjoy!

If you can’t see the embedded video above, click here for a direct link.  And now here I am preparing for the Class of 2012 … and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for me!  Can they top the Class of 2011?  Let’s just say that the challenge has been put forth …

I’m so excited to have my session with the beautiful Meagan featured over on an awesome new photography site called Inside the Locker.  It’s all about senior photography, and it has some great inspiration and resources for all of you photographers, and seniors too!  Go check it out! 

Last month, I had the wonderful opportunity to have my work featured over on the awesome new inspiration site TML:Focus, from the ladies of The Maternal Lens.  There are so many amazing photographers and sessions over there, you’d be crazy not to go check it out.  It’s a great place to get some inspiration, whether you are a photographer or a client with an upcoming session.  Thank you ladies for the wonderful opportunity, and thanks to Miss Charly for a killer senior session – “urban vogue” indeed!