How to prepare for senior portraits | Fort Wayne Senior Photographer

Senior photographer Bluebird Photography shares tips to help seniors prepare for their portrait session.

Let’s be real — you’re investing time, energy, and excitement into your senior session, but how do you prepare for your senior portraits?? I’ve been photographing high school seniors for nearly a decade, so I’ve taken that knowledge along with some amazing tips from my hair and makeup artists, to bring you the ultimate prep guide with tips straight from the pros.

Here’s everything you need to know to about how to prepare for senior portraits:

Senior portraits taken in downtown auburn, IN and in the Bluebird Photography studio

Senior portraits in an apple orchard in fort wayne, IN

✨ Skin Prep: That Natural Glow Starts Early

Skincare is key — and the week before your session is the most important. For glowing, camera-ready skin, make sure you’re:

Cleansing
Exfoliating
Toning
Moisturizing

Start this routine 7–10 days before your session and especially the morning of, right before you head to the salon. It helps your makeup go on smoother and keeps your skin fresh and dewy all day long.

Senior portraits taken downtown Fort Wayne, IN on the parking garage rooftops and on the sidewalk of the Landing Fort Wayne.

💋 Lips: For Soft, Smooth Close-Ups

Dry lips in close-up shots? No thanks. Here’s a super simple fix:
Each night the week leading up to your shoot, skip the lip balm. Instead, grab a soft toothbrush, dip it in coconut oil, and gently scrub your lips to exfoliate and hydrate.

Trust me, your close-up smile will thank you.

💇‍♀️ Hair: Don’t Overdo It

On the night before your session, all you need to do is wash and blow dry your hair. That’s it!
No product. No flat irons. No curling wands.
The HAMU team will take care of the rest and humidity proof your hair so it holds beautifully throughout your shoot.

A collage of senior portraits in fort wayne, in. Two feature seniors at metea park in allen county, one features a senior in the loft industrial building on barry street fort wayne, and one is located at bluebird photography studios.

📌 Start Pinning!

Before your session, create a Pinterest board of hair and makeup looks you love. Share it with your stylist so we’re all on the same page about your vision and vibe. Visual inspo makes communication a breeze and helps your dream look come to life.

A senior poses with a yellow convertible on a parking garage rooftop in downtown fort wayne, overlooking the Ash Brokerage building.

🚫 Things to Avoid Before Your Shoot:

Skip the sunburn & tan lines. Overexposure = red skin, tan lines, and sunglasses marks (aka not the look we’re going for).
Wax your brows early. Give it a couple of weeks so any redness or irritation disappears. Want natural brows? Tell your esthetician!
Rethink major hair changes. That impulse to go platinum or chop 10 inches? If you’re unsure about how you’ll feel looking back at your photos, wait until after your session.

A senior holds a basketball and sports a Concordia Lutheran jersey posing on top of a parking garage in downtown fort wayne.

Bottom line: Your senior portraits are all about celebrating YOU. These small prep steps make a big difference in how you feel — and how confident you look — in every single shot.

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