Welcome

A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE

I am so thrilled to be working with you and am counting down the days to your session! It’s perfectly normal to have some jitters about getting photos taken. Honestly, I still get the butterflies before having my photos taken too - and I do this for a living! I totally get it. I put this guide together to help you get the best results! I'm going to take great care of you and am here to help every step of the way.

I am thrilled you pulled the trigger (Seriously just imagine the MAGIC we are going to create together!). Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your trust in me. It is an honor to capture such a pivotal moment in your life.

Please carefully read the topics I will cover, they will help you get the most spectacular photos ever! 

I know such an extensive guide can be a little overwhelming upon first glance... BUT believe it or not, "simple" is our key word! (You'll see as you read). Most of my clients are attracted to the very specific and unique look of my work (and now I'm blushing over here).

Hopefully you feel the same! I created this guide as a resource because I do need some of your help to achieve this look. I'd be in heaven if you read the helpful tips here, and as always, please reach out to me if you have any questions at all!

- Rachel

Are you ready for some good news? My senior sessions are completely customizable to you and your interests. This guide will help you reflect on what locations and  outfits fit you best. And I am just a text away from helping you figure all this out. All I really ask of you is to enjoy your experience. After all, the best part of appreciating the photos on your walls is knowing you had an awesome time getting them taken.

I'm SO excited. Have I mentioned that yet?...

Before the big day

The Pre-Game

I will keep an eye on the forecast the week before our session. It can change quickly... in either direction! If the forecast is sketchy there is always a bit of a gamble with whatever choice I make, as the weather can change on a dime.

However, I will try to make the best decision based on my professional experience and let you know if we will need to reschedule (I will try to do this before you would begin getting ready!). The most important thing to me is the lighting outside. Even if it's not raining but the clouds are too dark, we will need to reschedule.

Dark clouds make for unflattering shadows, and of course the possibility of rain is no fun when you just spent so much time on your outfit and hair.

In case of bad weather

What if I don't know how to pose?

I think most of us feel this way at heart. Luckily not only are my sessions extremely relaxed, but I fully guide you into poses and give you prompts so you can have moments of genuine laughter and fun together. Often you won't even realize how amazing a moment is and I sneak a photo (such as the example on the right).

I'm here to see the beauty in what seems like ordinary moments.
It is one of the best and most fulfilling parts of my work

All of these are cool. Just... not so much when it comes to photos ;). Gum shows no matter how much you think it won't (hiding it behind your teeth can't last for every shot), transition lenses look like sunglasses (we want to see those beautiful peepers!) and even if a spray tan looks ammmazing in person, it really throws off the skin tones that I absolutely pride myself in capturing. Your natural skin color is the BEST!
If you wear glasses and have transition lenses, you can either remove the glasses altogether for the photos, or if they are an integral part of your look, you can change them out for a pair with traditional lenses. I will try my best to minimize the glare so we can see those gorgeous eyes!

GUM, TRANSITION LENSES, AND SPRAY TANS...

Helpful Hints

Honing in on your style

a few things to keep in mind

It is hard to feel like you truly know yourself, especially during such a pivotal year in your life. So me, asking you how you envision your senior photos, can be a bit daunting.

If you don't have a clear vision. I always ask my seniors to think about what they enjoy doing, shows they love to watch, and characters in those shows they like. Hobbies and TV shows are a big key to what we are passionate about. One of my recent seniors loves Stranger Things. So we did part of his shoot in an arcade and really decided to channel one of his favorite characters. 

You can use this opportunity to really represent yourself, or choose to represent yourself in the way you have always wanted to. This session is ultimately about capturing you, so what you say goes! 

You don't have to have a grand idea, if you just want some good images of you smiling. I'm totally here for that, but if you want to do something fun unique, I'm totally here for that too! The sky is the limit and I'm dedicated to providing you with an experience you will cherish and remember!

Your session is about you!

I totally understand how your are feeling. This is a really big moment and time flew by way too fast. This can be a difficult moment and hard to step back and let your senior make some decisions, especially since you still manage a lot of their doctors appointments and work/sport schedules.

I just ask my parents to really step back and let their seniors know that they have full control of this session, and that you want them to make it all about them. Keep in mind that sometimes, Seniors do better being photographed without their parents watching the entire session. If that is the case, I will have you in the general area, but sometimes not watching so close can allow them to open up.  I promise in-between all of the fun poses, I will get some great images of your senior smiling and radiating from the inside-out the beautiful person they are.

Planning this session can be a really fun way to connect and get to know where they are at right now. Leaving space for them to express themselves, really grows your bond further before they jet off to their next phase of life.

My biggest advice is to just take a deep breath and enjoy this moment with them (in-between some tears.) 

a Note to Parents

Outfits

The biggest piece of the pie

Here we go! Depending on who you ask, this tends to be either the most stressful or the most fun part of the whole process (although I'm SO here to help you).

At the most basic level, I want you to wear something that you are comfortable in, but just a little elevated. You can elevate with accessories, shoes, and layers.  If you feel like you look good in a comfortable way, your photos will show it!

Your outfit can really make or break your photos and the vibe you are wanting to give off. It's like a bakery where you are choosing which cupcake you want. I'm going to help guide you to the recipe we need so we can make the exact flavor you have chosen. Once we really hone in on what vibe you want to capture, I'll put together a few outfit options you can use as inspiration for yours. 

Depending on which package you chose, I always recommend at least one timeless outfit and one fun outfit. I will go into detail about your timeless outfit choices below:






Your timeless outfit

Perhaps you've noticed that mostly everyone on this guide is wearing light colors. There is a reason for this! A photographer's best friend is light. Light is my "paint," if you will. I use it to get a very specific look. When you wear light clothing, the sunlight bounces around, reflects back onto your face and anyone who is around you, creating a beautiful glow. It flatters your skin - making it creamier, and hiding flaws. It also helps create the overall aesthetic of the photo.

Another reason I highly recommend light colors is that sunlight combined with vivid colors (such as really bright blues, neon yellows, etc) will make for an unnatural color cast on your skin. With the lighting I use, if you are wearing bright green and it reflects back onto your face (...and it will....) it can make you look slightly sick and we don't want that! I want to make sure your skin looks vibrant, healthy, and true to color. 

My aim when it comes to clothing, is to have it NOT distract from your faces and expressions! I want the focus to be solely on you and your personality shining through. When you are wearing simple and timeless clothing, the attention isn't drawn to your clothing... but to those amazing features I just mentioned. This is a great thing! When you wear busy patterns, it competes for that attention and your eyes are naturally drawn there.

The squint test

When in doubt about a pattern, do a "squint test" - just look at it, squint your eyes, and if the clothing item looks like a solid color or close to it, it's good to go! If it still looks pretty busy and patterns can be easily distinguished, it's better to go with a more delicate pattern. 

While adorable in person, these kinds of patterns don't photograph well for a timeless look. The areas of high contrast (aka: light and dark colors close together) attract the eye and compete for attention... taking the focus from faces. This is one of those seemingly little choices that actually make a big impact!

Light and delicate patterns are softer and easier on the eyes (and the overall color palette). If you squint at these you won't see too much that sticks out. Once again, this clothing doesn't attract the eye, leaving it free to focus on the most important things - the faces you love!

color schemes

I talk about "overall color aesthetic" (or "color palette") a lot. Your clothing color takes up a lot of the space on the 2D surface of the photo, and the colors you choose make a big impact. At the end of the day, these photos are for YOU and go on your wall! They get passed down to your family and while I'm the one creating them, they are yours to enjoy in the most special of ways.

If you still, through-and-through, prefer a bit more vibrant color, that is completely up to you and I'm still SO happy and honored to be the one to take your photos! Here are examples of different color schemes to shoot for: 

Soft color schemes: pastels, creams, neutrals

vivid color schemes: Jewel tones mixed with neutrals

nah....

yeah!

Pets are welcome to be involved in your session! Please let me know ahead of time so we can ensure a pet-friendly location.

I recommend planning for your furry friend(s) to be at the beginning of your session - I won’t use them in every single photo (unless that is what you prefer!) so it is also really helpful to have a friend available to help "behind the scenes."

If you do bring your fur babies, I recommend letting them get plenty of exercise before the session and bringing their favorite treats and toys! 

Significant others are always welcome as well. They can be there to help hold things, and we will snap a few photos of them with you along the way.

Pets + Significant Others

FOR THE LADIES

FOR THE gENTS

find it fast

When the ladies wear dresses, it really helps create that timeless look. I highly recommend at least one dress for your photos! The floor length flatters, and when a little breeze flutters by it helps create motion in the photo. (psst... wearing dresses is NOT an absolute must, but it really does help create the aesthetic you often see in my work!). If it's cold outside, I recommend bundling up for sure. Don't worry about wearing a dress if it's too cold! Clothing colors matter more than clothing styles at the end of the day.

Wardrobe Tips

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

find it fast

I realize that as women we all have areas of our bodies that we are self-conscious about. I hear you and want you to look and feel your best. Always let me know if there is something that you normally don't love in your photos, so I can pose to avoid/minimize that. Here are some tips for body types: 








Wardrobe Tips

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

> Pear Shaped: To show off your curves, focus on cinching the waist with an A-line design that flares at the bottom.

> Apple Shaped: An A-line style with gradual flow from the waist to the legs is always flattering. This shape is also great for a dress with texture and/or a deep V-neck.

> Busty: Scoop and sweetheart necklines offer support and open up the decolletage, so the focus is on the face rather than the bust.
  
> Small chest: Look for textured or ruched styles to create fullness in the chest area.

> Plus sized: Empire-waist dresses are super       flattering and emphasize the smallest portion under the bust to create the effect of a slender silhouette from top to bottom. If your arms make you feel self conscious - I recommend flutter sleeves.

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While it isn't 100% necessary, feel free to go all out! Professionally done hair & makeup stand up to the "test of time" nicely, and if there is humidity or wind, it is a great decision.

With the settings I use to shoot, pretty please go a shade or two darker with your blush and lipstick than you usually do (these things will photograph lighter than they look in person). Not heavy! Just a *tad* darker. Feel free to put a little bit of blush on your kiddos as well if you think they need it! (I do that all the time in photos with my kids) ;)

Hair & Makeup

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

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Shoes are a wonderful way to have some self expression. For timeless photos, anything neutral, light and/or NOT distracting works! But for your fun outfit, if you really want your shoes to shine, have fun with your footwear choices! 


Shoes

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

find it fast

I'm not big on tons of elaborate props (I like to keep the focus on your beautiful faces!), but I'm ALL for a meaningful prop or two in a select handful of images. Especially if we are highlighting a hobby of yours or a sport that you are into. 

Props

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

find it fast

First off, this is just a suggestion and not the end of the world, but... clothing that is cream or ivory, photographs white. Clothing that is "WHITE-white," photographs blue(ish)! Cream clothes are softer on skin tones and luckily easier than ever to find...(this hasn't always been the case!). So if you can, go with cream pretty please.

*The exception to this is if you are using a lot of gray in your clothing! Grays and whites go better than grays and cream! Think cool tones vs. warm tones.

White vs. Cream

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

find it fast

Joyfolie
Ivy City
J. Crew
Adored Vintage

 
Baltic Born
Morning Lavender
ASOS
JessaKae


Abercrombie
Pink Blush
H&M
Needle & Thread
Madwell

Favorite Shops

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

find it fast

For the fellas, SIMPLICITY is the best bet! For shirts, I recommend a button-up dress shirt (rolled up to the elbows if the temperatures allow! It helps create a dressy, but not stuffy look). I would avoid polo shirts, at least for my particular style.

For bottoms I highly recommend keeping them light. This can make a HUGE difference in the photo aesthetic. Khakis, tan pants or light grey will work. If you'd like to go the denim route, make them very light. I discourage dark pants (black, navy, dark brown, etc.) because of the contrast it creates with other light colors. Your eye will go right to it!
*Adding layers and textures by way of blazers, suspenders, vests, etc. is always a good idea as long as the colors stay muted.

Keep it simple!

WHERE TO SHOP

Outfits

for the fellas

find it fast

J. Crew
Zara
H&M
Jack Threads 
Frank & Oak 

Nordstrom 
Urban Outfitters 
Nordstrom Rack
Leather & Cotton

Wardrobe

WHERE TO SHOP

Outfits

for the gents

Locations

We love big fields with trees and flowers around here, and a beautiful studio set-up. From the rolling hills to lavender fields, to gorgeous studios and city sessions, the options for senior session locations is endless! 

Wezergyn Gardens
Ault Park
Dayton Art Institute (outside)
Eden Park
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum
Glenwood Gardens

CLASSIC & ELEGANT

Oakes Quarry (desert vibe)
Mountain vibe area (a few choices)
Wildflower field (July-Sept)
Lavender Field (June-July)
Marmalade Lily
Cherry Blossoms (April)
Aullwood Audobon
French Park (Tall Grass)

Nature

Downtown Cincinnati
Downtown Columbus
Downtown Hamilton

URBAN

Caesar Creek State Park
East Fork Lake

BEACH

A Vineyard
Tree Farms (June - Sept)
Open Field (year round)
Pine Tree Forest (Hamilton or Oxford, OH)
Carriage Hill Metropark (farm vibe)
Caesar Creek Emergency Spillway

RUSTIC/Nature

Arcade
Photos with your car
Photos on your highschool field
Picnic in the park
Downtown Cincinnati Train Car

ADVENTURE

Studio

Mill Street Studios (Cincinnati)
Be Changed Studio (Columbus)
Remedy Studios (Dayton)
Locust and Vine (Cincinnati)
Wildfire Studio (Hamilton)

Well, ideally you get back in the car and say, "Wow, did we really just take photos or just hang out?" Or... "She was the best. Rachel for President." 

On my end I will come home, give my kids some hugs, and then start downloading your photos. From there I will need two weeks to properly go through the images, weed out multiples and blinks, and then edit them in my specific and unique style. Two weeks after the date of your session I will send you an email with a link to your gallery. From there you will be able to view your photo proofs and make selections for your order!

And remember... I'm here to assist you in every step along the way.

When to Expect Your Images

.... At the end of the day, my greatest wish is that you enjoy your session and are proud to share these with your friends and family. one of my greatest joys is that I get to be a small, behind-the-scenes part of preserving your legacy.

Some Parting Words

I know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your session! However if there is something I missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to text or email 
roguestatephotography@outlook.com
513.265.8702

THANK YOU!