5 Ways You Might RUIN Your Senior Session - What you need to know to avoid the regret and FOMO | Larissa Elizabeth Photography - Northern Colorado Senior Photographer

When you book a session with me, you are in good hands! I promise to be there every step of the way so that your session is everything you dreamed it to be. So let's look at the top 5 ways to ruin a session so we can avoid these possible mistakes.

#1: Doing a drastic hair change RIGHT before your senior pics.

Yep, chopping it all off, going from a bright blond to super dark black, cutting your own bangs... they absolutely might be the perfect change you need but they might also be something you regret so making a huge change right before your session doesn't give you anytime to adjust or undo or even get used to the change. So while we all need to really freshen things up every once in a while, I would suggest you either wait until after your senior pics or try something that is a little less drastic before your session. For sure get the trim, the highlights you love, or those other small adjustments to ensure you LOVE your hair. But avoid the drastic changes that can't be undone.

#2: Hiring someone for your very first spray tan the day before your session.

I myself love my skin with that summer glow but a slow, gradual tan is much safer and looks way more natural than the patchy, orange mess that can sometimes result from a first time spray tan. Our skin can react to it all a little different so if you are not used to it or don't know that just-right color to look natural, its easy for it to go wrong. The result can be patchy, oompa-loompa vibes, and even that dirty, grimy, brown fingers and creases look. Now, some people have this down to an art so that might be a different situation but I promise that your natural skin tone will always photograph the best so it's safe to skip the spray tan.

#3: Planning an over-the-top session with elements that are nothing like your everyday persona.

It is a lot of fun to design a session with fun looks, locations, and pops of personality but turning it into a production that is unlike anything you would do on a typical day can really steal the authenticity from the session. The goal is to capture YOU so staying true to that will always come across best in your images. Sometimes a couple comfortable and cute outfits, plus some pretty, local locations result in genuine, fun, and unique images that are just SO YOU! Don't be afraid to keep it simple or find those small additions that really pack a punch but it's best not to go overboard for the sake of making it a show.

#4: Waiting until the last minute to book your session or plan out the details and thus making your stress levels skyrocket.

Planning ahead is NEVER a bad idea. And while we absolutely can bring it all together in a short time, it's not without its stress. You don't need to add any time constraints or reason to worry so planning ahead is key. Most people book their session 2-3 months out and use that time to shop for some cute looks, keep their eyes out for fun places, and find inspiration to take their session to the next level. This gives us time to complete a questionnaire and connect at your consult to design the perfect session. As the session date gets closer, most people will line up any hair or nail appointments 3-7 days before the session and definitely not on the day of. And picking out what to wear as well as the details and accessories is always best to do a few days before the session. That way if there are any game-day decisions, they are few and far between so you can just show up and look good on the day of your session. Its best to plan a head a minimize any stress so everyone looks and feels their best!

#5 Not taking care of yourself leading up to the session.

I tell all my seniors to treat their bodies like they are preparing for a big game. So drink lots of water the day before and the day of your session- being hydrated helps us feel energized, are skin is fresher, and we just feel better. Eating healthy meals in the days leading up to the session also helps support those good vibes. Avoid pulling an all-nighter heading into the session day- its critical as getting enough sleep helps us all feel our best. And then lastly, avoiding the sun in the week leading up to the session ensures that we are not showing up with a red sunburn or peeling skin which is nearly impossible to edit out. Taking good care of your physical (and mental) health can make your senior session a positive experience.

There you have it - 5 things to avoid so that you are cruising into your senior session and walking away with stunning senior images. These things are easily avoidable so that if anything else does pop up and prove to be a challenge, we can work through it and overcome it together. I would love to walk alongside you in this milestone so that we can not only plan out the perfect session that showcases your senior's personality but also ensure that you have the perfect way to showcase these incredible images and display them in your home. You will absolutely LOVE what we create and I look forward to planning out your unique session. Feel free to head over to my site to read more about my Ultimate Senior Portrait Experience that has been fine tuned over the last decade to ensure your portrait session is everything you dreamed it to be. If you have any questions, please reach out otherwise let's get your session booked. Click here to get the booking details so we can dive in!

I can't wait to create with you here soon!

-Larissa