10 Things to Bring to Your Senior Pictures

Besides your outfits and accessories, you may be wondering what else you can bring along to your senior pictures. To make your session more unique, you’ll want to bring along objects that represent you, what you like, your hobbies, or maybe even things you’ve made. Sometimes it’s hard to think about what you could bring to your session. That’s why I’ve created this list of 10 things you can bring along to your senior pictures. This isn’t an extensive list, but hopefully it will give you some ideas.

#1: Pets

We all love our pets, so why not include them in your senior pictures. They’re part of the family and mean so much to you. Whether they’re wild and crazy, or laid back and relaxed, you’ll want to remember their personality just as much as yours, along with remembering the pet you loved dearly in high school.

#2: Sports Equipment

If you’re involved in some sort of sport, then you’ll most likely want to include this in your session. From footballs, to bowling balls and tennis rackets to rollerblades, whatever sport or activity you’re involved in this is the perfect addition to your senior pictures.

#3: Artwork

This is the perfect way to represent yourself and show off your favorite art pieces you’ve created yourself. If you’re an artist, why wouldn’t you want to show off your artwork during your senior session? You could even bring along paintbrushes, an easel, paint tubes, pencils, or anything else that you use to create whatever artwork you like to make.

#4: Chairs

You may have a fun or unique chair sitting around your house that would be great to include in your session. Chairs are perfect for changing up poses or having seating arrangements in different locations like in tall grasses.

#5: Instruments

For the music lovers or band students, your instrument makes the perfect prop to include in your session. You’ll be able to show off your love for music or even look back some day and remember what guitar you used to play when you were in high school.

#6: Signs

Maybe you have some signs from whatever sports or activities you’re involved in, or maybe you have a chalkboard you can write your graduation year on. Whatever signs you have that are all about you, bring those along to your session too.

#7: Awards

You’ve worked hard to earn any and all awards you have, so you’ll want to show off your achievements during your senior pictures. Whether it was for a book you wrote, for being an outstanding student, or for winning a competition you’ll want to be sure to include these in your portraits.

#8: Cars

Whether it’s a sporty car or just your first car, your car is your car. And if you love it or just want to remember what the first car you drove was, then bring it along to your session. Cars are a fun addition to any senior session.

#9: Hobbies

Whatever your hobbies are, you can easily find something to bring along from them. If you like skateboarding, bring along your skateboard. Maybe you like photography, a camera or even printed photos work perfect. For book lovers, bring all your favorite books. Even if you’re a gamer you can bring along your controller. Or maybe you have a collection that you’d love to surround yourself in. If it means something to you, then it will make the perfect addition to your senior pictures.

#10: Fun Objects

Any type of object can be included into your session. If there’s something you see that you think would be a fun addition to your session, bring it along. It never hurts to bring something and not use it, vs. wishing you would have brought something. Fun objects can include glitter, frames, your initial, American Flags, smoke bombs, old suitcases, or even sparklers. The list is endless.

The Best Time to Take Senior Pictures

You’re probably wondering when you should take your senior pictures. There’s a lot of thought that goes into when you should take them, but it really all depends on you. There are multiple factors you should take into consideration when picking the time of year to take your senior pictures. Maybe you haven’t thought about all of those factors, so I’ve made a list of them for you here in hopes it’ll help alleviate any stress you may have picking the perfect date.

Season

We all love certain seasons in the year. Whether that’s spring for all the beautiful flowers, summer because it’s warm out, fall with all the pretty leaves, or winter because of the snow, you’ll want to think about how you want your background to look for your senior pictures.

What Are Your Busy Seasons?

If you’re involved in any activities or just know you tend to be busy during a particular season, you’ll want to take that into consideration when planning your senior session. Don’t let stress overrun your senior pictures. If you’re super busy during a particular season, I would advise either not having your pictures taken during that season or preparing in advance for your session. Preparing in advance would look like scheduling your session months in advance, spending a couple weeks picking out your outfits, and even scheduling hair, makeup, and nails weeks before your session.

Outfits You Want to Wear

If you have certain outfits you’d like to wear, you’ll want to consider what season they fit most in and how warm or cold it is outside. You don’t want to be wearing a tank top in the middle of winter or a sweater on a blazing hot summer day. You’ll also want to think about the colors you’re choosing to wear. Pastels are perfect for spring while burnt oranges and mustard yellows are great for fall.

Temperature / Weather

Each season has its pros and cons when it comes to the temps and weather. Spring can have beautiful, warm days, but can also have periods of cold and rain. Summer is generally beautiful out, but it tends to be hot. Fall can have beautiful, comfortable days, or be really cold and rainy. And for those that love the cold, winter is perfect for you and occasionally can have a nicer day. If you choose to have your session in the winter though, prepare too most likely be cold.

Time of Day

I personally always have my sessions an hour or two before sunset or after sunrise, most of them are before sunset though. This means that in the summer my sessions usually start around 6pm or 7pm, while in the fall they generally start around 4pm or 5pm. If the summer hours are too late for you, you may want to consider a session later in the year so you’re not out as late. And if the fall hours are too early for you, or conflict with other activities or school, then you might want to consider having your session in the summer.

Location

Certain locations are only open during specific times of the year, and some locations hours change based on time of year. Other things to consider about location would be if you’re considering going somewhere like Eckert’s and know that certain fruits and vegetables grow at certain times of the year, or some places have waterfalls that they turn off during the winter, so they don’t freeze. If there’s a specific location you’re wanting to go to, make sure you schedule your session around the hours and seasons of that location.

Jadon | The Surprise Model

When Jadon was looking for a place to take his senior pictures, he spotted a photo I had shared with an iron rod fence and that was his selling point. So, we went out to Lafayette Park and captured some photos right in front of the iron rod fence and with the bridge made from iron. While the trees were bare, we had such a beautiful sunset that easily shined through and gave us lots of beautiful orange and yellow hues, making the color really pop. The sunlight really helped make up for the lacking color at the beginning of spring.

Jadon also had such a great personality, making it easy to photograph him. He looked like he was having such a fun time as he acted like he was modeling for me. He brought along a couple simple accessories, sunglasses and a hat, that doubled as props. And he knew just how to use them! To see Jadon’s modelish senior pictures, scroll down!

Best Prom Picture Locations in St. Louis

If you’re wondering where some great prom picture locations would be around St. Louis, then look no further. It can be hard hunting down the perfect location for your prom portraits, especially when it’s raining, so here are some locations you may or may not have thought about.

Forest Park

Forest Park is the perfect location for a variety of looks, and you’re bound to find a spot where nobody else is at. Outside the museum’s is perfect for an architectural background, or you can head indoors if it’s raining. The Art Museum will have a lot of interesting sculptures and art pieces to make for great backgrounds. The lake at the bottom of Art Hill and the surrounding path are beautiful spots for your prom pictures, or even the Jewel Box with its blooming tulips. The Muny also is perfect if you’re looking for some more architecture in your background or even a beautiful gazebo surrounded by plants.

Union Station

Union Station is a superb location for prom pictures, especially when it’s raining. It’s jam packed with indoor spots for pictures, the hotel being the highlight with its staircase, seating arrangements, and not to forget it’s awesome and colorful lighting. Outdoors is neat around the trains and restaurants as well.

Tower Grove Park

Since prom is in the spring, and tulips bloom in the spring, this makes Tower Grove Park an amazing location for prom portraits. With tulips blooming all over the place, a beautiful lake with additional ponds, and a great, stone structure, you’re bound to find plenty of beautiful backgrounds here. There’s even an old stone building with a walkway just across from the lake if you want to mix up the scenery a bit.

River City Casino

If it’s raining out and you’re looking for somewhere to go with not too many people, River City Casino is a great option. You won’t need to go into the actual casino. Everything you’ll want to utilize is near the restaurants. Take your portraits in the long hallways or sitting at one of the tables. Maybe you even want some portraits by the mirrors or standing on the staircase. There are even some cool doorways you can stand in.

Jefferson Barracks Park

The Visitor’s Center at Jefferson Barracks Park is amazing for prom pictures. With flowers blooming, a gazebo, old stone house and barn you won’t run out of ideas here anytime soon. You can also head down to the riverfront for some portraits on the bridge, or to the entrance of the park for some different architecture.

City Garden / Kiener Plaza / Downtown

Downtown is always a fun spot to take prom pictures around. If you’re wanting to grab a few portraits with the Arch you can do this from a variety of locations, like by the Arch, Old Courthouse, Kiener Plaza, and even City Garden. All of these locations have a variety of opportunities for prom pictures as well, especially with all the sculptures at City Garden.

Local Spots

Have a little bit of extra fun picking out some local locations that may mean something to you, or just are downright fun. You can stop at a cupcake store and grab some cupcakes before prom, which of course you’ll have to take pictures with, take photos up at your high school, or sometimes the venue will have some neat scenery to take pictures around.

Bonus: These locations are also perfect for homecoming photos in the fall, especially if you’re dealing with unpredictable weather!

Why You Should Take Spring Senior Pictures in St. Louis

Spring is the perfect time for senior pictures because life is returning to all the plants. Flowers are blooming, trees are budding, and the grass is colorful. The days feel nicer, and you get excited to get outdoors. You’re also about to graduate, so now is the perfect time to put on your cap and gown for some pre-graduation portraits of yourself.

Everything is Blooming

If you want bright green grass and flowers blooming everywhere, then you’ll definitely want to take your senior pictures in the spring. Between the flowers blooming on trees and in flowerpots, you’re bound to find beautiful flowers somewhere during your session.

Beautiful Days

While spring may mean rain, it also means big, puffy, white clouds are common while it’s not raining, and these clouds make for awesome backgrounds. Mix the evening, spring sunlight in with these clouds and you’ll have a beautiful, dramatic background.

Comfortable Temps

Spring is when the temperature starts to get warmer, but not so hot that you feel like you’re melting. We’re also getting out of the cold winter days, so you won’t have to bundle up as much.

Parks

This is the perfect time of year to visit local parks since there will be so much color, and plenty of flower’s blooming. Some parks have more flowers than others though. And different parks grow different flowers. You’ll find a variety of flowers at Lafayette Park, while Tower Grove Park grows lots of tulips.

Spring Outfits

Now is the time to pull out all those pastel, light colored outfits that are lacey or have flowers on them. You can also start to dress in t-shirts, crop tops, and tank tops while either choosing to wear shorts or pants. It’s even a great time to start wearing dresses again or pair your outfit with a light jacket.