Senior & Teen Portrait Outfit Guide | Look Your Best in Front of the Camera

This senior nailed her session style with a mix of bold colors, textures, and layers—showing how confidence and personality always shine in portraits.

Senior and teen portraits are about capturing your personality, style, and confidence in a timeless way. Choosing the right outfits can make a huge difference in how you feel and how your photos turn out. Just like a new pair of jeans or a new pair of shoes can make you feel confident and glowing, that confidence come across in-camera and shows in the final images.

This senior portrait outfit and teen guide is designed to help you plan versatile, modern, and editorial wardrobe choices that reflect you.

✨ Before we dive in — how would you describe your style in three words?

1. Start With Your Personal Style

Think about who you are and what you want your portraits to convey. Are you classic, edgy, artsy, sporty, or somewhere in between?

-        Classic: Clean lines, neutral tones, timeless pieces.

-        Trendy: Bold colors, patterns, or statement pieces that feel current.

-        Artsy / Editorial: Layers, textures, and unique silhouettes.

-        Casual / Relaxed: Comfortable pieces that show your everyday vibe.

Your wardrobe should feel authentic—something that represents your personality, not just a “what looks good in photos” checklist.

2. Comfort + Confidence

Forget strict rules about tight or baggy clothing—the key is to wear what makes you feel confident.

-        If you love your fitted jacket, crop top, or skinny jeans, bring it!

-        Baggy hoodies, oversized sweaters, and loose pants can create a relaxed, editorial look.

-        Confidence always shows on camera... comfort is what makes you look natural.

3. Color Choices That Work

Colors can dramatically influence how your portraits feel.

-        Neutral tones: Cream, white, gray, navy, black, all of these are timeless and photograph beautifully.

-        Accent colors: Add a pop of red, cobalt blue, mustard, forest green, or soft pastel to give some personality.

-        Mix and match textures: Pairing soft knits with denim or corduroy, with silk, adds visual interest without being distracting.

4. Outfit Options for Variety

I recommend 3 outfits for all of my senior and teen sessions. This allows you to create different vibes in a single session.

Casual Looks:

-        Jeans, casual pants, fitted tops, sweaters, or relaxed hoodies

-        Flowy skirts, casual dresses, or playful jumpsuits

Dressy / Polished Looks:

-        Button-down shirts, blouses, or tailored jackets

-        Sundresses, maxi dresses, or dressy pants with a chic top

Editorial / Trendy Looks:

-        Statement jackets (leather, denim, or bomber)

-         Layered pieces, bold textures, or interesting silhouettes

-         Play with proportions—oversized shirts, cropped jackets, high-waist pants

5. Shoes & Accessories

Shoes matter, a lot, and accessories help complete a look:

-        Footwear: Clean sneakers, docs, boots, dress shoes, wedges and heels depending on the outfit. Avoid heavily worn shoes—they show up in photos, and become the focal point. Barefoot is always a great choice too depending on the session.

-        Accessories: Hats, scarves, belts, and jewelry can add style. In some cases you may want to keep jewlery simple. Yet, other times a particular look you are going for may allow for more clunky or "statement" pieces.

6. Layers & Texture

Layering is usually one of my top pieces of advice. Layers add depth and versatility. Try combining:

-        Jackets, vests, or cardigans over tops

-        Scarves, wraps, or lightweight layers for movement

-        Mix fabrics: denim + knit, velvet + cotton, leather + soft cotton

Layering allows for quick outfit look changes without needing an entirely new set of clothes. But, you will still want 3 complete outfits.

7. Hair & Makeup Tips

-        Hair should feel like you but look polished and fresh. If you are having hair and makeup done the day of your session, don't wash your hair the morning of. One or two days of no washing actually helps with styling.

-        Natural makeup enhances your features without feeling heavy.

-        Bring a brush or comb for touch-ups between outfit changes.

8. Planning Ahead

-        Try on outfits ahead of time and take a few test photos to see how they look on camera. For all of my sessions I request images of your outfits before we shoot so I know what to expect. Outfits can play a role in fine tuning locations.

-        Bring extra options for variety or in case lighting or background colors don’t complement your first choices.

-        Choose pieces that make you feel confident—that confidence will shine through in your photos.

Pro Tip

For a modern, editorial look, mix casual and polished elements. For example:

-        A cozy sweater with a statement skirt

-        A graphic tee under a tailored blazer

-        An oversized hoodie with sleek pants

These combinations create layered, dynamic portraits that feel authentic and stylish.

💬 Let’s hear it in the comments below: 👇

Are you more oversized + cozy, or fitted + polished?

Ready to start planning and styling your session?

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WHAT'S YOUR STYLE?