Planning your senior pictures in Northern Colorado? Learn 10 things to avoid before your senior portrait session, from sunburns and skateboarding accidents to last-minute hair changes, so you look and feel your best.

Senior year is full of adventures. Between vacations, sports, hanging out with friends, and enjoying summer, it’s easy to forget that your senior portrait session is just around the corner.

After photographing high school seniors for many years, I’ve learned that the two weeks before your session can make a big difference. While life happens and accidents aren’t always avoidable, a little extra planning can help your session go as smoothly as possible.

Here are my top tips for helping you look your best on picture day.

1. Avoid Risky Activities

This is my biggest piece of advice.

A few days before one of my recent senior sessions, my client was involved in a 4-wheeler accident. Thankfully, she wasn’t seriously injured, but she arrived with bruises, scrapes, and healing wounds on her knee and elbow.

A few years ago, another senior wiped out on her skateboard just days before her session and badly scraped her chin.

We still created beautiful portraits, but avoiding those injuries would have made the session much easier.

If possible, skip activities like:

• 4-wheeling or ATVs
• Dirt bikes
• Skateboarding
• Mountain biking
• Trampolines
• Contact sports
• Anything with a high chance of falls or scrapes

Trust me, your future self will thank you.

2. Don’t Try New Skincare Products

The week before your senior session is not the time to experiment with a new skincare routine.

Stick with products you know work well for your skin. Unexpected irritation or breakouts are the last thing you want before picture day.

3. Protect Yourself From Sunburn

Colorado sunshine is beautiful… until you end up with bright red shoulders or peeling skin.

Wear sunscreen and avoid getting sunburned during the week leading up to your session.

4. Skip Last-Minute Hair Changes

Thinking about cutting bangs or trying a completely different hair color?

Give yourself a couple of weeks before your session so there’s time to make adjustments if needed.

5. Leave Blemishes Alone

I know it’s tempting.

But picking at blemishes usually makes them more noticeable.

Small blemishes are much easier to retouch than healing scabs.

6. Be Careful With Spray Tans

If you plan to get a spray tan, don’t schedule it the day before your session.

Giving it a little extra time helps everything look more natural in your portraits.

7. Stay Hydrated and Get Some Sleep

Healthy skin photographs beautifully.

Drink plenty of water during the week before your session and try to get a good night’s sleep the night before.

8. Don’t Forget About Your Hands

Your hands appear in more images than you might expect.

Fresh nails, neutral polish, or neatly groomed natural nails always photograph well.

9. Avoid Tan Lines

Apple Watches, fitness trackers, swimsuits, and sports bras can all leave noticeable tan lines.

If you’re spending time outside before your session, keep those tan lines in mind.

10. Don’t Stress About Being Perfect

The goal isn’t perfection.

It’s creating senior portraits that celebrate who you are during this exciting season of life.

I’ve photographed seniors with braces, bug bites, unexpected breakouts, and all kinds of little surprises. My job is to help you look your best and make the experience fun and relaxed.

Can You “Just Photoshop It?”

I hear this question every now and then, and the answer is… it depends.

Minor bruises, scratches, and temporary blemishes can usually be professionally retouched as part of my normal editing process.

However, larger injuries like deep scrapes, extensive road rash, casts, stitches, or significant bruising require much more advanced retouching.

I always do the very best I can with my editing. In some cases, though, extensive retouching may need to be sent to a professional editing specialist. If that’s necessary, additional editing fees may apply.

The good news? Most of these situations can be avoided with just a little extra caution before your session.

A Real-Life Example

Just a few days before her senior portrait session, one of my seniors had a 4-wheeler accident. She showed up with bruises and scrapes on her knee and elbow that required additional retouching.

Thankfully, she was okay, and we were still able to create beautiful senior portraits she’ll treasure for years.

Her experience inspired this post because I want future seniors to enjoy their session without worrying about bumps, bruises, or unexpected editing.

If you can, save the skateboarding, 4-wheeling, dirt biking, and other high-risk adventures until after your senior pictures. 😊

Ready to Plan Your Senior Pictures?

If you’re looking for a Northern Colorado senior photographer serving Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Windsor, Timnath, Severance, Wellington, Eaton, Johnstown, Milliken, and Ault, I’d love to help you create senior portraits that feel natural, fun, and uniquely you.

Ready to get started? Contact me here → Contact Carol

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Hi, I’m Carol!

I’m the photographer behind Carol Dunnigan Photography, where I specialize in creating personalized senior portrait experiences for high school seniors throughout Northern Colorado. My goal is to make every senior feel confident, comfortable, and celebrated while creating artwork families will treasure for years to come.

New here?

• Learn more about me → Meet Carol
• Browse more senior portrait tips → (Senior Tips category)
• Ready to book? → Contact Carol

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