It was your typical hot and humid August evening when I headed to downtown Bartlesville for one of my latest senior portrait sessions. 

Remember the Johnson family that I shared with you last December? Well, the youngest Johnson family member came back for her senior portraits! 

Last December, I quickly realized how photogenic this family is. And my senior photography session with Bethany reminded me how no one can take a bad photo in that family! They’re truly as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside, and everything about them shows up beautifully in their photos. 

Bethany is the ultimate cool girl, and her photos prove it. She’s down to earth and easy to be around, no matter who she’s with. So capturing this incredible milestone was such a breeze for all of us! 

Here’s how we made it happen:

 

 

Creating the Tailored Bartlesville Senior Portrait Session

While so many of life’s milestones are well known by many, each one is different for every person, and every person celebrates differently. So I always love to create a tailored experience for each of my clients! 

Before our session, I sent a senior session questionnaire to get a better understanding of the things that Bethany loves and what she hopes to get out of our time together. Those questionnaires always help me curate the sessions for each client!

 

 

An August Evening for Evergreen Photographs

There are several decisions to make before any photography session, including your senior portraits! From things like where you’ll have your photos taken (more on that in a minute) to what time of day and even what time of year you want them done, there’s a lot to think about, but you’re not alone in making those decisions. I’ll help you through each one! 

When Bethany booked her session with me, we discussed what she wanted out of the experience. She and her family wanted to have evergreen photos instead of seasonal ones so she could enjoy them throughout the entire senior year. 

So we opted for a beautiful August evening just a couple of hours before the sun dipped below the horizon. It created the most lovely golden glow, which completely matched Bethany’s personality and style!

 

 

Choosing the Downtown Bartlesville Senior Portrait Session Locations

One of the other decisions we’ll make together is where to have your portrait session done. For seniors, I use their questionnaire to get a feel for sentimental places they cherish.

I also love to match the location to the style and personality of the client! So for Bethany’s location, we decided on a mix of a modern senior session, and one that held a pinch of Oklahoma’s charm. 

To start, we made our way to Downtown Bartlesville where we took advantage of one of my favorite rooftops. I loved the way the buildings in the background added some texture and dimension to the photos. They made her stand out! 

When the glow of the evening sun shone through, we headed out to a secret empty field on the east side of town. There is nothing quite like Oklahoma’s charm on a summer evening, and she was looking good for us during our senior portrait session.

 

 

What to Wear for Senior Portraits? 

Way back when I first started capturing life’s different moments, I had quite a few clients ask me, “What should I wear for senior portraits?” 

Throughout the years, I created (and perfected) my signature style guide specifically for seniors to help them choose the outfits that will leave them looking amazing while feeling comfortable and confident! They’ll receive it upon booking, but I also have a free one for families, too!

Want a sneak peek of it? I’ll send it straight to your inbox! 

 

 

And if you’re looking for other ideas for what to wear for senior portraits, then take Bethany as an example! 

Bethany chose a more casual outfit to start with in jeans and a dark green blouse with darling puffed sleeves and a square neckline. She embodied that effortless, cool girl style in this outfit alone! 

I always love when seniors choose to wear something a little more formal for at least one of their outfits. So I was thrilled when Bethany pulled out this beautiful blue dress and espadrille sandals!

Her final dress for some Oklahoma charm was a long white eyelet dress with lovely bow ties for the shoulder straps. Bethany did a great job selecting outfits that complimented her locations. I absolutely loved how these photos turned out!

 

 

Don’t Be Afraid to Add In Something Special

I also love to remind all of my Bartlesville high school seniors to add something special or unique to them. If there’s a favorite accessory they like to wear, a certain jacket, or a favorite pair of shoes. 

Whatever it may be, I ask them to bring it along because that truly helps us capture their personality and spirit in the photos! 

Bethany wore unique accessories, such as her jewelry from one of her best friends. The earrings, necklaces, and bracelets added the perfect touch to complete her outfits.

 

 

Capturing these wonderful milestones, like senior portraits, fills my heart with so much joy. And I truly believe I get to work with the most amazing people doing so! 

Find more MFP Bartlesville senior portrait sessions on our blog!