Have your senior session coming up and have no clue where to start with outfits? It can be daunting knowing what outfits are best and will photograph well. I'm here to help! I specialize in western style photography and here are my suggestions to help you pick the perfect outfits for your western style senior session!
My first tip on picking outfits is to pick clothes that you feel good in. If you feel comfortable and confident it will show in your images. Nothing is worse than putting on an outfit that is out of your comfort zone and not feeling like your best self. It's fun to be trendy and pick "popular outfits" but in the end it is YOUR pictures and they should make you feel like YOU.
These are the categories I would build your outfits around for the perfect western style. Depending on your photographer and how many outfit changes you will be able to do, I would pick a few options for each category.
To start out your session, I like to start with the most comfortable and casual outfit to break the ice and get you feeling comfortable in front of the camera. I LOVE a good graphic tee and jeans. It is classic and hard to go wrong. You can elevate it or dress it down depending on your shoes and accessories. To elevate it, a pair of heels or boots can take it up a step. Adding some turquoise jewelry, maybe a set of Navajo pearls, can give it a very classy twist. A nice pair of Sevens or a dark wash Wrangler would definitely compliment this. To dress it down and keep it casual, keep the jewelry small and simple. For shoes, a pair of sneakers or even barefoot is cute! A pair of distressed boyfriend style jeans would be the perfect match for an effortless casual look. If you are wanting to find some super cute and affordable options for graphic tees and jewelry, I recommend checking out Six Shooter Boutique!
The second outfit I like to shoot is a dressier option. This can be a cute flowy dress and heels or boots. I love a cute colored boot with a dress. Walking through tall pasture grass in a flowy dress is a timeless option for your western senior pictures. To accessorize, a tooled leather hip belt, or a silver concho belt would be stunning. Or if dresses aren't your thing, I LOVE a good blazer outfit with a bootie with a small heel or boots. You can take a blazer a few different ways, a nice pair of jeans, a cute skirt, or a classy pair of shorts. Whatever you choose, remember to keep true to your style and just elevate a little. If you aren't sure where to start looking for outfits like these, I recommend Dakota Dandelion Boutique. The outfit with the pink blazer is all from her boutique. You can't go wrong with anything from her!
The perfect outfit to finish out your western senior session is classic button up rodeo shirt and hat. This is when my seniors usually like to incorporate their horses and any buckles or saddles they have won. Saving this until last ensures you don't have hat hair for the rest of the outfits and if you are shooting at golden hour, you can get some gorgeous sunset shots with your favorite horses. I love it when seniors keep it classy and simple with this outfit. But if you do what to add something, add a rodeo jacket over your shoulder. If you have leather jacket from National High School rodeo, this is the perfect time to incorporate that. Or if you rope, I love a good swing shot in your rodeo attire. Wrangler and Rock N Roll Demin have lots of awesome options to find jeans and button ups.
In the end, don't stress. Picking outfits for your western senior session should be a fun memory. It's also nice to bring options with to your session. I love when my seniors bring jewelry and shoes and ask my opinion on what looks best. Don't be afraid to ask your photographer to help you out as well! I'll say it one more time, your senior session should celebrate YOU, pick clothing that makes you feel your best and shows you off!
If you are looking for a western style photographer for your senior pictures, I would love to be your gal. To get in touch fill out my contact form, I'd love to get your session set up!
Keep it Casual
Dress it up
A classy finish
