The question I get most before a senior session is some version of "what should I wear?" It is worth thinking about, but it does not need to be stressful. The goal is simple: you should look like yourself, feel comfortable moving around outside, and not disappear into the landscape.
Here is how I'd think through it for a session in Bend and the rest of Central Oregon.
Start with colors that fit the high desert
Our backgrounds are sage, juniper, dry golden grass, rimrock and a lot of open sky. Warm neutrals and soft, muted colors sit beautifully against all of that — cream, oatmeal, camel, rust, olive, dusty blue, terracotta.
Bright neon and large logos tend to pull the eye straight off your face. Pure white can glow in strong sun, and very small busy patterns can go strange at a distance. None of those are hard rules — they are just the things I notice most often when we look back at images.
How many outfits to bring
Two to three is the sweet spot for a full senior session. One that feels a little elevated, one that is genuinely everyday you, and — if it applies — one that says something about your life: a jersey, an instrument, boots, a letterman jacket, your dog's leash.
More than three usually means we spend the best light changing clothes instead of shooting. We only have so much sun near the end of the day, and I'd rather spend it on you.
Think about movement
A lot of my favorite frames happen while someone is walking, turning, or laughing at something off camera. Fabric that moves — a longer dress, a soft skirt, an open flannel — gives us something to work with when the breeze picks up, which it often does in open spots.
Also: whatever you wear, try sitting down in it, kneeling in it and walking uphill in it before session day. We will be on trails, river rock and uneven ground.
Details that quietly matter
- Shoes you can actually hike a short distance in — plus the pretty pair in a bag.
- Steam or iron everything the night before; wrinkles show more than you'd think.
- Skip the smart watch and hair tie on your wrist unless you want them in every frame.
- Bring a lint roller if you own anything black.
- Neutral undergarments for lighter fabrics.
Dress for the actual weather
Central Oregon can cool off quickly once the sun drops behind the Cascades, and we usually shoot in the last couple hours of daylight. I have had July sessions where a jacket felt necessary by the end. A sweater in the car is never wasted — and a cozy layer often ends up in the photos anyway.
In spring and fall, expect breezy conditions at Smith Rock and cold water anywhere near the river or the lakes.
Bring the people who help you feel like you
Parents, a best friend, a sibling holding the extra outfit — I love having them along. A familiar person just off camera is the fastest way to get a real laugh instead of a posed one.
If you're still not sure, text me photos of the options. I'd genuinely rather help you decide beforehand than have you second-guess yourself at the trailhead.