Props to Bring to Your Senior Portrait Session
Senior photography and your high school graduation are a huge milestone in your life—one that deserves to be captured with professional portraits. Senior portrait props help you stand out! Props are a perfect way to help your personality shine through in your photos. No matter what props you include in your senior pictures, it’s important that they help tell the story of who you are and what you’ve accomplished, in this pivotal point in your life.
Here are our favorites; simple, yet beautiful props that you can bring with you on your portrait session.
SPORTS JERSEY AND EQUIPMENT
This is a frequently used classic prop, and one of my favorites. If you play a club or a high school sport, bring along your jersey or uniform and some of the equipment you use for your portrait session. These props are a great way to express what mattered to you in high school and the years of hard work, honing your skills.
DANCE, CHEER, MARCHING BAND
If you’re dancing on pointe you probably have spent close to a decade training your muscles and learning the steps, to be able to even consider putting on those pointe shoes. Beautiful and dramatic portraits can be created showcasing your costume(s) and shoes of ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, or other.
So you’ve done competitive cheer for years and now you are a cheerleader for your high school. Your mom has saved all of your previous uniforms, bows, and medals. What a wonderful way to tell your story by incorporating these memories and accomplishments with your high school cheer uniform and pom poms.
If you are marching in the high school marching band, you’ve likely spent the last 6 years learning to master your instrument. And then there’s the countless hours of learning how to truly march, find your dot, and stay in step and on beat with everyone else! If you have a particular marching band uniform or orchestra attire, you can wear them in your photos, in addition to your musical instrument or baton, to add something extra special to your senior portrait story
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
Maybe your interests are more musical in nature. Why not take a few portrait images with the instrument you play? These seem to always turn out beautifully, and are a great reminder of your skill and all you’ve learned as a musician. Whether you choose the photography studio, outdoors, or even another venue of your choice (we just have to get permission first), we can create a dramatic portrait, worthy of hanging in your home.
BOOKS OR OTHER ACADEMIC MATERIALS
Do you love studying….love to read? Bring along some of your study materials to show off your academic side. Include a few of your favorite books as props in your photos.
PETS/HORSES
Whether you love dogs or horses, there are a variety of ways to include your pet in your senior portraits. Talk to your photographer—and your parents—about how you can make your pets part of the senior photo experience.
PERSONALIZED SIGNS
A sign announcing your graduation year is a great prop to include in your senior portraits. These photos make for fun graduation announcements, gives you a chance to have a little fun, and can transform a portrait into a truly memorable keepsake!
PERSONAL/SENTIMENTAL ITEMS
Bring along a family heirloom or item that is personally important or have special meaning to you. You can include these sentimental pieces in your senior photography session to show off what matters most to you; to make your photos even more special. Whatever item represents who you are is perfect for bringing on your senior photo session.
BALLOONS, CONFETTI, COLORED POWDER
Balloons and confetti are fun props that you can use to add a pop of color in your photos. Consider bringing along some balloons or we can even do a fun confetti or colored powder toss! These are a fun way to add pops of color to your images. however, we need to plan carefully about a location for these options; we just want to make sure the clean-up is easy.
ACCESSORIES: HATS, SUNGLASSES, SCARVES, BAGS
Accessories are a great way to add variety to your photos, allowing you to get multiple looks without having to change clothes. Show your personality in the pictures, with accessories. Even if you feel like a simple sundress with some sandals is all you need, try adding accessories like hats or scarves to change up your style! If you want something more casual, bring along your favorite baseball cap, as well as a cute pair of sneakers or flip flops for pictures by your favorite lake. And don’t forget that you can also accessorize within outfits!!
YOUR WHEELS
Do you love your car, truck, ATV, or motorcycle? Why not include it in your senior portraits? There are plenty of ways to incorporate your vehicle into your photos, and we can come up with fun poses and suggestions. Select an outfit the coordinates with the style of your wheels. If your car is sleek your clothing should match. If it’s an ATV, then maybe your grubbies are best. Solid colors are the best. Be sure your vehicle is clean and polished (unless it’s a rustic classic with character).
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GOALS
If you already know your college or career plans, showcase it in your senior portraits. Show off the tools of your future trade or take a photo in front of a business or office you hope to work at one day in the future. Show off your college pride with hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other gear. These are great for outdoor photo shoots as they’re weather-appropriate and can help set a tone for some unique portraits!
SUITCASES
If you have plans to travel, include some luggage in your photos to show how you’re going to take the world by storm! Imagine you walking down the road, right down the middle, with big dreams ahead!
Be sure to contact Prairie Ridge Photography for more information about your senior photography session!
See the Gallery
Thanks so much for visiting Prairie Ridge Photography! My studio is located in Gretna, Nebraska, making it the perfect choice for your high school senior photo shoot in the Omaha, Elkhorn, La Vista, Papillion, Springfield, Waterloo, Yutan school districts; but I’m happy to travel to other special locations as well.
If you’re interested in a professional high school senior photo shoot–or other types of portrait photography–please get in touch with me. Professional portrait photography is a great way to celebrate major accomplishments–and that’s never been more true than this year, when we all need a reason to celebrate. Finish up your senior’s academic year on a high note with a special photo shoot that highlights their interests, accomplishments, and all that makes them amazing!
I provide a customized photo experience for every age and stage of life. Life holds so many important milestones, and they all deserve to be recorded! I would love to help you create beautiful images of your special memories.
Please enter your information and I will be in touch shortly. Please note that there are a limited number of sessions each month. Contact Prairie Ridge Photography as soon as possible to reserve your date and session time.
All meetings and sessions are private and by appointment only.
Questions? I’m happy to help! Feel free to give me a call–I’d love to chat with you.
Prairie Ridge Photography
David Leger
(402) 499-7798