Suny Blair Photography Seniors
This page will help you with everything about your senior session! Bookmark this page so you can continue to come back to it as you plan your Senior Portraits!
welcome!
I am so glad you are here! Your senior year is such a special time in your life, and i am so excited you are thinking about me for your senior portraits! This guide is going to be the hub of all things senior! it will let you know exactly what to expect when you book with me. i am super excited to start our adventure together to make your senior portraits everything you want them to be! i am just a phone call or text away if you ever have any questions!
preparing for your senior session
this is the first step of your experience with me. i hope you are as excited as i am! i have some goals of my own for your session:
first, i want to spend time with you so we can get to know each other better!
second, i want to create images that are all about you so that you will cherish them forever!
WHAT'S INCLUDED
THE classic PACKAGE WILL LAST AT LEAST 1 HOUR, INCLUDES 1 LOCATION, AND TWO OUTFITS. SENIOR COLLECTIONS WITH ME INCLUDE AN OUTFIT CONSULT BEFORE YOUR SESSION. I ALSO GUARANTEE AT LEAST 100 IMAGES IN YOUR GALLERY FROM YOUR SESSION.
what to wear
i recommend that you bring 2 outfits: one dressy and one casual. you can go all out for your dressy outfit if you want! for your casual outfit, chose something you would wear for a date night. wear something that you can move in easily. there are more styling tips below with outfit ideas!
how to book
you can book me for any day of the week for your session! i cannot do wednesday evenings, sunday mornings, or 4:00 pm to 6:00 PM sunday evenings (church). the best start time for photos will be based on sunset time. another option for best light would be sunrise. these are just my recommendations, and we can do whatever time you want or need. in order to check availability, you can ask me or view my calendar on my booking site. it is very important to book your senior session 2-4 months in advance in order to get on my calendar. fall is my busy season with weddings so it is very important if you want fall pictures!
what to expect
you may be nervous about your pictures because you have never had professional pictures done before, but do not worry about a thing!
it is completely normal to feel this way, but i am there to help you relax and have a good time! we are going to have soooo much fun! we can pull out the speaker and listen to your favorite songs! i will give you all the prompts you need. i have found that once we get over the initial first pics, most seniors loosen up and have fun with it!
just show up and be yourself! we are going to have a blast!
tips & tricks for having the best senior session
Be on time: I LIKE TO TYPICALLY PLAN OUR START TIME BASED ON SUNSET TIME. IF YOU ARE LATE, IT CUTS INTO THE SUNLIGHT WE HAVE AVAILABLE. SO ENSURING YOU ARE ONTIME WILL GUARANTEE GORGEOUS LIGHT TO WORK WITH! I ALSO HAVE A STUDIO, AND NOT ALL SHOOTS ARE PLANNED AROUND SUNSET (THAT IS JUST THE BEST LIGHTING). WE CAN MAKE ANYTHING WORK!
relax: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE AN EXPERIENCED MODEL TO GET FANTASTIC PICTURES! I AM GOING TO HELP YOU THE ENITRE TIME TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING THE PHOTOS YOU WANT, THAT REPRESENT YOU THE MOST! WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST TIME! I CANNOT SAY THAT ENOUGH! BE READY TO LAUGH, SING, AND DANCE!
empty your pockets: THIS IS ESPECIALLY FOR GUYS! MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN YOUR POCKETS BECAUSE IT WILL SHOW UP IN THE PHOTOS! I AM HAPPY TO CARRY ANYTHING IN MY BAG FOR YOU SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT AT ALL. GIRLS, YOU CAN BRING A SMALL PURSE OR BAG TO KEEP YOUR BELONGINGS IN OR I AM HAPPY TO CARRY THEM AS WELL!
remove your hair band: I try to keep an eye on this religiously! sometimes i don't even notice though. girls, please remove any hair bands on your wrist! i cannot say this enough!
clean your ring: IF YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR CLASS RING, MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAN. I WOULD LOVE TO GET A FEW SHOTS OF IT UP CLOSE WHILE YOU ARE CHANGING OUTFITS. WHEN IT IS CLEAN, IT MAKES FOR THE BEST CLOSEUPS!
get professional hair & makeup: girls, get your hair and makeup done by your favorite stylist. i also have a few that i could RECOMMEND as well! this will relieve you of any stress about your hair and makeup. guys, get a haircut or trim before your session so you are looking the most handsome for your pictures.
get your nails done: make sure that your nails are freshly painted, or go ahead and make a trip to the salon to get the full treatment! chipped nails show up in photos, and they are complicated to correct. neutral colors and pastels are perfect for pictures, and they will match any outfit. bright colors and neons are not good for photos.
bring comfortable shoes: if you are wearing heels for any of your outfits, be sure to bring some flip flops or another comfortable shoe to walk from area to area. this will help tremendously with feeling comfortable!
choosing outfits
how many outfits? most of the time, my seniors like to have at least one casual, everyday outfit (dress like you are going on a date) and one dressier outfit. this will give you two completely different looks. i recommend starting with the dressy outfit first.
choosing colors: when choosing colors for your outfits, i recommend selecting lighter tones and more muted shades. by avoiding super bright, bold colors, it will bring all the attention to your faces and let the eye focus on you. sometimes the super bright and bold colors will reflect on your skin and change your skin tone dramatically. here are some great colors to go with: soft pinks, muted blues, light neutrals (heather gray, creams, leather brown), and white and black all work well.
skip uber-casual clothes: i recommend only bringing flip flops to your session as your comfy shoe to wear while walking from site to site.
dress it up: girls, this is your chance to wear something really fancy for some professional pictures! do you have a prom dress, a long flowy dress, or maybe you want to wear a floral crown or a tulle skirt? bring it! for the girls, i recommend a long, flowy dress that cinches at the waist. for the guys, i recommend a suit or nice pants with a suit jacket and button up shirt for your dressy clothes choice.
flatter your features: girls, keep in mind which features you want to flatter and which ones you want to hide when picking your outfits. if you want to hide your arms, choose a top with sleeves. if you want to minimize your bust, choose a dress with a higher neckline and skip the strapless dress. if you opt for a low cut dress, it will minimize the amount of angles we can shoot.
skip the spray tan: Even if you plan to do it days before your session, it is best to skip getting a spray tan ALTOGETHER. Spray tans tend to photography orange than tan. You don't want to look like an oompa loompa in your senior pictures!
outfit ideas
Click below for some Pinterest boards with more outfit ideas!
recommended session locations
First thing first...I want you to have complete control over your senior session! It is all about you! i encourage you to think of session locations that have meaning to them for you! this will allow for more genuine photos that reflect your personality. we can do them anywhere you want: favorite date spot, family farm, future college, your home, favorite coffee spot, etc. if you are completely stumped on where you would like to take them, we will work together to pick a location that fits you and your vision best!
i have compiled a list of locations below that are some of my favorites! there are so many different backgrounds with each location so you will have your pick of your favorite! if there is not a location you see here but you may be considering, just ask! I am up for any kind of adventure with you!
downtown little rock
SOOOO MANY LOCATIONS HERE!
YOU HAVE THE LITTLE ROCK CAPITOL BUILDING WITH THE GOLD DOORS AND BEAUTIFUL STAIRCASES INSIDE WITH ABSOLUTE GORGEOUS LIGHT DURING THE RIGHT TIME OF DAY.
THERE IS THE CLINTON LIBRARY WITH BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS EVERYWHERE AND SPRAWLING GROUNDS FOR ANY KIND OF LOOK YOU MIGHT BE GOING FOR! THERE IS EVEN A SANDY BEACH AREA BY THE WATER!
THERE IS ALSO THE RIVER MARKET: THE ROOFTOP PARKING DECK, DOWNTOWN STREETS, THE TROLLEY, THE AMPHITHEATER, THE BIG DAM BRIDGE, PRETTY PAVED WALKING TRAILS THROUGHOUT, AND THE LIST GOES ON!
LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE OLD MILL! IT HAS SEVERAL SPOTS TO TAKE AMAZING PHOTOS!
*ALL IMAGES TAKEN AROUND ALL LOCATIONS MENTIONED!
HOT SPRINGS
TOO MANY PLACES TO CHOOSE FROM!
THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES IN HOT SPRINGS TO TAKE SOME AMAZING PHOTOS!
BATH HOUSE ROW (OR DOWNTOWN) HAS AN URBAN FEEL TO IT, AS WELL AS A LOT OF BEAUTY WITH STAIRCASES, HOT SPRINGS, FOUNTAINS, BUSY STREETS, THE BATH HOUSES, AND THE PROMENADE RIGHT ABOVE IT. THERE IS ALSO A ROOF TOP PARKING GARAGE WITH VIEWS OF THE STREET AND BUILDINGS.
GULPHA GORGE IS AN AMAZING LITTLE CAMPING SITE THAT BOASTS SOME WALKING TRAILS, A TINY AMPHITHEATER, AND AN AREA WITH WATER YOU CAN WADE IN WITH A BRIDGE AS YOUR BACKDROP.
CEDAR GLADES PARK IS JUST A SHORT DRIVE FROM DOWNTOWN TO AN AREA FILLED WITH GORGEOUS SCENERY. YOU HAVE THE TREE HOUSE, THE WALKING TRAILS, THE HUGE BOULDERS EVERYWHERE, THE BEAUTIFUL FIELD WITH MOUNTAINS IN THE BACKGROUND, AND A LANDING STRIP FOR RC PLANES.
LAKE CATHERINE ALSO HAS SOME VERY PRETTY SPOTS AS WELL. THERE IS THE LAKE ITSELF, OR YOU CAN TAKE A SMALL HIKE TO THE WATERFALL AND GET BREATHTAKING PHOTOS THERE. IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO GO.
*ALL IMAGES TAKEN AROUND ALL LOCATIONS MENTIONED!
FORDYCE
WHETHER YOU ARE A REDBUG OR NOT, FORDYCE HAS A LOT TO OFFER WHEN CHOOSING A LOCATION FOR YOUR SENIOR PICTURES!
ALSO, MY STUDIO IS LOCATED IN FORDYCE, AND WE CAN GET SOME PICTURES IN-STUDIO IF YOU WANT TO!
I HAVE HAD SO MANY SENIOR SESSIONS IN FORDYCE, AND IT FEELS LIKE I AM ABLE TO FIND A NEW PLACE EVERY TIME!
ALL THE IMAGES TO YOUR LEFT WERE TAKEN IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN OR AROUND FORDYCE.
YOUR SCHOOL - YOUR TOWN
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, I ALWAYS TRY TO ENCOURAGE MY SENIORS TO CHOOSE A LOCATION THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO THEM! IF IT MEANS SOMETHING TO YOU, IT WILL SHOW IT IN YOUR PHOTOS, WHICH WILL MAKE THEM EVEN MORE SPECIAL.
I LOVE TRAVELING ALL OVER ARKANSAS! I HAVE ACTUALLY EVEN TRAVELED TO DALLAS, TEXAS FOR MY OWN DAUGHTER'S SENIOR PHOTOS! I AM UP FOR ANY KIND OF ADVENTURE YOU WANT!
I HAVE BEEN TO GREENBRIAR, PETIT JEAN, MALVERN, EL DORADO, HAMPTON, CAMDEN, BEARDEN, KINGSLAND, NEW EDINBURG, WARREN, RISON, AND THE LIST GOES ON! THERE ARE SO MANY INTERESTING PLACES TO VISIT ALL OVER ARKANSAS, AND I KNOW THAT WHERE YOU ARE FROM IS NO DIFFERENT. WE WILL MAKE YOUR SENIOR SESSION REFLECT YOU!
ALL THE IMAGES TO YOUR RIGHT ARE FROM ALL LOCATIONS MENTIONED.
can i bring my family or a friend?
yes! of course you can!
i most certainly encourage you to bring someone that will help you relax and have fun. in fact, if you are under 18, i insist that you bring someone. i may enlist them in some manual labor while they are there though! :) if you would like to have some photos with your friend or family, we will take the last 10-15 minutes of your session to have a little mini session!
this will mean so much to you after it's all said and done! a lot of families don't get regular photos done, so this would be a perfect time to do it!
can i bring my pet?
yes! yes! yes!
i absolutely love it when seniors incorporate their pets in their sessions! so far I have had dogs and horses, but i would love to capture any of your pets, be it a cat, snake, lizard, turtle, or whatever you love!
the best way to incorporate your pet is to bring someone with you who can take care of them when they are not in pictures. or, someone could bring them at the last 15-20 minutes of your session. another good way is to choose a session location that is less than 5 minutes away from your home.
the photos to the right are from previous sessions where one of my seniors has brought their beloved pet with them!
rainy days
a common question asked is, "what happens if it rains on my session day?" it isn't ideal, but you can still take excellent photos if it's rainy outside!
as a matter of fact, when the skies are overcast, the lighting is perfect! sunlight, especially in mid-day is very harsh and can make unflattering shadows on your face. the clouds act as a natural diffuser. you are able to take pictures anywhere and not have to worry about sun spots and harsh shadows.
if the weather turns into something where we cannot shoot, i will contact you 24 hours before your session to decide when you would like to reschedule your session. if we have to do that, you will have first priority on my calendar!
i also have a studio where we can get a few pictures done there as well!
this photo was taken on an overcast day. if you notice, the lighting is very even and beautiful!
what to bring
extra lipstick/powder - you are going to want to touch up as the session goes on, especially if your skin is on the oily side.
your shade of makeup - if you are getting your makeup done by our makeup artist, you will need to bring the foundation you normally use so you have the perfect match.
extra accessories - we will have time to change your look by adding a hat, a floral crown, special earrings, your cheer uniform, guitar, football/baseball jersey, hunting gear, your car/sxs, instrument, etc. we can include whatever you want in your session! that way it really does make it all about YOU!
online gallery
downloading your photos
You will receive an online gallery with all of your photos. Once you receive your gallery, I recommend downloading your ENTIRE gallery. You will need to save your photos to your computer, and I also recommend saving them to an external hard drive or a flash drive. I do keep your photos forever just in case you ever lose them or misplaced your email.
accessing your photos on your phone
Included in your session is an app that you can download to your phone that will have all of your photos from your session. This app makes it easier for you to download the photos to your phone so you can easily post them to your social media accounts.
ordering prints
You can order professional and affordable prints from a few professional labs. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you use any one of these labs in order for your photos to have the best quality. I do warn you to avoid Walmart, Target, Costco, Walgreens, or any other non-professional printer. The photos do not turn out well. I also do not recommend using Snapfish or Shutterfly. They do well with senior invitations and other products, but the prints are not as good as the labs I recommend.
sharing your images
You are always free to share your images wherever you would like! Whether it is on social media, printing them for your walls, or sending them to your friends, please share away! I want you to treat these photos like they are YOURS! Please do not add filters to them or re-edit them in any way (I know that Facebook tends to crop, and that's okay). A photo credit is ALWAYS appreciated but not required. Feel free to share the link to your gallery with your family and friends!
Check out our services
the classic session
1 hour session time
2 outfits
100 fully edited photos
online gallery & mobile app
$350
the signature session
2 hour session time
Unlimited outfits
150 fully edited photos
online gallery & mobile app
$550
