High School Senior Photography in NYC

Preparing to graduate high school is such an exciting time for seniors! Your senior year will be filled with plenty of unique experiences, including your senior portraits. We work with seniors in NYC to capture their portraits. But we also like to make sure they are prepared for their session. You probably have heaps of questions about your senior photos. Questions like, When should I begin to search for my photographer? What should I wear? Most importantly, how can my photos be a true reflection of who I am at this very moment? We’ll go over all of those questions, plus we’ve thrown in some tips for posing! If you want to be fully prepared for your upcoming photography experience, keep reading for more.

A graduate in a purple gown walks confidently across a city street. In the background, there are buildings with NYU banners hanging from them. The scene captures the essence of graduation day in an urban setting, perfect for a senior portrait.

An NYU graduate, dressed in a purple cap and gown, enthusiastically throws her graduation cap into the air in celebration. She stands in front of a large, ornate stone archway on a sunny day. Trees and buildings frame the joyful scene in the background.

The Importance of Senior Photos

To say this is a big moment in your life is an understatement. Graduating from high school marks the very beginning of your foray into the world. At this very moment, you are literally living out “the good old days”. You will look back on this period of your life for years to come. With your senior photos helping you savor this moment just a while longer.

Maybe you are headed off to college, design school, or taking a gap year to travel. Whatever your next step, the path set out before you is laid with new experiences, friendships, and lifelong memories. A senior photoshoot will memorialize it all as it unfolds.

A teen with long hair, wearing a white crop top and pink pants, is sitting on a stone bench in front of a large hydrangea bush. She is smiling and appears relaxed in the outdoor setting, capturing the essence of a serene senior portrait in NYC.

When To Book Your Photographer & Schedule Your Portrait Session

The most important thing we can stress is not to wait to find the photographer you want to work with! Even if that means beginning your search for a photographer in NYC at the end of your junior year.

There is always a scramble of families reaching out to book photography. Especially as the yearbook deadline approaches and end-of-year activities begin. Do not wait that long! The photographer you have your eye on may have their books closed.

We highly recommend using your junior year to begin searching for a photographer in New York City. You don’t have to book them, but you do need to use that time to screen their work. We will say this as loud as we can! Please check out their website and online galleries, not just their social media profiles! You want to be sure their vision matches the vibe & aesthetic you want out of your portraits. Once you find a photographer you love, contact them immediately. This will give you your choice of dates and seasons.

A young woman stands on a pebbled shoreline at sunset with the NYC waterfront and Brooklyn Bridge in the background. She is wearing a beige outfit and looking towards the camera as the warm sunlight bathes the scene, making her senior portrait serene and picturesque.

A high school senior with long blonde hair stands on a quiet street beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, flanked by a red brick building and green foliage. She is wearing a white crochet top and beige crochet skirt, walking towards the camera with a calm expression.

Best Timing for Your Photoshoot

Do you want outdoor photography with the best weather possible? Then you can’t go wrong with scheduling your senior portrait photography in NYC during Fall or Spring. Both of these seasons are optimal for golden hour sessions (usually at sunrise or sunset). Each of these seasons will also give you a bit more flexibility in planning your outfits for an outdoor shoot.

What are Senior Portraits Used For?

Senior portraits are an amazing way to commemorate your moment and savor the next steps in your life. But, what do you actually use the photos for? Depending on your high school, you might be able to hand off your senior portraits for your space in the yearbook. However, many schools have restrictions on what passes as a yearbook-quality photo. If so, don’t worry! You can still put those photos to good use! Here are some of our favorite ways to use your portraits.

Graduation announcements
Gifts for your parents & grandparents
Social media posts

A senior in a white shirt and ripped jeans sits on a large rock in a park, with the NYC skyline featuring tall modern buildings in the background. She has long hair and is looking slightly to her right, surrounded by greenery under a serene sky.

What to Wear for your Senior Portraits

We’ll discuss what to wear for your senior portraits. But there is one important thing we should mention first. The outfits you select should be a representation of you. Which also includes accessories! If you slip on your Taylor Swift friendship bracelet every day, then you should include it in your session. Everything that you wear for your photoshoot, should represent your personality. Is your everyday style laid-back? Would happily choose jeans over a dress? Then stick with what you know. Your everyday sense of personal style can still exist through professional photos.

In total, you’ll want to pick out 2-3 outfits for your senior portraits. Each outfit should embody a varying degree of your style & personality. Even if one of those outfits is something ‘dressy’ just to make your parents happy. You can still pick something dressy that feels right to you.

Solid, colors always work best in front of the camera. The color of your outfit will have a huge impact on your photos. It’s also important to consider how your location will work with the solid colors you choose. Last note on color, you want to go for a complementary color palette., As opposed to an outfit in one color. These colors in neutral tones will work for almost any location:

Green
Glue
Gray
White
Ivory
Beige
Tan
Brown

If those colors don’t “feel like you” and you like to wear something bold, go for it. If you usually wear red or pink, then find a creamy shade of your usual color. No color is really off- limits! It’s just a matter of finding your color in the right tone to create an outfit that embodies your style.

Wondering what to avoid? You’ll want to stay away from anything with a loud print, excessive logos, or heaps of text.

A teen girl stands on a NYC street, leaning against a pole and smiling at the camera. She is wearing a white sweater and a gray dress. Steam rises behind her, with bright billboards, including one for "Back to the Future," lighting up the background of this senior portrait in Times Square.

High school senior with brown hair and glasses stands in the middle of a Times Square NYC crosswalk, framed by bright digital billboards. She is wearing a white, long-sleeved top and a grey skirt. Perfect for a senior photoshoot backdrop, the iconic advertisements illuminate the scene beautifully.

Accessorize!

We touched on accessories above. But let’s expand on that past the friendship bracelets! Your favorite jewelry is always welcome during your photoshoot. Do you wear stacks of bangles every day? Or have a pair of hoop earrings that go with you everywhere? Then keep that touch of youness present by adding them to your session. That scrunchie you always have on your wrist “just in case”? You can wear that too!

Maybe you’re not someone who typically accessorizes with jewelry. But you have a special piece tucked in a drawer. Bring it to the photoshoot! We can test it out for a few shots. The minute you feel uncomfortable, you can always take it off. The same goes for hats and scarves.

A teen with long hair stands outdoors on a brick path lined with tall grasses. She wears a flowing, light-colored gown and looks over her shoulder towards the camera, capturing the perfect moment for a high school senior photoshoot. The background features a building with a large sloped roof and autumnal foliage.

A teen poses outdoors for a stunning senior portrait, wearing a long, light gray, sleeveless dress adorned with sequins and a thigh-high slit. She has long, curly hair and wears a floral headband. Smiling brightly, she stands amidst tall grasses with blurred foliage in the background.

Hair & Makeup, and Wardrobe Styling

Curious about hair and makeup? Your hair should styled. Whether professionally, or in your everyday style, it will go a long way for your photos. If you want to get a haircut just to freshen up before your photos, go for it. But save the adventurous new cut or color for a different day. Nothing will ruin your experience faster than a new haircut that didn’t work out.

If you’re leaning towards having hair & makeup done, a trial is your best friend! Work with your hair & makeup artist before your shoot, to perfect the look. This might be your first time with professional styling; it’s something that takes a bit of back and forth to get right. If you wait until the last minute, you may end up with a look you hate. You should arrive to your photoshoot feeling amazing, confident, and ready to have fun. Not wondering whether or not you should reschedule because of a hair and makeup disaster.

High school senior dressed in a black outfit gracefully leaps mid-air in a park, surrounded by lush green trees and towering city buildings. The dynamic movement captures the essence of an NYC senior photoshoot, as the urban skyline contrasts beautifully with the natural setting.

A high school senior with long brown hair leans against a colorful brick wall, with hues transitioning from blue to green to red. She is wearing a light pink sleeveless top and white ripped jeans, and one leg is bent with her foot against the wall.

Selecting the perfect NYC Location

There was a senior who went viral when he had his portraits taken at Chipotle. At the time, it was a unique idea that no one had ever attempted or seen. The location was a representation of him, in every way. Everyone who knew him personally agreed that it was the perfect choice.

We’re not saying you have to shoot your portraits while chowing down a burrito. Here’s what we are saying. In order to create a senior portrait you love, you have to be open with your photographer. We need to know more about you! What are your hobbies? Where in New York City do you and your friends hang out? What is important to you? Most importantly, where are you off to next?

Being open with your photographer will give us the flexibility with locations for your senior portraits that best suit you. These photos are all about expressing who you are in this very moment of your life. That includes location. You should be able to look at these photos one day and remember how this time in your life felt.

We offer our clients an in-studio photography experience. But if you have your heart set on senior portraits in a location throughout NYC, we highly recommend these spots.

Central Park
Brooklyn Bridge
Times Square
Bowery Mural
The Highline
NYU (outside)
Fashion Institute of Technology (outside)
Columbia University (outside)

A young man with wavy hair is smiling and leaning against a structure, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. The background is blurry, showcasing a cityscape with tall buildings and a body of water—a perfect setting for a high school senior photoshoot.

Young man with short dark hair, round glasses, a nose ring, and pink ear gauges smiles at the camera for his senior portrait. He is wearing a black top against a blurred outdoor background with buildings and trees.

What to Expect During Senior Photoshoot

So you’ve picked out a photographer, outfits, accessories, and discussed locations. It’s almost time to step in front of the camera. What exactly happens during your photoshoot? The thing to remember is, this is your moment! You should arrive prepared to have fun and enjoy the experience.

You should also be ready to let your photographer direct the session. It might feel weird to hear your photographer crack jokes to make you laugh or tell you to “walk toward them”. Even so, there is so much more to senior portraits than just standing or sitting perfectly still and smiling. A well-rounded photography experience will include a variety of poses and expressions.

Parents are welcome to come to the session, this is a big moment for them too. But, parents, it’s important to hang back. This means you should avoid asking your graduate to pose/ stand/move/sit/smile. As your photographer, our goal is to provide you with high-quality photos to cherish. Let us work our magic during the shoot.

At Michael Kormos Photography, we work with graduates in NYC to capture senior photography. Our boutique photography studio is located in Midtown Manhattan. But we also work in locations throughout NYC. To learn more about scheduling your senior photography session in NYC, you can reach out to us here.