summer senior pictures tips by Adrienne Zwart PhotographyHere in Northeast Ohio, summer is prime season for outdoor senior pictures.  But how do you beat the heat and look your best for your summer photo session when the weather gets hot and humid?  I’ve got some tips to share with you today to help you look cool and comfortable even when the temperatures aren’t.

7 Tips to Beat the Heat for Summer Senior Pictures

1. Schedule an Early Morning Session

I know, I know.  Waking up early on summer break?!  Yes, trust me on this.  Besides the light being awesome just after sunrise, you will miss the heat and humidity that builds up as the temperature rises during the day.

Smiling Girl Poses for Outdoor Summer Senior Pictures

2. Use Hair Taming Products

Even if you don’t typically wear hairspray, you’ll need it for your outdoor summer photo session.  (Yes, guys, too!) It helps tame flyaway hairs and keep your style in place so your hair looks amazing throughout your session.

If your hair tends to be more on the oily side, you may want to lightly spray the roots with some dry shampoo.  This will help absorb the oils and sweat that appear as your scalp heats up.  And dry shampoo can also add volume when your hair is droopy from the humidity.  (The key here is to apply it before it gets sweaty or oily–while your hair is still dry–or you’ll end up with a chalky mess.)  And if you’ve never used dry shampoo before, you might want to practice with it before the day of your session so that you get a feel for how much to use.

*Bonus tip:  Flying insects are attracted to fragrance, so choose unscented products, if you can.

Girl with Long Wavy Hair Sitting on a Blanket

3.  Apply Insect Repellant

Speaking of insects, be sure to apply bug spray if you’re having your outdoor summer photo session done in a field or park setting.  Ticks, mosquitoes, gnats — need I say more?  Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean the experience needs to include bug bites!

4. Control the Shine

Bring along a powder compact for touch-ups, or I also carry blotting papers in my kit to dab away shine.

blotting paper and powder compact

5.  Accessorize!

Your outdoor summer photo session is a great opportunity to break out fun summer fashion accessories like sunglasses and big, floppy-brimmed hats.

Senior guy wearing sunglasses

6. Stay Hydrated

Bring a water bottle to keep your body hydrated.  It’s hard to smile properly if your lips and mouth are dry.

7.  Step Inside

If it’s supposed to be really hot on the day of your session, consider moving indoors for part of your session.  Or take a break in your air conditioned vehicle to cool off for a few minutes.

Senior girl poses in the library

With these tips and a little planning, you can have an awesome outdoor summer photo session!

Book Your Outdoor Photo Session

At this writing, I have just one opening left in August and a couple in September for outdoor photo sessions.  And I’ll be opening my booking calendar in just a few weeks for limited fall sessions.  Become a VIP to have insider access to my calendar when it opens and get first pick of available dates.