The Guy’s Guide
Most guys show up to their senior photo session without thinking much about what they are wearing. And honestly, that is not entirely their fault. Nobody really talks about this side of senior portraits for guys. But here is the truth: what you wear has just as big an impact on how your photos turn out as anything else. The location, the light, the posing, all of it matters less if the outfit is not working.
I have been photographing senior guys in Fort Collins for over 20 years. I know what looks great on camera, I know what falls flat, and I know how to make a session feel like something worth showing up for. This is what I tell every guy before his session.
You Do Not Have to Love Fashion to Do This Well
One of the most common things I hear from guys is some version of “I don’t really care about clothes.” That could be true. You do not need to care about fashion to show up looking great. You just need a few outfits that fit well, cover a range of styles, and feel like you.
Think about it this way. You probably already own something you would wear to a nicer dinner, something you would wear on a casual weekend, and something connected to a sport or activity you care about. That is basically a solid foundation for a senior session right there. The details matter, and we will get into those, but the framework is simpler than most guys expect.
Fit Is Everything
This is the single most important thing in this entire post, so read it twice.
Clothes that fit properly make every guy look better on camera. Full stop. Men have a habit of wearing things that are a size or two too big, and on camera that reads as sloppy, heavier than you actually are, or just off. The goal is not tight. The goal is clothes that follow the actual shape of your body without pulling, gaping, or hanging.
For shirts, the shoulder seam should sit right at your shoulder bone, not drooping down your arm. The fabric should not be too tight across your chest or stomach, but you should be able to see the shape of your torso. For pants, you want to be able to see the subtle shape of your legs. Baggy jeans make every guy look shorter and heavier than he is on camera.
If you have a suit, get it fitted before your session. A well-fitted suit is one of the sharpest looks you can bring, and an ill-fitting one is one of the worst. That one alteration is worth every dollar.
Try everything on before session day – actually sit down in it, squat, move around. If your shirt comes untucked every time you shift position, or your pants are too tight to sit comfortably, that is going to be a problem during the session.
Bring Real Variety
Variety for guys works a little differently than it does for girls. You are not trying to bring four completely different aesthetics. You are trying to bring a range that shows different sides of who you are.
A strong approach is to think in three categories. One formal or dressed-up look, a suit, a sport coat over a button-up, something you would wear somewhere that actually required you to look sharp (this look is better for Urban sessions). One sophisticated or smart-casual look, think dark wash jeans with a nice button-down or sweater, the kind of thing you would wear on a date. And one casual look that feels genuinely like you, your style, your comfort zone.
If you play a sport or have a strong interest that is part of your identity, that is worth including too. Not just the jersey, but the full gear. Bring your equipment if it makes sense for the location. Those photos tend to be some of the most personal and meaningful in the whole gallery.
The variety principle that most guys miss: bring different shoes for different outfits. Dress shoes for the formal look, clean sneakers or casual boots for the relaxed looks. Shoes are one of the quickest ways to completely change the feel of an outfit on camera.
What Actually Photographs Well
Some things look great in real life and strange on camera. Some things are the opposite. Here is what works.
Colors:
- Darker tones tend to read as more sophisticated and polished on camera.
- Navy, charcoal, forest green, burgundy, and deep brown all photograph beautifully.
- If you are blonde and have a light skin tone, stick to darker tones.
- Lighter tones work well for casual looks.
- Lighter tones work better on darker hair and complexions.
- Be careful of wearing all one color from head to toe, it flattens the image.
- Mix your tones, dark pants with a lighter shirt, or vice versa.
- Add variety – if all of your outfits are variations of khaki and black, push yourself to add some color.
- Olive green, sky blue, rust, or a subtle pattern can add a lot of visual interest without feeling like you are trying too hard.
Fit and function:
- We said this before, but fit is everything
- Wear clothes that fit well. This is the biggest factor in looking your best in photos.
Avoid oversized clothing. Baggy clothes can make you look heavier, shorter, and less polished on camera. - Aim for tailored, not tight. Your clothes should follow your natural shape without pulling or hanging loosely.
- Check your shirt fit. Shoulder seams should sit at your shoulder, and the shirt should define your torso without feeling tight.
- Choose well-fitting pants. Avoid overly baggy jeans that hide your shape.
- Have your suit tailored. A properly fitted suit photographs incredibly well and is worth the investment.
- Test every outfit beforehand. Sit, squat, and move around to make sure everything stays comfortable and in place during your session.
Layers:
- Layers are one of the best tools for guys on camera.
- Layers add depth to photos and give us something to work with during the session.
- An open jacket can be held, adjusted, thrown over a shoulder.
- It creates movement and options.
- Examples:
- A jacket or sport coat over a button-up.
- A sweater layered over a shirt.
- An open flannel over a tee.
Texture:
- Mix your textures across looks.
- Texture adds dimension to photos that flat, single-fabric outfits cannot match.
- Examples:
- Denim and a knit sweater.
- A smooth dress shirt under a textured sport coat.
- A textured shirt that doesn’t cling to your body
What to Avoid
Below are a few pieces of clothing that we have found consistently cause problems.
Avoid Graphics, logos, and busy prints:
- Your favorite band tee, the shirt with the big logo across the chest, the camo pattern.
- These pull focus away from your face and tend to date photos quickly.
- Solid colors and subtle textures almost always photograph better.
Avoid Clothes that are too big:
- Already covered this above, but it is worth repeating because it comes up constantly.
- If it fits like your dad’s clothes, it is going to look like your dad’s clothes in photos.
Avoid Short-sleeve button-downs done wrong:
- A short sleeve button-down can absolutely work, especially for outdoor summer sessions when it is 100 degrees and a long sleeve is just not realistic.
- The key is fit. It needs to fit well through the shoulders and chest, not boxy or too loose.
- Where guys go wrong is reaching for a short sleeve that is too casual or too big.
- When in doubt, a long sleeve you can roll up gives you more flexibility, but do not rule out a great-fitting short sleeve.
Avoid The Apple Watch:
- The Apple Watch is great in real life and reads as very casual in photos.
- A classic watch is a small detail that elevates every single look.
- Swap it out for a metal or leather watch for your session.
Don’t Forget about socks:
- This sounds minor but it genuinely matters. The wrong socks in a photo are more noticeable than you would expect.
- Bring different socks for different outfits.
- Dress socks for formal looks, no-show socks for shorts or casual outfits, clean white or navy for everything else.
The Conversation We Have Before Your Shoot
Here is something most photographers skip entirely. Before your session, I have every client send me photos of themselves in each outfit they are planning to bring. Every single one. I look at the fit, the colors, how the pieces work together, and whether it is actually going to serve him well on camera.
This step matters more than most guys realize. I can look at a set of photos from another photographer and tell immediately when that conversation never happened. You’re wearing something two sizes too big, or a color that is doing nothing for your complexion, or an outfit that has nothing to do with who you actually are. And you’re going to look at those photos and know something was off, even if you cannot pinpoint exactly what.
After 30 years behind the camera, I have a pretty clear sense of what works and what does not, and I am not shy about saying so. If something is going to look off on camera, I will tell you before you pack it. Not to give you a hard time about it, just because my job is to make sure you walk away with something you are actually proud of.
Guys are sometimes surprised by how much they care about their photos once they see them. That reaction, that moment of actually liking what you see, that is what I am working toward from the very first outfit conversation.
You Will Not Have to Figure This Out Alone
What I have shared here provides a solid foundation, but your session is going to be specific to you. Your build, your coloring, your style, and where we are shooting all will factor into what will actually work best.
Every client who books with me gets a full clothing guide before his session. We will also do a wardrobe review together so you can ask questions, show me what you are thinking, and walk into the session day completely prepared. No guessing.
If you are thinking about your senior portraits and want to talk through what a session actually looks like, I would love to hear from you. Book a free consultation here. Or take a look through the Senior Portrait Gallery first to get a feel for the work.
Looking for the girls’ version of this guide? Find it right here.
Quick Answers
What should guys wear for senior pictures?
- The most important thing for guys is fit.
- Well-fitting clothes in a range of styles, formal, smart casual, and relaxed, give you the most variety and the best results on camera.
- Avoid clothes that are too big, busy graphics, and logos.
- Every client at Photography By Desirée sends outfit photos before the session so Desirée can review each look and make sure nothing gets left to chance!
How many outfits should a guy bring to his senior session?
- Three to four looks that feel genuinely different from each other is ideal.
- Think one formal, one smart casual, one relaxed, and optionally something connected to a sport or interest.
- Different shoes for each outfit make a bigger difference than most guys expect.
Do guys really need to think about what they wear for senior photos?
- More than most people realize. Fit, color, and variety all show up clearly on camera.
- A session where the outfits were planned intentionally looks completely different from one where the guy just grabbed whatever was clean.
- The good news is it does not have to be complicated, and you will not be figuring it out alone.
Photography By Desirée is a boutique portrait studio in Fort Collins, Colorado, specializing in senior portraits for the Class of 2026 and 2027. Serving Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Timnath, and Northern Colorado.