2026 Senior Portrait Guide

Your senior year only happens once.

Your senior portraits should be more than a nice picture for the yearbook.

They should look like you.

At Clean and Simple Photography, we create senior portraits that are relaxed, creative, and personal. You can come to our studio, we can head somewhere meaningful to you, or we can combine both.

No stiff poses. No awkward “say cheese.” Just a fun experience and photographs you'll actually want to keep.

LET'S MAKE IT YOURS

Before your session, think about what you want your photographs to say about you.

Maybe you're an athlete. A musician. An artist. A future engineer. A theater kid. A total nerd. A country kid. A sneakerhead. A dog person.

Maybe you don't fit neatly into any category.

That's fine.

Your portraits should reflect who you are—not what a senior portrait is supposed to look like.

WHERE WE CAN PHOTOGRAPH YOU

IN THE STUDIO

Our Albuquerque studio gives us room to get creative.

We can build a look around your personality, bring in different backgrounds and lighting, use props, change the mood, or create something completely unexpected.

ON LOCATION

Have a place that means something to you?

Your neighborhood. Your school. A favorite park. Downtown. The mountains. Somewhere completely random.

Let's go there.

OR BOTH

Start in the studio and finish somewhere outside.

There's no rule that says your senior portraits have to happen in one place.

WHAT TO BRING

It all depends on the location and time, but here are some pointers. Remember, you can always reach out if you have questions.

Bring more than one outfit.

A good starting point:

Something that feels like you.

Your everyday style—the clothes your friends actually recognize you in.

Something a little more polished.

Dress it up. This is the one your parents will probably love.

Something that represents you.

A jersey. Instrument. Skateboard. Camera. Boots. Art supplies. Car. Letter jacket. Whatever makes sense.

And don't forget the little things that make an outfit yours.

Shoes. Jewelry. Hats. Glasses. Jackets. Anything you actually wear.

DON'T OVERTHINK POSING

You don't need to know how to pose.

That's our job.

We'll give you direction when you need it, but we're also looking for the moments in between—the laugh, the movement, the expression that feels natural.

If something feels awkward, tell us.s

We'll try something else.

If you have an idea, just let us know.

The goal isn't to make you look like a model.

The goal is to make you look like yourself on a really good day.

WANT TO BRING YOUR PEOPLE?

Absolutely.

Parents are welcome.

Bring a sibling. Bring your best friend. Bring the dog.

We'll make sure we get photographs of you on your own, but sometimes the photographs with the people who have been part of your story are the ones you'll treasure most.

BEFORE YOUR SESSION

A little preparation goes a long way.

Get a good night's sleep.

Bring your outfits clean and wrinkle-free.

Give yourself plenty of time to get ready.

Don't get a dramatic haircut the day before.

Bring anything you want photographed.

And most importantly:

Don't worry about being photogenic.

We'll take care of that part.

DURING YOUR SESSION

We'll start easy.

You'll get comfortable with us, we'll figure out what works, and we'll build from there.

We'll photograph different expressions, poses, outfits, locations, and ideas.

Some will be planned.

Some won't.

That's where some of the best photographs happen.

AFTERWARD

We'll select and edit the strongest photographs from your session and create a collection that tells a little bit of your story.

You'll get photographs that work for the practical stuff—yearbook, graduation announcements, family gifts—and photographs that are simply you.

The ones you'll want to keep.

THE ONLY RULE

Have fun with it.

You don't have to be serious.

You don't have to know what to do.

You don't have to look like anyone else.

Come as yourself.

We'll take it from there.

CLEAN & SIMPLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Creative senior portraitsStudio + on-location sessionsAlbuquerque, New Mexico

www.cleanandsimplephotography.com | 505.677.4108 | hello@cnsstudios.com