How to Personalize Your Senior Portrait Session with Props

Senior pictures should look like you.

Not some random senior you saw on Pinterest. Not the same pose your friend had last year. And definitely not a session where you're standing in a field holding a soccer ball for 45 minutes because someone decided every senior needs a prop.

Your senior portrait session is a chance to capture who you are right now — the things you love, the activities you've spent years doing, the people and pets you care about, and even some of the things you're excited about for the future.

One of my favorite ways to make senior portraits more personal is by incorporating meaningful props.

And don't worry — when I say "props," I'm not talking about bringing a truckload of stuff.

What Counts as a Senior Photo Prop?

Pretty much anything that represents something important to you can be a prop.

It could be:

Your sports equipment
A musical instrument
Your favorite books
Your car or motorcycle
Your dog
A letterman jacket
Dance shoes
Art supplies
A skateboard
A camera
A favorite hobby
Something from your future career
A family heirloom
Your favorite college sweatshirt
An award, medal or trophy

And if you're thinking, "I don't really have anything like that," that's totally fine too. You do not need a prop to have amazing senior pictures. The goal isn't to fill every photograph with stuff. The goal is to add a few personal touches that help tell your story.

Sports Props Are Always a Fun Choice

If you've spent your high school years playing soccer, basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, softball, gymnastics or another sport, why not include it?

Bring your:

Jersey
Ball
Bat
Glove
Cleats
Cheer uniform
Dance shoes
Medals
Trophy
Letterman jacket
Other equipment that is meaningful to you

And we don't necessarily have to pose you holding a basketball and smiling at the camera.

We can make it feel much more natural.

Maybe you're actually kicking the soccer ball. Tossing a football. Holding your bat over your shoulder. Walking with your cleats. Or wearing your letterman jacket while we capture some classic portraits.

The prop becomes part of the story instead of taking over the photograph.

Bring Your Musical Instrument

If music is a big part of your life, your instrument can make an amazing addition to your senior session.

Guitar? Absolutely. Trumpet? Bring it.

Violin, drums, saxophone, piano, ukulele — whatever you play.

And if you've spent years practicing, performing and traveling for music, this is a great way to document that part of your high school experience.

You don't have to stare at the camera while holding your instrument, either. Play a few notes. Tune your guitar. Walk with it. Sit somewhere and relax.

Let's make it feel like you, not a school picture.

Don't Forget Your Four-Legged Best Friend

Pets are family! So if your dog, horse, cat or other furry sidekick is an important part of your life, let's talk about bringing them along. Your pet doesn't have to behave perfectly. In fact, they probably won't.

That's okay.

Some of the best photographs happen in those in-between moments — laughing when your dog won't sit, playing together, walking, cuddling or simply hanging out. We'll just want to choose a location that works well for your particular pet and plan accordingly. And parents, this one may be your favorite idea because you'll get a beautiful photograph of your senior and their best friend.

Your Car Can Be a Great Prop

Maybe you've been obsessed with cars since you could walk. Maybe you've spent years working on your first car. Or maybe your car is simply a huge part of your teenage years.

Bring it!

Cars can give your senior portraits a completely different feel, especially when we combine them with an urban setting or a scenic Washington location. You don't need a vintage Porsche, either. Your first car can be just as meaningful. Honestly, someday that slightly beat-up car sitting in the driveway might be one of the things that instantly takes you back to this time in your life.

Books, Art and Creative Hobbies

Not every senior's passion involves a sports field.Maybe you love reading, drawing, painting, photography, writing, crafting or another creative hobby.

Bring the things you actually use.

A favorite book can create a quiet, thoughtful image. A sketchbook and pencils can tell the story of an artist. A camera can be perfect for someone who spends their free time behind the lens.

The key word here is actually. Don't bring a prop just because you think it will look cute in a photograph. Bring something you genuinely love.

Celebrate What You've Accomplished

Senior year is a pretty big deal. You've worked hard, and your senior portraits are a great opportunity to celebrate some of those accomplishments.

Consider bringing:

Medals
Trophies
Awards
Class rings
Honor cords
Academic items
School memorabilia
A letterman jacket
Theater or performance items

These don't have to appear in every image. Sometimes we'll use them for a few detail photographs or a handful of portraits.

That gives you a gallery with variety while still documenting an important part of your high school experience.

What About Your Future?

Your senior session can also look forward instead of only looking back. If you already know what you want to do after high school, consider incorporating something that represents where you're headed.

Going into engineering, culinary arts, photography, aviation, cosmetology, music or another career? Bring something related to that dream. Think about what visually represents that next chapter.

You don't have to have your entire life figured out at 17 or 18. Trust me — most adults don't either.

But if there's something you're excited about, let's celebrate it.

Bring Something That's Just... You

Your prop doesn't have to fit into a traditional category. Maybe you're obsessed with vinyl records. Maybe you love skateboarding. Maybe you collect something unusual. Maybe you have a favorite stuffed animal you've had since you were little. Maybe you're a huge Disney fan. (Same here!!) Maybe your thing is fishing, hiking, gaming, baking, thrifting, photography or traveling.

If it matters to you, it's worth talking about.

You might be surprised at how many creative ideas we can come up with once I know what you're into.

How Many Props Should You Bring?

Please don't bring your entire bedroom.

Seriously.

I'd recommend choosing two to four things that are especially meaningful to you. We can decide together which ones make sense once we know your outfits and locations. Some props may only be used for five or ten minutes of your session. That's completely fine.

Your entire session shouldn't revolve around props. We want a mix of:

Classic portraits
Natural candid moments
Close-up images
Full-body portraits
Images that show your personality
A few fun photographs featuring the things you love

This variety is what makes your gallery feel complete.

How Do We Make Props Look Natural?

This is where I come in. You don't have to know how to pose with your guitar, your dog, your car or your basketball.

That's my job.

I'll guide you through poses and prompts so the prop feels like part of the moment rather than something you're awkwardly holding because someone told you to. For example, instead of simply holding a basketball toward the camera, we might have you dribble it, walk with it or interact with it. Instead of stiffly holding a guitar, we might have you actually play it. Instead of making your dog sit perfectly beside you, we might let you interact and play together.

The goal is always the same:

The prop should add to your story — not become the story.

Choosing a Location That Works With Your Props

Your props can actually help us choose the perfect location for your senior portraits. A car might look amazing in an urban setting. Sports equipment might work beautifully at a field or athletic location. A skateboard could be perfect somewhere with an urban, edgy feel. Books might fit naturally into a quiet park or more relaxed setting. Your pet will need a location where they're welcome and comfortable.

This is one of the reasons I like to talk through your ideas before your session. Once I know what you want to include, we can choose locations and outfits that all work together.

Parents, Here's Your Part

Parents, I know you're probably doing a lot of the planning for senior pictures.

You're checking schedules. Making appointments. Helping choose outfits. Making sure everyone knows where they're supposed to be.

Here's one thing you can take off your plate:

You don't have to figure out the props by yourself.

If your senior has no idea what to bring, start with a simple question:

"What are some things you really love?"

Sports? Music? Friends? Pets? Cars? Art? Books? School activities? A future career? A hobby they've had forever?

Once you start there, the ideas usually come pretty quickly.

And if your senior says, "I don't want any props," that's okay too.

The session can still be completely personalized through their outfits, location, personality and the way we photograph them.

Your Senior Pictures Should Feel Like You

The best senior portraits aren't necessarily the ones with the most elaborate props. They're the ones where you look at the photograph years from now and think:

"Yep. That was me."

Maybe that's you in your soccer uniform.

Maybe it's you with your dog.

Maybe it's your first car.

Maybe it's your favorite book.

Or maybe it's simply you laughing, wearing your favorite outfit, with nothing but the scenery around you.

Whatever makes you you, let's make room for it.

If you're looking for a Seattle senior photographer who wants your senior session to feel personal, relaxed and genuinely you, I'd love to help you plan it.

Let's talk about your ideas, your outfits, your favorite things and the kind of photographs you want to have when you look back on this season of your life.

Your senior pictures shouldn't look like everyone else's. They should look like you.

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