One of the things I love most about photographing senior girls is that the majority of them do their own hair and makeup and they do a genuinely great job. They know their face. They know what makes them feel like themselves. And that confidence? It shows up in the photos.

Even my most natural, low-key seniors who don't typically wear much makeup at all will usually reach for a few basics before their session: a tinted moisturizer, a little mascara, some lip balm. That's it. And it works beautifully, because the goal has always been for your portraits to look like you, not a version of you that's been transformed into someone else.
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You don't need a professional glam squad to get great senior portraits. What you need is to feel comfortable and like yourself when you step in front of my camera.

Here's my honest, straightforward take:

Do your own hair and makeup if that's what makes you feel most like yourself. A professional blowout or makeup application can be a fun treat, but it's not something I'd call necessary for most sessions. The seniors who look the most radiant in their portraits are the ones who feel relaxed and confident - and that usually means looking the way they look every day, just a little more put-together.
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That said, here's what I do think matters:

• Don't do anything drastic right before your session. A dramatic hair color change, a completely new haircut, or a bold style shift you've never tried before - these things can leave you feeling unsettled in front of the camera. And anything very trend-specific can feel dated when you look back in 10 or 20 years. (Think blue frosted eye shadow. Enough said.)
• For senior boys, a haircut is a good idea - just not the week of. Getting a trim about one to two weeks before the session gives the cut time to settle so it looks natural and not brand new.
• Keep makeup personal and wearable. If you don't usually wear a full face of makeup, don't start for portrait day. The camera picks up on discomfort, and you want to feel at ease.

This is the one I wish more clients would ask me about, because when it's missing, I can sometimes see it in the photos:
Hydration and sleep.

I know it's summer. I know late nights happen. But not getting enough sleep in the days before your session really can show up in portraits - in skin tone, in energy, in the eyes. And dehydration has a way of making skin look dull in ways that are hard to fix after the fact.

My honest advice: start drinking more water a few days before your session, not just the morning of. And do your best to get real rest the night before. It's one of the simplest things you can do, and it makes a genuine difference in how you look and how you feel walking into your session.
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No filter needed when you've actually taken care of yourself.