Your senior portrait session is tomorrow, and you’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and nerves! Whether you’ve been planning this for months or it snuck up on you faster than expected, the night before your session is crucial for setting yourself up for success. Let me walk you through exactly what you should (and shouldn’t!) do the night before to ensure you show up feeling prepared, confident, and ready to create stunning portraits!

Get a Good Night’s Sleep (Seriously!)

I know, I know, this is the most obvious advice ever. But it’s also the most important! A good night’s sleep makes a HUGE difference in how you look and feel during your session.

Why Sleep Matters:

• Reduces under-eye circles and puffiness
• Gives you natural energy and genuine smiles
• Helps you feel more relaxed and less anxious
• Makes your skin look fresh and glowing
• Improves your mood and ability to enjoy the experience

Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep. I know it’s tempting to stay up late finishing last-minute prep or scrolling through Pinterest for inspiration, but trust me, your face will thank you for going to bed early!

Sleep Tips:

• Set a bedtime alarm as a reminder
• Avoid screens for an hour before bed
• Keep your room cool and dark
• Skip caffeine after 2pm
• Try some calming tea or meditation if you’re nervous

Hydrate Like Your Life Depends on It

This might sound dramatic, but hydration is one of the easiest ways to ensure you look amazing in your portraits! Drinking plenty of water helps your skin look plump, fresh, and glowing.

Start hydrating the night before, but don’t wait until bedtime to chug a gallon of water or you’ll be up all night! Spread your water intake throughout the evening and into the next day.

Hydration Benefits:

• Plumper, more radiant skin
• Reduced appearance of fine lines
• Better overall appearance
• More energy during your session
• Less likelihood of looking tired

Prep Your Outfits (All of Them!)

The night before is NOT the time to be frantically searching for that perfect top or realizing your pants need to be ironed! Get everything completely ready so morning-of is stress-free.

Complete Outfit Checklist:

• Lay out every outfit you’re planning to wear
• Include shoes, jewelry, and accessories for each look
• Steam or iron everything so it’s wrinkle-free
• Try on each complete outfit one more time
• Make sure everything still fits and feels comfortable
• Check for any stains, loose buttons, or issues

Put each complete outfit together (including accessories and shoes) so you can just grab and go. I like to hang each outfit separately or lay them out in the order I’ll wear them.

Don’t Forget:

• Your cap and gown if you’re including those
• Props like your stethoscope, class ring, or meaningful items
• Backup outfit options just in case
• Different shoe options

Take Care of Your Skin

Your skin is going to be in photos that last forever, so give it some extra love the night before!

Night-Before Skincare:

• Wash your face thoroughly
• Use a hydrating face mask if that’s part of your routine
• Apply your favorite moisturizer
• Don’t try any NEW products (this is not the time to experiment!)
• If you have a skincare routine, stick to it

What NOT to Do:

• Don’t pop pimples (tempting, I know, but it causes redness and inflammation)
• Skip harsh treatments or peels
• Avoid trying new products that might cause reactions
• Don’t go to bed with makeup on
• Skip alcohol which can dehydrate your skin

If you have a blemish you’re worried about, don’t stress! I can retouch these in editing. It’s better to leave it alone than create redness and irritation trying to fix it.

Confirm All the Details

The night before is perfect for a final confirmation of all your session details. This prevents any confusion or panic in the morning!

Double Check:

• What time is your session?
• Where exactly are you meeting? (Save the address in your phone!)
• How long will it take you to get there?
• Where will you park?
• Do you have the photographer’s phone number saved?
• What’s the weather forecast? (Check if you need backup plans)
• Are you bringing anyone with you?

Set alarms for the morning with plenty of buffer time. If your session is at 5pm, you don’t need a 4:45pm alarm! Give yourself time to get ready without rushing.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

Don’t:

• Drink alcohol the night before (causes puffiness and dehydration)
• Eat super salty foods (can cause bloating and water retention)
• Stay up late stress-planning
• Get a drastic haircut or color change
• Wax or thread your face (redness and irritation!)
• Tan or spend excessive time in the sun
• Work out super intensely (you don’t want to be sore!)
• Schedule anything stressful for the evening

Do:

• Eat a normal, balanced dinner
• Stick to your regular routines
• Relax and get excited!
• Trust your preparation

Mental Preparation Matters Too

Yes, physical prep is important, but your mindset going into your session matters just as much!

The Night Before Mental Checklist:

• Remind yourself why you’re doing this (celebrating your achievement!)
• Look at inspiration images that excite you
• Trust that you’re going to look amazing
• Remember that I’ll guide you through everything
• Give yourself permission to enjoy this experience
• Release the pressure of perfection

If you’re feeling nervous, that’s completely normal! Almost every senior feels some anxiety before their session. But remember, I’ve done this hundreds of times and I know exactly how to make you feel comfortable and help you look your absolute best.

Quick Reference: Night-Before Checklist

Print this out or screenshot it if you need a quick reference!

To Do:

•  Get 7-8 hours of sleep
•  Drink plenty of water
•  Lay out all complete outfits with accessories
•  Steam/iron everything
•  Do your nighttime skincare routine
•  Confirm all session details
•  Set multiple alarms with buffer time
•  Charge your phone
•  Check the weather forecast
•  Eat a normal, healthy dinner
•  Relax and get excited!

Avoid:

•  Staying up late
•  Trying new skincare products
•  Drinking alcohol
•  Eating super salty foods
•  Making drastic appearance changes
•  Stressing about perfection

What About the Morning Of?

I know you’re thinking ahead! Here are quick morning-of tips:

Morning of Session:

• Eat a good breakfast (you’ll need energy!)
• Continue hydrating
• Get ready with plenty of time to spare
• Do your hair and makeup (or go to appointments if scheduled)
• Arrive 5-10 minutes early to your session location
• Take a deep breath and get ready to have fun!

Trust the Process

Here’s the thing: if you follow this night-before guide, you’re going to show up to your session looking and feeling amazing. I’ll handle the rest! My job is to pose you, find the best light, capture your personality, and create stunning images that you’ll treasure forever.

You don’t need to stress about being perfect or knowing exactly what to do. Just show up rested, hydrated, with your outfits ready, and trust that this is going to be an incredible experience!

One Last Thing

Tomorrow is about CELEBRATING you and your incredible achievement of graduating from Clemson! Yes, we want beautiful photos, but this is also about enjoying the moment, feeling proud of yourself, and creating an experience you’ll remember fondly.

So tonight, as you’re prepping and getting ready for bed, take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come. You worked hard to reach this milestone, and tomorrow we get to document it beautifully. How exciting is that?!

Get some sleep, trust your preparation, and get ready for an amazing session tomorrow!

Have questions about your session tomorrow? Don’t hesitate to reach out! I want you to feel completely prepared and excited. And remember, within 24 hours of your session, you’ll see gorgeous sneak peeks on my Instagram Story, and within one week you’ll have your full gallery of stunning, fully retouched images! You’ve got this!