How to Look Good in Yearbook Photos: Senior Edition

6 min read · Glowmaxx

To look good in yearbook photos, treat senior portraits as a planned shoot, not a regular picture day: start a prep week to sort skin, sleep and a haircut, pick the right neckline for the drape or tux, style hair you've already tested, learn the few poses the photographer will ask for, and use a relaxed smile with your chin forward. You'll also get more shots than a normal school photo, so use them.

This is the one picture people will actually look back on. It's worth a week of small effort.

Many seniors are 18 or about to be. If you are, Glowmaxx scores one selfie a day on five levers you can change and gives you three moves aimed at your weakest one, which is a handy way to use your prep week. Start my glow-up

Yearbook vs regular school photos

Before planning, know what's different about senior yearbook pictures:

Every school is different. Check the instructions from your yearbook team or photo studio: some require the drape and tux, some let you pick your own outfit, and some do both.

The week before: how to prepare for senior pictures

Seven-day prep plan

• Day 7: Read the yearbook instructions. Book your haircut for day 3-5.
• Day 6: Try your outfit(s) on. Check fit and stains.
• Day 5: Keep your skin routine steady: cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen in the day. No new products from here on.
• Day 4: Test your hairstyle. Take a photo with the back camera in daylight to see how it reads.
• Day 3: Haircut (guys and anyone doing a trim). This gives it a few days to settle.
• Day 2: Practise your smile and the poses below. Brows tidied if you shape them.
• Day 1: Pack your bag: comb, hair ties, lip balm, blotting paper, a lint roller, a spare top. Go to bed early.

Senior yearbook photo tips for the morning

• Eat breakfast; low energy shows.
• Arrive early so you're not rushed or sweaty.
• Moisturize and add lip balm.
• If you wear makeup, keep it close to your everyday look with a bit more definition. Matte or satin finishes are safer than heavy shimmer under studio lights.

Here's the tough part of a prep week: you can't tell which thing to work on first. Skin? Hair? The way you stand? Glowmaxx looks at one selfie a day and scores skin, hair, grooming, posture and angle, and light and fit 1-10, with a one-line note on each and three moves for today aimed at the lowest, so the week goes where it counts. It's for adults 18 and over. Start my glow-up

Outfit and drape: what to wear for yearbook pictures

What to wear under a senior drape

The drape is a velvet wrap that sits off the shoulders. Most studios ask you to wear:

• A strapless top, tube top or strapless bra so no straps show.
• Nothing high-necked.
• A simple necklace or small earrings if allowed; many studios have jewelry you can borrow.

Tux for senior pictures

For guys, many studios provide a tux jacket, shirt front and bow tie that goes over your own clothes. Wear:

• A plain white or light crew-neck T-shirt underneath.
• Nothing with a hood or thick collar that bunches under the jacket.

Your own outfits

If you get to pick outfits, bring two options:

1. A classic look: solid shirt, sweater or blouse in a rich color like navy, burgundy or emerald.
2. A "you" look: your favorite style, still in solid colors without big logos.

Our guide to what to wear for school picture day covers colors and necklines in detail; it all applies here.

Hair and grooming

Senior pictures for girls

• Test your hairstyle a few days before.
• If you want waves, set them the night before so they're soft by the shoot.
• Bring a comb and a few pins for flyaways.
• For the drape, hair down or over one shoulder shows off the neckline; an updo looks classic too.

Senior pictures for guys

• Haircut three to five days before.
• Trim or shave the night before, not the morning of.
• Use a matte product for hold without shine.
• Check your eyebrows and any stray hairs on your neck.

Need ideas? See our picture day hairstyles for teens.

Poses the photographer will ask for

Yearbook headshots are more posed than regular school photos. Here's what to expect and how to do each well.

Senior pictures poses

1. The classic three-quarter: your body turned about 45 degrees to one side, face turned back toward the camera. Keep your shoulders relaxed and down.
2. The head tilt: a slight tilt toward the higher shoulder. Small is better; a big tilt looks cartoonish.
3. Chin forward and down: it defines your jaw and avoids a double chin. It feels strange but looks great.
4. Lean in: a slight forward lean from the waist makes you look engaged.
5. Hands (if they're in frame): relaxed, fingers soft, not clenched.

Advice for an in-studio yearbook-style headshot shoot

• Listen to the photographer; they'll adjust tiny things like shoulder height.
• Between shots, shake out your shoulders and blink a few times.
• Don't check yourself in the preview monitor after every shot. It makes you tense.
• Ask to see a few frames once so you can adjust if something is off (hair, collar).

Smile and eyes

How to smile for a yearbook picture

You'll usually get several frames, so try variety:

• One relaxed closed-mouth smile.
• One smile with top teeth showing.
• If you feel it, one real laugh. Candid laughs often end up as favorites.

Breathe out before each shot and think of something that makes you smile. More on this in how to smile for school pictures.

Eyes

• Look into the lens, not at the photographer's face.
• Relax your eyes into a slight squint (the "smize") so the smile looks real.
• If you blink a lot with flash, close your eyes and open them just before the photographer counts down.

Use your prep week on the right thing

That's how to look good in yearbook photos: a week of steady prep, the right neckline for the drape or tux, tested hair, practised poses and a relaxed smile. If you're 18 or older, take one selfie today and Glowmaxx gives you a glow score out of 100 across five levers, with three moves for today aimed at the lowest. Your day-one photo also becomes the start of your glow timeline.

Start my glow-up

FAQ

How do I look good in my senior yearbook picture?

Start prepping a week ahead with steady skin care, a haircut a few days before and plenty of sleep. On the day, use the three-quarter pose, chin slightly forward, and a relaxed smile.

What do you wear under a yearbook drape?

A strapless top or strapless bra so no straps show. Keep jewelry simple, and check what your studio provides.

What should guys wear for senior yearbook pictures?

If the studio uses a tux top, wear a plain white or light crew-neck tee underneath. For your own outfit, choose a solid shirt or sweater in a rich color.

How is a yearbook photo different from a regular school photo?

Senior yearbook photos usually involve more poses, formal drapes or tux tops, and proofs you can choose from. Regular school photos are quicker, with one or two shots.

What are good yearbook picture tips for smiling?

Try a closed-mouth smile and a teeth smile across different frames, and breathe out before each click. Think of something real so your eyes match your mouth.