The white dress has become something of an icon when it comes to senior and grad photo sessions. And there are some great reasons why!

1. They are timeless and elegant
2. They photograph beautifully
3. White helps you stand out from just about any background
4. You can find them in just about any style, cut, size, and length
5. AND, most seniors will want to wear a white dress under their graduation gowns. So why not get one now?!

How to Choose Your White Dress

Consider your overall look

Think about the overall look you are hoping to achieve with your photo shoot. Is it a boho vibe, sophisticated and modern, casual, beachy, formal, etc.

Style preference

There are endless styles to choose from. But you can narrow it down even further by thinking about some key style elements:

1. Short or long?
2. Fitted or flowing?
3. Type of sleeve (long, short, sleeveless, halter, bell, etc)
4. Type of fabric (satin, cotton, lace, linen, patterned, smooth, etc)

Choose the best white for you

White dresses actually come in a wide variety of shades. From very white with more blue undertones, all the way to a creamy white with more yellow tones.

Try dresses on

Be sure to try on several dresses to see what looks and feels great for you. You will want to be comfortable, able to move around easily, and feel confident. Don’t forget to try on different shoe and accessory options with dresses to see how happy you are with the overall look. *** And this is where you will find out if the dress is lined, or thick enough so that it isn’t see through. The right undergarments can help with this problem, but some white dresses are just too thin!

Have fun and think about movement

Think about how you will feel moving around in front of the camera in your dress. How does it look when you twirl, walk, and sit. Try it out to see if it feels good. Does it have some nice movement to it and look great from all angles? I LOVE white dresses with some movement! A fuller skirt, something to swish, fabric that twirls, layers that catch in a breeze… And little touches that look great from different angles like bows, straps, patterns, layers, pockets.. all things that add a little something extra!

Please don’t forget about undergarments!

It’s an easy thing to forget about, but so important! Don’t forget to make sure you have the best undergarments for the dress you choose. Nude undergarments are ideal so that they are as invisible as possible. And if you have strapless, halter, backless, or spaghetti straps, you will need to choose the right bra for that dress.

Some of this year’s white dress choices for my seniors and grads:

Thanks for reading!

XO, Janelle