Senior Pictures in the Minneapolis Area: Location Ideas, What to Wear, and How to Prepare

Your senior year is full of big moments, and one of the most exciting milestones is capturing your senior photos. Whether you’re graduating from a Minneapolis high school or any of the Twin Cities suburbs, your senior session should reflect you — your personality, your style, and your story. As a Minneapolis senior photographer, I’ve helped many seniors create images they’re proud to show off! (You can view my Seniors website here!) This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to plan the perfect senior photo session in and around the Minneapolis, Edina and Twin Cities area.

Why Senior Photos Matter

Senior pictures are a rite of passage! Your senior photos are more than just a yearbook headshot — they’re a celebration of a huge life transition! They capture your personality, achievements, and the things you love. These photos become keepsakes for your family, graduation announcements, and timeless memories that you’ll look back on for years to come. This time in your life is full of growth, self-discovery, and excitement, and senior photos freeze that in time.

Best Senior Photo Locations Near Minneapolis

I’m born and raised around the Minneapolis area so I know this city and surrounding suburbs well! Minneapolis is packed with gorgeous backdrops that photograph beautifully. It’s important for you to think about what type of vibe you want with your pictures! Do you want an urban/city feel? Beautiful flowers and greenery? Lake views? From there I can help you nail down a specific spot, or spots if you choose to do more than one location. Some of my favorite locations for senior pictures include:

• St. Anthony Main. Iconic city views, cobblestone streets, and cool urban textures. Ideal for a mix of casual and dressed-up looks.
• Minnehaha Falls. Natural beauty at its best. Waterfalls, stone staircases, and wooded paths offer a romantic, organic feel.
• Boom Island Park. Sweeping views of the skyline with grassy fields and the Mississippi River. Great for golden hour!
• Lyndale Park Rose Garden & Lake Harriet. Classic garden vibes with tons of color and nearby lakeside options.
• Downtown Wayzata or Excelsior. A fun mix of charming streets and buildings along with breathtaking lake views. Beautiful as the sun is setting!
• Como Park Conservatory. Beautiful clean white backdrop, lush greenery. Bonus is the lakeside Pavilion a couple minutes away.

What to Wear for Your Senior Photos

Your outfit choice can make a BIG difference in how your photos turn out. Most seniors bring 2-3 looks to show different sides of their personality. I suggest bringing at least one nice outfit (what you might wear to HS graduation) and one more casual outfit (what you’d wear to go shopping with friends). Stores like Altar’d State, Anthropologie and Target have some great options for outfits! See below for some styling Do’s and Don’ts that I always pass along to seniors!

DO

• Consider your backdrop: Soft colors for natural settings; bolder colors can work well for urban locations.
• Dress to match your personality! Wear clothes that feel like YOU!
• Wear solid colors or small patterns (less distracting) – keeps the focus on you.
• Wear colors that photograph well – whites, creams, pinks, corals, light blues, greens, pastel yellows look beautiful in photos!
• Wear a flowy dress or skirt! It acts as a natural prop for your hands, and adds a lot of interest in your photos.
• For guys, wear a linen or collared shirt! For nature, go more neutral, for lakes more beachy, for urban- you can go bolder!
• Add accessories like bracelets or earrings with a pop of color
• Add texture for visual interest (think eyelets, lace, flowy chiffon, ruffles, layers)
• Keep your hair and skin simple for a fresh, radiant and natural look
• Bring props that are meaningful to you! (instrument, hat, sports equipment, etc)

DON’T

• Wear all black or dark navy- they tend to get lost in photos. I do not recommend green in locations with a bunch of trees and nature.
• Wear something for the first time to the shoot – you want to feel comfortable and not constantly adjusting poor-fitting clothing or uncomfortable shoes.
• Choose anything with bold logos – they get outdated and are distracting!
• Wear stripes as they can be unflattering
• Wear overly bright or neon colors that might cast an unflattering tone onto your face
• Apply too much facial makeup, bronzer
• Spray tans aren’t recommended but if you choose to do it keep it subtle!

How to Prep for Your Senior Photo Session

Here’s how to make sure you feel totally ready on photo day:

• Get plenty of rest the night before. You’ll look and feel more energized.
• Drink water leading up to your shoot. It helps your skin look fresh.
• Get your hair and makeup done. I do recommend this, but it’s absolutely not necessary. If you’d like, I will connect you with my favorite hair and makeup artist prior to your session
• Paint or manicure your fingernails and toenails. They DO show up in your pictures!
• Clean your sneakers! If you’re planning to wear sneakers in your pictures make sure they look fresh! Nothing ruins a nice outfit faster than dirty shoes.
• Bring a friend or parent. They can help with touch-ups and make you laugh.
• Relax! My job is to guide you so you don’t have to worry about posing.

I always send my seniors a detailed questionnaire prior to the photo session. I like to really get to know you, understand any ideas or goals you might have for your senior portraits, and I even like to see Pinterest boards if this is something you’re into!

Senior Photo Session Packages

Ready to explore details?  I offer three senior session options for every style and budget:

• Deluxe Session: 90 minutes, multiple locations, multiple outfits, 60 professionally edited images.
• Classic Session: 60 minutes, one location, 2 outfits, 40 professionally edited images.
• Petite Session: 30 minutes, one outfit, one location, 20 professionally edited images.

Each package includes an online gallery, high-resolution downloads, and personal print rights.  If you’re interested in prints you can order them directly from your gallery!  But it’s not required!  Explore them further by clicking below!

Ready to Book your Senior Pictures Session?

Your senior year deserves to be remembered in a way that feels totally you. Whether you want wildflowers or skyline views, cozy fall vibes or city chic style, I’ll help you create a custom session you’ll love. Spots fill up quickly in spring and summer, so if you’re ready to start planning, let’s connect! I’d love to help you capture this unforgettable moment. I will open my books on February 1st for the 2026 season!

Thanks for visiting! xo, Angela