Summer is here and it’s time to soak up the sun! But before you lay out for hours on end, let’s discuss TAN LINES and your senior portrait session! “But you can just Photoshop them out, right?” It’s actually not that simple. Depending on where your tan lines are, your wardrobe choices, your skin tone, lighting, shadows, and about fifty other factors, photoshopping out tan lines can be a super difficult and time intensive task that could add fees to your final portrait order.

If you have a summer senior session coming up, here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to tan lines:

1. We always think of our clothing or bathing suit straps when we hear the words “tan lines,” but consider non-clothing items as well like strappy shoes, watches, and even sunglasses that can leave tan lines behind. Try not to wear these items a full month before your session to avoid differing skin tones.

2. For 2-3 weeks before your upcoming session, notice if you have any current tan lines and either tan them out or stay out of the sun completely. This will help mellow out the contrast of your tan lines and hopefully work toward a similar skin tone.

3. If it’s too late and your session is just around the corner, there’s a few things you can do to help minimize the attention of your tan lines. First, ask if your makeup artist can airbrush or use some concealer to blend your lines in with your tanned skin. Just be careful when changing outfits during your session so you don’t get makeup on your clothes. Second, you can choose a session wardrobe that doesn’t show your tan lines. Instead of strappy tops, you could wear outfits with more coverage to hide your lines. Want even more help when it comes to skin tones and your senior portrait session?

We are here to help you choose the best colors to wear for your senior session based on your skin tone! It details how to find out what skin tone you are, what colors look best for you, and more!