The ultimate “what to bring” guide for your BFF senior session

Okay, so you and your best friend booked a BFF mini session. Amazing. Iconic.

Correct decision. You're going to laugh, you're going to look incredible, and you're going to enD up with photos that live on your wall and your lock screen and probably your mom's Christmas card for the next three years.

But now comes the part where one of you texts the other "wait, what are we supposed to bring?" and nobody really knows and you both end up overthinking it at 11pm the night before.

We've got you. Here's everything you need to know.

Outfits: The More Options, the Better

This is a mini session, not a full-day shoot — but that does NOT mean you should only bring one look (unless you booked the super mini session which only includes one outfit).

Bring at least two outfits each if you booked anything other than the mini. Why? Because half the fun is the switch-up, and also because sometimes something looks great in your mirror and then you get to the studio and the lighting tells a different story.

For the outfits themselves: coordinate, but dont feel like you need to be overly matchy-matchy.

Add your favorite textures

Textures photograph really well too. Denim, linen, chunky knits, flowy fabrics Avoid big bold logos or graphics that are going to fight for attention in every frame. The star of the photo is you two!

One more thing: wear whatever makes you feel like YOU. If you're a jeans-and-a-cute-top girlie, wear that. If you've been waiting for an excuse to wear that dress that's been hanging in your closet for eight months, this is your moment. We want the photos to look like you and not like a version of you that's trying to look like someone else.

Color palette

You could think about picking a color palette together and working within it. If she's wearing warm tones, you wear warm tones — just different ones.

Prep: The Stuff That Actually Matters

Nails:

Between the holding-hands shots and the laughing-with-your-face-in-your-hands shots and the "look at us being effortlessly cute" shots, your nails will make an appearance. They don't have to be fancy — clean and done is totally fine — but it's worth thinking about beforehand.

Coordinate your nail colors if you want to be extra cute about it. No pressure though.

Hair:

Do your hair how you actually wear your hair. Seriously. If you never do elaborate updos in real life, day-of is not the time to attempt one. The goal is for these photos tolook like you on your best day, not like you at someone else's wedding. That said, bring a few things to touch it up — bobby pins, a travel-size dry shampoo, a brush. Studio lights are great and also unforgiving and you'll want a quick refresh option between looks.

Skin:

Moisturize the night before, drink some water, get a decent night of sleep. We know, we know — groundbreaking advice. But it actually makes a difference. If you wear makeup, wear what you're comfortable in. Natural reads beautifully on camera. But you need more makeup than you think to look like you in the final photos.

We are illuminating your amazing skin with those lights and it can wash a queen out.

Arrive feeling like yourselves! And if you want, the the slightly more polished, slightly more hydrated version of yourselves.

Props & Personal Items: Bring the Stuff That's YOURS

This is honestly our favorite part to talk about because this is where the photos go from cute to actually meaningful.

Think about what you two actually do together. Do you always get Sonic on the way home from school? Bring the drinks. Do you have a thing about a specific playlist, a TV show, a running joke that nobody else gets? Bring something that represents it.

Do you both play a sport, or have matching friendship bracelets, or always wear the same hoodie from that one trip? Bring it.

Props don't have to be elaborate. A blanket. A polaroid camera. A book you've both read. Your letter jackets. A Polaroid of the two of you from three years ago. The stuff that's already part of your story is always better than anything we could stage.

Sunglasses are also a yes. Always. Non-negotiable.

The goal with props is the same as everything else at Be More You: only you two have your specific friendship. Only you know the inside jokes and the memories and the weird little things that make your dynamic yours. Bring that stuff into the studio and let's photograph it.

One Last Thing Before You Show Up

Eat beforehand. Bring snacks if you want. Have your coffee. Be hydrated. We want you energized and happy, not hangry and distracted.

And then? Just show up ready to have fun. That's genuinely it. The laughing, the chaos, the completely unplanned moments between poses — that's where the best photos come from every single time.

Come be yourselves. We'll take care of the rest.