Fall is my favorite time to shoot senior pictures in Lawrence. The light goes golden over Clinton Lake. The leaves turn at the Baker Wetlands. The brick on Mass Street glows. It is honestly the prettiest season we get in Kansas.

But once the temperature drops, the same worry shows up every single year. You want to wear those cozy fall layers. You also do not want to look bulky on camera. I hear it from seniors and their moms all the time.

Here is the good news. You do not have to freeze to look incredible. Cameras just read depth differently than your eyes do. That big, soft sweater that feels amazing in person can swallow your frame in a photo. It hides your waist and makes you look boxy.

A few small styling tricks fix all of it. Let me walk you through them.

5 Fall Styling Tips for Your Lawrence, KS Senior Pictures

1. Fitted Underneath, Loose on Top

The whole trick to layering is balance. Wear a loose flannel over a chunky sweater with wide-leg jeans and the camera loses your shape completely.

So flip it. Keep whatever is underneath fitted. Think a sleek bodysuit, a tucked-in ribbed mock-neck, or a fitted long-sleeve tee. Then add your texture on top with an open cardigan, a denim jacket, or a suede trench.

When you move, the open jacket frames the fitted layer underneath. The camera still sees your waist. You still get that cozy fall look. You get both.

2. Skip the Chunky Knits

I know the giant cable-knit sweater is comfy. It is also really hard to photograph. Thick wool adds inches to your shoulders, neck, and torso on camera.

Reach for structured pieces instead. A plaid or solid blazer defines your shoulders and nips in at the waist. A suede or leather moto jacket holds its own shape instead of collapsing onto you. A thin, duster-length cardigan makes long vertical lines that help you look taller.

Same fall feeling. Cleaner lines.

3. Show Your Waist, Even Under a Coat

When the wind comes off Clinton Lake at sunset, you are going to want to bundle up. That is totally fine. Just do not let your coat turn you into a shapeless blob.

If you have on a flannel or a light sweater, do a loose front-tuck into your high-waisted jeans. That one move tells the camera exactly where your waist is. Wearing a trench? Cinch it with the tie-belt. And push your sleeves up a little to show your wrists. Showing the thinnest part of your arm tricks the eye into seeing a leaner shape, even under layers.

---

📸 Free Download: My “What Not to Wear” Guide

Outfit planning can feel like a lot. You do not have to guess your way through it. I put together a guide with the exact colors, patterns, and cuts that fight with the camera, plus what to wear instead.

Grab your free “What Not to Wear” guide here and walk into your session knowing every look works.

---

4. Pick Pieces That Move

The best part of a session with me is the real movement. Not stiff, hands-at-your-sides photos. Fall layers are perfect for this, as long as they are light enough to actually move in.

So think about how a piece looks when you walk or spin. An open trench or a duster cardigan trails behind you as you head down Mass Street. Fringe on a suede jacket or a long scarf gives your hands something to do. If feeling awkward is your worry, this helps a ton. And do not stress about the movement itself. I coach every step, so you always know what to do.

5. Don’t Bury Your Neckline

Scarves are a fall staple. A giant blanket scarf wrapped three times is not. It hides your jawline and makes your neck disappear on camera.

If you love a scarf, go thin. Silk or a light knit, left hanging open, makes a pretty long line down your torso. Or skip it and lean on a wide-brim felt hat or leather boots instead. You still get the fall texture without covering your face.

Let’s Plan Your Dream Fall Session

Whether you go to Free State, Lawrence High, or you are driving in from somewhere nearby, your senior pictures should feel like you. Fully guided, start to finish.

That is how every MBP session works. We do not just show up and shoot. We plan your outfits together, scout your locations, and I coach every pose so you never feel lost in front of the camera. You just show up. I handle the rest.

Fall is my most-requested season, and it books out months ahead. Let’s make your senior year one worth celebrating.

Get in touch and lock in your fall date here

---

Megan Bowers is a senior portrait photographer based in Lawrence, Kansas. Her goal is to bring out every senior’s personality in their images and to make sure no two senior sessions look alike. From wardrobe to posing to the final gallery, she guides you through the whole experience start to finish. Megan is now booking the Class of 2027. To learn more about being an MBP senior, click here.