Lillian Lane
Posts on photographing Seniors
Senior Photos How to Get Personality Driven Photos
Introduction
Let’s face it: your senior is a unique individual. And while they’re a part of your family, they might also have a style that’s very different from yours or even their siblings’. So when you’re planning out their session, make sure to think about what will show off their personality and make it uniquely theirs. Here are some tips for doing that!
Be Self-Aware
You know your senior. You know what lights them up in life. What do they spend their time on? What do they talk about when they’re happy? What activities are they enthusiastic about?
It’s doesn’t have to be campy. If you have a soccer lover, don’t necessarily photograph them holding a soccer ball. But maybe arrange for their senior photos to be taken on the field in a non obvious way. Have a daughter who loves fashion? Take her shopping and have her pick out the perfect outfit, or better yet, sew one!
If you want some more help figuring out how to dress your senior up for the big picture day, look at what they like to wear every day and start there. Your senior is going to have a hard time being photographed if you put him in a suit and tie when he’s actually a casual guy.
Don’t Copy Others, Get Creative
Don’t copy others, get creative. You don’t have your senior pose by his car, but is it a project car? Is it his passion? Then definitely do it! Noah, here is getting into professional fighting, so we took some time during his session to give credit to his fighting.
Don’t be afraid to try new things. We don’t want your senior to feel like they need to do something out of their comfort zone when taking these pictures- but if something is important to them, find a way to include it!
Go Somewhere Meaningful
When planning a photo shoot, it’s best to think about the kinds of photos your senior would like. Ask them: What are they most excited about in their senior year? Where have they always wanted to go, but haven’t been able to yet? This way, you can incorporate these answers into your plans for the day of your shoot.
Ask What They Want
When it comes to photography, it’s important to let your senior shine through their photos. To do this, ask them about themselves and the things that mean a lot for them. Whether they’re interested in sports or music, knowing what your senior’s passions are can help you determine which locations would be best for a photo shoot and which poses will look natural and authentic.
When asking questions about favorites, try to stick with general topics like hobbies and interests rather than specifics like favorite colors or foods (unless those are connected). This will also help keep things fun!
Take the time to figure out what will show off your senior’s personality and make your session unique.
When it comes to senior portraits, it’s important to remember that the main goal is for your senior to be able to look back on their photos and feel good about themselves. It’s also important that they don’t feel like they were forced into smiling or trying anything different than what they’re comfortable with. It’s okay if your ‘serious’ senior looks serious in his photos, or if your goofy senior brings some silliness into her photos.
That being said, there are ways you can capture a more sincere personality in your photos without getting too cheesy or awkward looking. In fact, these tips will help seniors feel even more comfortable in front of the camera so that they can really show off who they are as a person!
Conclusion
We all want our senior’s to look good in their photos, but the most important thing is that we make sure they feel good. Don’t be afraid to ask them what they want out of their session and spend some time figuring out how you can make that happen. It’s worth it!