In my head, I live in this dichotomous world...

I'm rather "frugal" when it comes to all things money and I'm also a DIYer to the nth degree...Which is one of the reasons I got into photography in the first place.  If I think I can "do it myself" then, by golly, I'm going to do it...

(and if you could see my basement with my plethera of junk piles...you'd understand my passion for "making do" and "upcycling" things...)

HOWEVER, I'm also a professional photographer who charges money for services, and although my pricing doesn't necessarily reflect my expertise just yet...they aren't garage sale prices either...

That said, I truly believe that investing in a professional photographer for family pictures and senior pictures is IDEAL for the sake of your own sanity (and that of your offspring), as well as the quality of imagery & processing that takes place.

And yet, I know that for some, Senior Photography just isn't in the budget...it can be (and according to the work involved for a photographer, it should be) expensive!  So for that reason, I'm going to share just a little bit of what I know about Senior Photography! Pinterest does a great job of putting lots of images out there, but you've all seen the "pinterest fails"...so, although they are a great starting point for creativity, don't let it be your end all...YOU are the only YOU...and YOU have the eyes that are in YOUR head...and therefore, YOU have something to offer that noone else can see...

I know this to be true because my best friend is a photographer as well...we've done LOTS of weddings together in the past and it amazed me EVERYTIME how we could be in the exact same place, seeing the same thing, but we each would "record" it differently!

That said, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when setting up for a Senior...

Obviously there are the first two tips that go along with any senior photo session:

1) Fun Outfits!  This is PLURAL for a reason.  Senior photography is vastly different than family photography...there aren't "relationships" to be captured...but rather, individual personality...and multiple aspects of that personality!  Therefore, I advise my seniors to have at least 2, if not 3 outfit changes that represent WHO they are, when they feel most pretty/handsome, when they feel most comfortable...

2) GREAT Locations with good LIGHT! Again, we have PLURAL...this takes TIME and behind the scenes work constantly...different times of day, watching how the light hits different locations, etc...I look for different options like nature, urban, classic, academic...have a pocketful of places that exemplify YOUR senior!

These other tips have to do with Posing!

I'm going to stick with girls for this post, as Katelyn James has already posted this sweet guys posing guide on Pinterest and I have it pinned to My Board for you to peruse!

In reality there are COUNTLESS posing strategies for girls...however, for the sake of my own time management, as my list of fall edits is now over 25...WOW! I'm going to hone in on just a few..each one can be used in different locations/settings...but ultimately, it's noticing a few key things in each situation:
* how the light hits her face
* what is tack sharp in the image (i.e. THE EYES)
* how flattering the pose works for the individual

3) Posing

Here are my top 3 "go to" poses when it comes to Senior Girls:

* Power Stance:
   What it IS: Standing with 1 or both hands on hips, or hands in pockets, or hands behind back! It                             reflects their confidence, their "fun factor"...I'm trying to glean their personality from                           this pose!
   What it is NOT: gritting teeth, standing with hands down at sides, hunch back, slouching, etc





* Sitting on steps:
   What it IS: Letting knees fall together to create angles instead of just a box, so to speak. Using                                arms & hands to create emotion...hands down is more playful and fun...hands by face                          evokes emotion & intimacy/personable
   What it is NOT: seductive, grungy, keeping legs straight up & down without a different camera                                     angle, etc.





* Close Ups:
   What it IS: This one is truly important with regards to focus and I MUST nail it...eyes MUST be                            tack sharp in close ups.  This is the essence of a person...therefore, my aperture is wide                        open. I often use principle of thirds on this, and these are often the ones that I will                                duplicate in black and white.
    What it is NOT: random crop of a regular posed picture, soft or blurry pic, shadowed or darkened                                  image.





Final Tips:  Watch for stray pieces of hair & clothing malfunctions...Be sure hands on face aren't a distraction or smooshing skin...don't forget CANDIDS: these are the moments that they aren't looking at the camera, but rather just talking or laughing...these are often my MOST favorite captures! Candids often happen unposed, waiting for things, or just the unexpected...




These are just a few of my tips from Senior Photography...I hope they help you develop your own style and "viewing through the lens"...I practice lots on my own daughters for fun..it's not JUST for Seniors...but, it's hopefully a good starting place when photographing individuals rather than groups/families!

Have a great week!