As many of you know I've had my business less than a year, but it's been a crazy success. I do many different areas of photography, from modeling products, then family, and weddings. But most of my business is from seniors. I relate well to them, because when I started my business, I was a senior. I graduate in less than 2 weeks but I'm sure next year i'll have the same feel to my shoots, since i'll still be young. Seniors came to me because being a senior myself I know how I would want my pictures to look, so I reflect that on them. Sharing tips and giving advice has always been one of my favorite things, so I came up with some tips that will help you photograph your next senior shoot... From a senior herself.
1. Don't try to pick locations that YOU think is good.
This is their senior pictures, not yours. If you take them to a field with tall grass, and they hate the country, does that look good? No. If they ask you where some good places are, pick the top 5 that you like. But make sure they are different scenes. My top five is a old railroad track, brick buildings, a field, a park, and main street of a city. You hit different spots, and that gives them a chance to say "Well... I don't like the brick building pictures." Awesome! So we won't go there. If they have places in mind, do research with senior pictures that has that same location. Which leads me to my next tip...
2. Research. Research. Research.
I see some people feel as if they are looking at other photographers pictures, then if they like something they won't do it because they feel as they are stealing their idea. No. Shake that off, because all photographers get their ideas from somewhere. But what makes them different is that they take that idea and they make it their own. They'll change the angle, make it a guy instead of a girl, or even change what the background is. It makes it theirs. So go ahead and Google senior pictures and save that idea that you love, just make it your own.
3. Be fun with them!
I know if I had someone take my pictures I wasn't comfortable with, I would have a hard time wanting to do anything. I couldn't be myself. Before you even start taking pictures with them talk about something random, and from that one random thing, you'll start a whole new conversation. Don't act like all you care about is getting the pictures done, why would they want to work with you if all you care is about your job? Nobody would want to talk to you, they want to get to know you, so you can get to know them and have their personality in the picture.
4. If they don't like the pose, it's a no go.
If your getting them to do some pose that isn't them and they feel awkward doing it, STOP DOING IT. Simple as that. Natural is best, you don't it to look posed.
5. Always laugh
My best pictures always end up being the ones I told them to fake laugh, then they started really laughing. That shows them at their best, being happy. They will look back on that picture and think about all the times they've laughed.
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