If you are feeling anything other than excitement for your senior portrait session, this post is for YOU! I remember the experience of planning my senior portraits very vividly (it wasn't thaaaaat long ago). The summer after my junior year, I started to see my friends' senior photos popping up on Facebook, and I was stressed. Out. Of. My. Mind. Thanks to the rise of social media platforms, the pressure to have perfect pictures was mounting. The idea of having a picture of me that would be immortalized in a yearbook was daunting. I was self-conscious and critical of some of my features, and to that point, I had very few photos of myself that I liked. But this photo, this one had to be perfect.
Since graduating, I've had the opportunity to work with many seniors with varying levels of comfort in front of the camera. I've learned a few tricks to help you feel at ease in front of the camera that I wish I could go back and tell myself.
1. Choose a photographer that matches your style. Be willing to INVEST! I did a lot of photographer shopping when I was planning my senior pictures, and I was shocked at how much money they charged. I mean, how hard is it to press a shutter button? At the time, I didn't realize all the coaching, expertise, consultation, time, and WORK that goes into portraiture. My family hadn't had any professional portraits taken in over a decade, so I was clueless.
But now I know that finding someone who knows what they're doing is worth the investment. Search for a photographer that takes pictures you think are pretty. Look at the colors in their photos. Look at the way people are posed. Do you like their poses? Do you like their candid shots?
2. Be a bit vulnerable before your session so that you don't have to feel self-conscious during your session. Okay, this one is tough, and it takes guts and honesty. If you have any insecurities about how you look, or if there are certain poses you already think aren't flattering for you (or poses you really do want!), reach out to your photographer before your session and let them know. As a photographer, I appreciate it so much when people let me know their concerns ahead of time. It will help me pose you and help you feel comfortable during our session, and you'll end up with more images that you love.
3. What to wear: Bring several of your favorite outfits to your shoot. Choose clothes that fit you well and make you happy when you put them on. Make sure you can move around very comfortably in your clothes, and I'd suggest making sure that areas you don't want seen are well covered. If your clothing options are "revealing" when you sit down, lean forward, or walk- maybe choose something else. I recommend having two dressier outfits, and one of your nicer 'everyday' outfits. Try to avoid plain t-shirts, super tight clothing, and super short clothing (this goes for tops and bottoms). Ladies, make sure your bra is covered, and try to choose a top that won't show bra lines. Bring a little bag to hold any props or accessories.
4. Makeup: Ladies! If you've never had professional makeup done, this would be a great time to try it out! Even if you don't wear much makeup normally, getting a little done up for you pictures will help enhance your natural beauty and make you feel more confident in front of the camera. Go for a natural, subtle pallet so as not to draw attention to the fact that you had your makeup done.
5. It's okay to bring a cheerleader! Yes, you are almost an adult, and I know independence is likely something you crave, but feel free to bring a friend or family member to your shoot to help you feel more at ease. I will be getting to know you throughout our session, but it can be nice to have someone familiar there to say silly things, bring up inside jokes, and make you feel more at ease. Having a helping hand there to hold extra outfits can also come in handy! We don't need a whole entourage there- one carefully selected person is plenty. Keep in mind that having someone there may be more of an interference than a help, and that coaching the photographer during a shoot is not recommended. :)
6. HAVE FUN! We will crank up some tunes or background music, talk about your senior-itis and future plans, and hopefully have some good laughs. Yes, this is a once in a lifetime experience. Let's make it enjoyable!
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