Although it may not seem like the most exciting genre of photography, senior portraits/photos are some of my favorite projects to do. There is always so much buzz and excitement surrounding someone's senior year and this gets carried over into their sessions. This is also your chance as a photographer to create something that the student and their family will cherish forever if it is done correctly. I personally did not like mine when they were done my senior year of high school. I even knew the photographer personally which made it even harder when i was not comfortable during the session and when i did not like the final product i was presented with. Because of this I make it my mission every time i do a senior session that i will make sure the client and their family love the work that is done because after all, they are paying for your services and it isn't always cheap. So here is my ride or die checklist of how to complete a great senior portrait session:
Know Your Client:
This doesn't mean that you have to personally know each and every person you are doing photos more. When i receive a new client that wants senior photos done, I make sure to send them my questionnaire-esque template. This document has questions on it that help me get to know who they are better. It asks about their personal style, interests they have, how often they either take photos of themselves or have photos taken of them, locations they are interested in for their photos etc.. Having them fill this out and send it back to me before their session helps me better understand how i can cater the session to them and their tastes to make sure the photos turn out a way that they will enjoy. It also makes the session more comfortable for me as the photographer and them as the client because I now know about them more and am able to talk to them and not push them out of their comfort zone. For photography in general, it is great to get out of your comfort zone and try new things, but for senior sessions, it is best to stick to the basics and what the client wants. Theres nothing worse than a senior photo where the individual looks uncomfortable.
Props, Props, Props..oh and a Dresscode:
Having your client bring props that are important or special to them is a great way to get some fun photos and have something to do with their hands. Props can be anything from something they use to play their sport, a fishing pole or even their dog. Within the same questionnaire document i send them, i have a typed out list of clothing to try and avoid. Certain items such as extremely patterned shirts tend to not photograph well and you could end up with some great shots that are not really useable because the shirt is either distracting or messing up the balance of the shot. Of course if there is a certain item that the student would like to wear for sure in their photos, they are welcome to do so, these are just guidelines and kindly ask them to bring a backup outfit as well so that way not all photos are taken with it.
You also want to make sure that during your shoot, there are no hair ties on the wrist because this distracts from the photo especially if the client is not wearing any other jewelry.
If it Bends..Bend it!:
This is one of the rules that i learned early on when it comes to any type of photography that showcases a person honestly. It might sound funny or feel funny for them at first, but i promise that if you have your client bend their arms, legs or other various parts of their body slightly in each shot, it will make for a more natural and comfortable outcome. Most seniors are not familiar with having photos taken of them at first so they will most likely be a bit confused and awkward at first. It is your job as the photographer to make them comfortable. I find that if i give them an example and show them myself exactly where they will be taking the photo and how to pose, this makes it a lot easier for them to understand and execute themself. After doing this a couple times for a few different shots, even my most awkward and reserved clients eventually begin to get the hang of it and do it themselves even before i ask! Here is a great example of a portrait i did for one of my more reserved clients where everything than can bend was bent and it made for a beautiful photo.
Sunrise or Sunset Always:
As a photographer, you can't always count on great weather during your sessions. However, you do have control over when you choose to do them. The golden rule for really any photo session that is outdoors is to either shoot at sunrise or sunset. This is because during these times the lighting is a lot less harsh. Never shoot at high noon!! This is the time of day where the lighting is the most harsh and all you will be left with is a bunch of washed-out squinty photos of your subject. Sunrise and sunset offer a beautiful golden hue and if it is overcast outside as well, even better!
Of course there are always more tips and tricks for senior sessions, but this list encompasses all of the basics that will help you have a successful outcome for senior pictures. Hope this helps give an understanding of the building blocks of a portrait session!