What a beautiful time in your life it is to graduate from school, whether it is from high school or college. One thing is the same though that amazing feeling of ACCOMPLISHMENT and ACHIEVEMENT!
That is the goal in your photo session: show that feeling of success and happiness in your photos.
It is a fact that many of you are very used to do selfies, make silly faces, looking this way, looking the other way. But, as soon as you are in front of a professional camera, those silly faces evaporate!
It is also a fact that not all seniors are created equal. Many seniors tend to feel self-conscious about their appearance and they feel uncomfortable taking photos on their own.
It’s completely normal to feel a little awkward when taking senior portraits. Not to worry. Relax!
My goal is to make you look amazingly good and I will guide every step of the way. I put together my top five tips that will help overcome any shyness or awkwardness you may feel. Get ready and take notes.
Top Tips for a Sensational Senior Photo Session
Below are my top five tips for taking on your senior portrait with grace and confidence and leaving with photos that you will love for years to come.
TIP 1: Use your eyes
Use your eyes to express emotion. When you smile naturally your whole face lights up and your eyes look bright and awake. Before the photo session, practice smiling in the mirror and use different expressions to see what looks best.
TIP 2: Relax
Great photos happen when the subject is relaxed and confident. Let the excitement of your photo session show through the lens as you take a moment and breathe, relax and just have fun. You may feel silly during this process but we will do everything we can to help you feel more comfortable.
TIP 3: Breathe
This may sound obvious but breathing is key to capturing a natural look. Take time to practice taking a deep breath while smiling in front of the mirror. Slowly release the air while holding the smile and notice how your face and eyes settle into a natural and relaxed expression. Allow your eyes to “smile” by focusing on the apples of your cheeks pressing upwards. When in doubt, just breathe.
TIP 4: Move
Staying stationary can sometimes produce a very staged and cheesy look. Just because you are sitting or standing still doesn’t mean you can’t change the angle of your body to create a look that is fresh and inspired. Try leaning into the camera slightly to appear more engaged, shift your weight from left to right, or simply move your chin slightly up and down for different shots as this gives us a variety of facial expressions to work with.
TIP 5: Beautify
This goes for everyone. Ladies, spend some extra time getting your hair blown out, get your makeup done, and choose an outfit that makes you look and feel your best. As for the men, take a shower and shave. When you look at your best, you feel your best and when you feel your best, you are naturally more confident. Go the extra mile to walk into your senior session feeling confident, attractive, prepared, and inspired.
The posing and composing of the photos, you don't worry about. That is my job. As you can see it is teamwork that produces great results.
I love this saying because it is so true...
“A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.” — Edward Steichen