If your senior photo session will be your first professional shoot, you’re probably wondering what you should be doing in front of the camera. While your photographer is there to guide you through your photo session, it still helps to have an idea of how you would like to pose.
Here are some simple tips to help get you started.
1. Consider Your Best Features.
If you had to choose, what are your best features? What features would you like to accentuate in your senior photos? This could be your jawline, your chest, or your shoulders. Whatever features you would like to accentuate should be closest to the camera. Speak to your photographer about your favorite features ahead of time so that you can both plan accordingly.
2. Natural is Better.
When it comes to posing for your senior photos, it’s best to stick to poses that look natural. Poses that have you sitting down or leaning on one knee are just some examples of what looks good and not forced in front of the camera.
3. Don’t Worry about Your Hands.
A common complaint among people who get in front of a camera for the first time is that they don’t know what to do with their hands. Don’t worry about hand placement too much. Once you get into it, your hands will naturally find a place in your pockets, at your sides, or folded in your arms.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Move.
Photographers actually prefer it when you move around a bit. This doesn’t have to be big movements either. Simply moving your head around can add some variety to your senior shots. Again, your photographer will guide you but if you feel nervous and find yourself stiffening your head or jaw, let them know.
5. Have Fun.
You will always get the best shots when you approach your senior shoot with a relaxed mindset. You are here to celebrate an important milestone, so have some fun with your photographer. These photos are meant to highlight your personality after all.
If you want to be extra prepared, head over to a site such as Pinterest to find some ideas for poses. You can also browse your photographer’s portfolio for inspiration.
If you want to capture a few new family photos before the year comes to a close, you need to decide on a location. And with the cooler weather setting in, a studio shoot seems a lot more appealing. Is it the right choice for your family photo session though?
Here’s why a studio is a great setting for your upcoming shoot:
- No need to reschedule. When you select an outdoor location, you need to be okay with the fact that the weather might change for the worse. When you schedule a studio session, there’s no need to worry about rescheduling.
- Warmer, comfortable conditions. Not everyone loves being out in the cold, which means a family photo session can quickly become unpleasant. With a studio session, everyone is warm, comfortable, and happy. The result is more photos and more time to experiment.
- It’s a contained environment. Shooting at an outdoor location makes it much harder to contain your children and your pets – this isn’t the case with a studio shoot. When you shoot in a studio, you get to capture more photos because your kids can’t go very far. What’s more, most studios have a few distractions such as toys available for children, allowing parents and older siblings to capture photos of their own.
- Flexible time options. When you shoot outside, you need to play along with the light. Shooting an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset is ideal. When you work in a studio, all the lighting you need is already there. This means that you have more options available to you in terms of the time of your session.
The good news is that families generally have fewer commitments and social engagements in winter, which leaves more time for a family photo session, even more so if you choose a studio setting.
Your friends are an integral part of your school years, so it only makes sense to take a few photos together to commemorate your senior year. An important part of planning your senior photo session is deciding on the poses and shots you would like to take. Your photographer will thank you too. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
1. The Inside Joke. If there’s one thing all friends share, it’s a few inside jokes. Grab a shot of you and your besties talking and laughing together. Aim to walk towards the camera so that the photographer can capture your faces and outfits.
2. The Line-Up. Including more than just one best friend in your senior photos? Get the girls to line up with their backs towards the camera, your arms around each other’s waists, and your legs criss crossed for a great group shot. For the guys, you can place your hands on each other’s shoulders.
3. The Gowns. The iconic gown should make it into at least a few of your best friend shots. Have everyone walk towards the camera, laughing and smiling. You can even throw a few balloons into the mix for some added character.
4. The Year. Find a way to highlight the current year in your senior photos. You and your bestie can hold up a blackboard or even write the year across your feet, which will face the camera.
5. The Fun Signs. On the topic of props, you can also incorporate some fun signs into a few of your shots. “Finally” and “We Did It!” are great options.
6. The Hug. There are few things that feel as good as a hug from your best friend, which is why this makes for such a great senior shot. Embrace your friend in a way that your photographer can see both your faces. Another option is to capture a side hug from the back.
7. The Team. Were you and your best friend a part of the same sports team? Bring some memorabilia into your shots to highlight this special link you both share.
8. The Hat Toss. If you will be wearing hats on graduation day, don’t forget to capture a photo where your friend group throws their hats into the air.
9. The Confetti Shot. Add a little sparkle to your senior photos with beautiful dresses and confetti. You can have the confetti falling down around you and your friends or blow it towards the camera.
10. The Other Perspective. Get a few shots from a completely different angle by lying down with your head next to your best friend’s. Your photographer can then capture your faces from above.
There are so many ways to capture senior photos with your best friends. If you need any extra inspiration, speak to your photographer or browse through their portfolio
