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Senior portraits are one of the most popular styles of photography around. We think this is because of the way these seniors are poised on the cusp of brand new beginnings…moving on to new and better things…with the whole world before them as they begin this new segment of their life’s journey.
Lucky for photographers, seniors are fun, vibrant, amazing and beautiful clients to work with!
For today’s tutorial, we have put together a list of helpful tips and trends that you can use during your next senior portrait photo shoot to capture the true personality behind the client you are photographing.
Hot Tip #1: Find A Textured Background
Seniors love the texture trend right now! Texture really adds interest and dimension to any photo you might take of your client. Look around everywhere you go to find texture, an old barn or a graffiti wall that you might be able to incorporate into your next senior shoot. They will love it!
Hot Tip #2: Incorporate Favorite Props
Props can be useful in any type of shoot, but here are two of our favorites for those special seniors that we are capturing…
-Pets: For many seniors, their pet might even be their best friend! They will be thrilled for you to take the time to capture the two of them together.
-Furniture: Whether it’s vintage, funky, contemporary or victorian – find a piece that fits your senior’s special personality and implement it into their photo shoot.
Hot Tip #3: Incorporate The Senior’s Hobby
Everyone has hobbies that they love participating in. Set up a time to talk about this with your client well before you actually meet for their photo session. It will be fun for them to remember the types of activities they were involved with at this important stage of their life!
Hot Tip #4: Zoom In On The Fine Details
Many times as photographers we get so involved in capturing the big picture, that we forget to photograph the little details that make our seniors special. Zoom right in, try different angles and really capture the essence of your subject.
Hot Tip #5: Railroad Tracks
If you have an abandoned railroad track near where you live, we find these to be a beautiful addition to the senior sessions we’ve photographed. The railroad track disappearing into the distance really helps relate the idea of the future that lies ahead of these seniors. And it’s easy to customize a railroad track photo no matter who you are working with!
For the gals, encourage them to be fun, funky and to embrace “their inner 17-year-old!”
And for the guys, it’s the perfect opportunity to let their “Mr. Cool” come shining through!
Hot Tip #6: Add A Vehicle To The Mix
For young men especially, their vehicle is usually something that is very special to them and unique to their personality. They are most definitely going to enjoy having a photo of them together to remember for all time.
Hot Tip #7: Include Their Friends!
Including your senior’s friends in their shoot helps them relax and enjoy the experience more and it helps you capture those candid, natural moments that we are all looking for during a senior shoot.
Hot Tip #8: “Significant” Others
We are always leery when a senior asks to include their boyfriend or girlfriend in their photo session. Chances are that they aren’t even going to be together very much longer after the shoot has ended. We all know that it’s difficult to relate that to the senior though, so we would recommend including their “significant” other in a few of their photos, but the majority of them should be of the senior alone.
Hot Tip #9: Shoot At Special Locations
It is your responsibility as a photographer to help your seniors scout out locations that are special and meaningful to them. You might even want to consider holding their session at a location that indicates the bright and glorious future they have ahead of them…
They will appreciate your efforts so much when you deliver their beautiful proofs to them!
Hot Tip #10: The “Waite” Is Over!!!
Wha?! The “waite” is over. What does that mean?
1) Read the sign in the last photo to get the “waite” part of it.
2) You all didn’t think we goofy I Heart Faces gals would be able to pass up another perfect April Fools’ opportunity did you?!?!? Bwahahahaha!!!!
We’re thinking we might have started a whole new trend in “senior” portrait photography. Just remember it all started here on April Fools’ Day at I Heart Faces. 
We hope you enjoyed this April Fools’ tradition as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you. Hee! While we’re on that topic, if you missed our April Fools’ post from a previous year, be sure to head on over to read it now. It was AWESOME (if we do say so ourselves… giggle!)
Special Thanks To Our Amazing “Senior” Models:
- Allene: Amy’s 82 year-old grandma
- Gertie: Amy’s grandma’s friend
- Jerry & Karen: Angie’s awesome parents
Disclaimer: No I Heart Faces co-founders grandmas, parents or grandma’s friends were hurt in the making of this tutorial. We claim no responsibility for any psychological damage if any of the above said persons begins to have “issues” after seeing the results of their photo session (especially since those said persons came up with many of the ideas for this April Fools’ post themselves!) If it is ever suggested that wet pants might have incurred as collateral damage of a LMAO condition during the making of this tutorial, we will strongly deny it until the end of time. The end.
Happy April Fools’ Day!!! We hope you enjoyed the Funny Photos!
Exciting News!
We also want to let you know about a VERY popular book that will be back on the market later this year. Get a preview of it here. You’ll LOVE IT!!
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87. Julia Spencer said…I totally didn’t even get it was a joke at first… I was like, really? People do this? By the funeral home? OMG! And his socks and sandals? OMG! And well… fools on me!!!
Great job. Thanks!!!!!
OMGosh…SO totally HILARIOUS! I was cracking up–and the sandal shot…snort, bahahahahaha. Great job!! Very clever. my husband (a photographer) is in senior photo season, thank you for all the tips/laughter!
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Usually I don’t read post on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to check out and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thank you, quite nice post.
Julie recently posted..Julie
Actually, and AF jokes aside, this is really a great idea. I hope more people do it. I started a project a few years ago titled Town Treasures. http://bit.ly/10WykLc . Senior as so much fun to photograph. No pretentiousness at all.
Hilarious!!! thank you!
OMGosh…totally loved this. (big smile and made my day)
I didn’t get to reading this until today.. April 3rd. April Fools’ Day was a thing of the past and so far out of my mind. I read this…and I was just concerned. I couldn’t figure it out. I kept scrolling to find out who in the heck wrote this article so I could go to their site and see what else they offered. OF COURSE it was a joke. So relieved. For real
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