You can take stunning senior photography without spending a lot of money or using expensive equipment. Senior photography is the perfect way to capture your parents as they age. These tips can be applied to any type of photography. They will help you improve the quality of your photos so that you can share your parents’ beautiful faces with friends and family.
Table of Contents
Choose the right location
When you take senior photography you want to do it where your parents are relaxed and enjoying themselves, rather than feeling stressed and uncomfortable. The ideal location is somewhere your parents like to go, such as their garden, home or local park. You also need to consider the weather. If it’s windy, then you’ll have to pay attention to getting the pictures taken in the right direction. It will be easier if it’s cloudy as this will make for some interesting lighting.
If you are taking family portraits indoors, make sure the room has enough natural light. A window that has a large view and good natural light is a good choice. If the room is small, think about installing a lamp that can illuminate the entire space. This can be a bright desk lamp that sits on a table or a track-lighting system.
Look for good background
You can use interesting backgrounds to enhance your senior photographs. Think about the theme of your shoot and try to find a suitable location. For example, if you’re going to photograph your parents on a beach, you could look for pictures of your parents at sea. You can even use a simple piece of paper cut out into a wave shape and pinned to the wall behind your parents. It will make a striking photo.
Find the right props
In order to get some creative ideas, think about where you’d like your parents to look in the photos. A good way to do this is to talk to them about what they like about themselves and what they would like to change. This can help you think of props that you can use in the photos. For example, if your parents are both big fans of classic cars, then you could use a vintage car as a prop. If you are photographing your parents in a park, you could place a chair or other object in front of them so that they are in focus.
You might also want to think about using props that relate to your family’s life story. For example, if your parents were both very involved with their children’s education and were both teachers, then you could place books on a table. These could be framed and placed behind the parents.
Make sure your poses work
When taking senior photography you don’t want to pose your parents too stiffly or they will look uncomfortable and out of place in the photos. It’s best to talk to your parents about what they are comfortable with and ask them what kind of poses they like. It can be helpful to take some inspiration from the people you love most in life. For example, your grandparents might be the people who always have a smile on their face and a friendly manner.
Take advantage of your surroundings
As well as choosing the right location, you can also choose props that complement your setting. You can make use of the items around you to create interesting pictures. For example, if your parents are sitting at a table, then you could use a vase or a piece of wood to give them a more interesting background. It could be something simple such as a flower pot or a coffee mug or something more complex, such as a sculpture made of wood or metal.
You could also add a little extra to your photos by using interesting objects to place in your shots. If you’re photographing your parents in front of a window, you could use a vase or an arrangement of flowers to give the shot a more decorative feel.
Think about the time of day
If you are taking senior photography in the morning, you want to make sure the lighting is bright enough for your subjects to be in focus. You can add some extra light by placing a small lamp behind your subjects. If you are taking photos outdoors, you can also use flash photography to get some dramatic results. You can either hold a flash unit above your camera or you could use a reflector to bounce the light back towards your subjects.
When you are taking senior photography you don’t want it to be too dark. This will make the pictures less interesting and your parents will look old and tired. Try to take the photos at around noon when the sun is at its brightest.
Consider editing your images
It’s easy to get carried away taking senior photography and then you end up with a bunch of blurry shots. It’s better to take several good shots than lots of bad ones. When you edit your photos, you can remove any unwanted people or objects from the background, such as furniture or other items in the room. You can also remove some of the light from the shot, which can make your subjects look more in focus.
If you have taken photos in an outdoor setting, you can use Adobe Photoshop Elements to adjust the colors, contrast, and brightness of the photos. This will make the pictures look more natural and the colors will pop out of the photos.
Get Comfortable
Senior photography is not just about taking great photos of seniors. It’s also about capturing the spirit of the person. If you feel uncomfortable in front of the camera, it will show. Instead, try to get comfortable with the idea of being in front of a camera.
The first thing to do is practice taking pictures of yourself. That way you’ll be used to the feeling of the camera, which will make it easier for you when you’re actually doing it for real.
Find Your Angle
When it comes to taking stunning senior photography, the first thing you need is an angle that captures your subject’s personality and makes them look their best. For example, if your subject has beautiful eyes and wants her photos taken straight-on with a smile, try shooting from above or below her so the focus is on her eyes instead of her face.
Hire Props
Props can make all the difference when it comes to taking stunning senior photography! For example, if your subject loves reading books but doesn’t want them in every photo, consider hiring some fun book covers so she can use them as props in place of actual books (for example, “The Hunger Games” is an awesome cover for any girl who loves reading).
Think about the background.
The background of your photo should compliment your outfit and pose, not distract from them. If you’re wearing a white top, avoid choosing a black background. And if you’re going for a casual look, don’t pick an elaborate backdrop. It’s best to keep things simple and natural so that when people see your photos after all these years, they’ll remember how great you looked on that day.
Pick flattering colors and patterns.
Think about what colors look good on you and what colors flatter you most — then pick out an outfit that compliments them! Patterns can also be fun, but make sure they aren’t too busy or distracting from your face; keep it simple so that they don’t take away from your smile or eyes.
Choose a location that’s meaningful to you. Whether it’s where you grew up or somewhere you visit often, choosing a location that has meaning for you will help make your photos more authentic and interesting.
Don’t be afraid to go with unconventional ideas. If you want to wear a funny hat or try something different with your hair, don’t be afraid to do it! Your senior portraits should reflect who you are as a person, not just what other people think looks good in photos.
The Poses for Senior Photography
Get Started: Choose Your Pose
One of the easiest ways to take good senior portraits is to choose a pose. There are many poses you can try out and you can always change the position of your camera or the way you are holding it.
A classic pose for senior photography is where you’re sitting with your legs crossed and your hands in your lap. It’s easy to arrange, and it creates an elegant feel to the photo. Another popular pose is to have the person standing and the camera angled in such a way that their eyes are focused in one direction. For example, if you have the person facing away from the camera and the camera is at a slight angle to them, you can make them look as though they are looking at something in the distance. This gives a more interesting, ‘dreamlike’ feel to the shot.
Get the Shot
When it comes to taking senior portraits, you want to capture the feeling of the person, not just their face. Try to imagine what kind of photos they like. Would they prefer a classic pose? Would they like a candid shot? You’ll want to work out which pose will be most flattering to them and the best way to get it.
Once you’ve decided on the pose and the type of shot you want to take, set up your props. Choose an area that will create the right atmosphere and make sure you’ve got everything you need. Make sure you have a table or chair where you can place your props, and a backdrop if needed. Try to get the props in the same position in each photo. For example, if you’re going to have two people together, put the prop in the same position in both shots, so that it doesn’t get in the way of the shot.
Set the Scene
The setting is also very important. It’s essential that you choose a well-lit area, where there is a lot of light coming in from behind the person and their props.
It’s also important to think about the background and how it affects the shot. You can have people stand in a brightly lit room with plain walls, or you can use a dark room to create an interesting look. You can add more props, such as an umbrella or flowers, and make the space more interesting. If you want to capture a more natural look, try to get the person in front of a window or somewhere with lots of natural light.
Remember to use the right camera settings, too. It’s important to get the right exposure for the shot. To do this, try shooting at different shutter speeds. For example, if the person is going to be standing, try shooting them with a faster shutter speed than if they’re sitting down. By using different settings, you can create a more interesting look to the photo.
Take Careful Notes
When it comes to senior photography, it’s important to take careful notes. It can be tempting to forget things when you’re trying to remember how to get that great shot. But by taking notes, you can keep track of the settings, props and shots that worked well, so you can repeat them on future shoots.