Specialty Senior Photography Poses

These days the most popular senior portrait option is the specialty pose. These poses allow students’ personalities to shine through and transcend ordinary photographs. Photographers refer to these poses as “fun shots” and encourage teens to bring along personal props that express their individuality and enhance the portrait.

For example, a star athlete might consider being snapped catching a game-winning ball or a die-hard equestrian might consider posing with a horse.

Popular props include:

• Musical instruments
• Uniforms (cheerleading, football, basketball or military)
• Sports equipment (such as footballs, skis, bats, pom-poms or tennis rackets)
• Pets
• Hats
• Vehicles (cars, motorcycles, or bikes)
• Books
• Games (chess/checker boards or video games)

Photographers find a way to integrate these props into senior photos so recipients of the portraits get a sense of what the student is most passionate about.

Perfecting Your Pose

Before you arrive at a photo shoot, it’s a good idea to practice your facial expressions in front of a mirror. Experiment with various smiles, poses and animated expressions. Your level of comfort will show in your body language, so your goal should be to appear as natural and upbeat as possible.

Professional photographers will arrange your standing and sitting positions and provide direction on other poses. However, you should not hesitate to suggest other stances or positions.

When personalizing your pose, consider these simple tips:

1. Attitude makes a difference. The more comfortable you are in front of the camera, the better your shots will turn out.
2. Be yourself. You don’t have to break out a huge grin in each shot. Make yourself comfortable and pose naturally.
3. Bring in samples. If you have a pose that you admire from a magazine or book, bring it with you to your session and have the photographer work with you to replicate it.
4. Get to know your photographer. Set up a meeting with your photographer prior to your session to discuss different pose options. Getting comfortable with your photographer will yield quality senior portraits.

The Importance of Senior Portraits

High school senior pictures document a student at the brink of adulthood poised to begin the next chapter in his or her life. These portraits have special meaning for students and their families, which is why capturing the right pose is so important.