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.

Senior Photography Poses

Having professional photos taken of high school seniors is an American tradition that dates back to the 1930s. Back then, boys were photographed in tuxedo jackets, while girls were draped in fur-trimmed shawls and classic pearls. As the country prepared to enter World War II, high school seniors struck stiff poses and rarely smiled for the camera. These days, however, senior photography poses have evolved into a world of its own.

Formal vs. Informal

Most professional photographers specializing in senior portraits offer packages that allow a student to choose from 15 to 40 different poses per session. Poses are broken down into categories, with the most popular being formal and informal.

Formal

Formal senior portraits feature traditional poses, including the standard head and shoulders shot with students donning a graduation cap and gown or other formal attire. These types of photos are punctuated with different background colors and are preferred for high school yearbooks and graduation invitations. Formal poses are also the ones most often displayed in frames by proud parents and grandparents. However, these types of traditional poses rarely capture a student's true personality.

Informal

Informal poses capture a high school senior in a more casual setting. The majority of these photos are three-quarter or full-length shots, which gives teens more latitude to strike unique poses.

Indoors: Informal indoor shots take place at the photography studio with students donning casual outfits such as their favorite jeans or sweater. Photographers may position teens on stools or have them sit in lightweight chairs near windows or mirrors. In addition, some informal poses will feature students gazing in a direction other than where the camera is positioned. Not all shots will include a full smile.

Outdoors: Another type of informal shot can be taken outdoors. Teens wearing casual clothing are encouraged to pose near trees and fountains, on a park bench, or in the middle of flowery meadow. When posing for an informal outdoor shot, it is critical to take note of your entire appearance. Full-length informal poses can reveal unmatched socks, missing belts, odd accessories and stained pants. Be sure to check your outfits ahead of time for spots, wrinkles, and holes. 

Professional Christmas Portraits

Tips for Taking Professional Christmas Portraits

Advanced preparation helps the sitting run smoothly and reduces the chance of needing extra time to make decisions while the clock is ticking on your session.  To ensure a frame worthy holiday photo, consider the following tips for taking professional Christmas portraits:

Timing Is Key

When booking your sitting, consider your family's schedule.  Avoid booking a sitting right before or after work, since traffic could delay your arrival and result in an unpleasant portrait sitting. Also, consider the age of your children.  You shouldn't plan to get professional Christmas photos taken at mealtime or naptime.  If you have a newborn, book your session for just after feeding times to avoid a cranky baby.  You should also consider the number of people in the portrait.  The more people you have at the photo session, the more time is needed to coordinate poses.  Finally, Christmas is a busy season for many photographers, so being on time is sometimes not enough – arrive early if you can. This allows you to check-in, make any last minute adjustments to your hair and clothing, and allows you to field any potential disasters such as a fussy baby or wardrobe malfunctions.

Outfits

A great outfit can really add shine to your Christmas portraits. Whether you're inspired by images of your family in matching Santa hats or you've found the perfect outfit for your infant, the clothes make the portrait. Pick your outfits carefully, so that they don't clash with a desired portrait backdrop.  When dressing a large group consider selecting a solid-colored top, such as red, white or brown.  Neutral colors are best to use, especially if different members of your family are wearing different style tops.  Likewise, stay away from big bold prints if you are posing with a number of other family members.  You don't want to clash with the rest of the family, so consider toning it down for the portrait session, even if you typically wear loud clothing on a regular basis.  

Backdrops

backdrops are also important in professional Christmas portraits.  Many photographers allow you to select your backgrounds ahead of time, as doing so helps save time on the day of your session. Ask your photographer what types of backdrops will best suit the number of subjects in your portrait. Finally, remember to consider your outfits when choosing a background.  Select plain backgrounds for busy outfits, or you risk being in the center of an unflattering holiday photo.

Be Prepared

Make sure you have everything you need for your professional sitting. This includes all outfits, shoes, accessories, and personal items, such as hairspray and pantyhose. Emergency supplies such as baby wipes, stain remover sprays, hair ties and bobby pins should also be brought along. Finally, pack an anti-static dryer sheet in your bag.  It can be rubbed on clothing or even swiped over hair to remove winter static.