When I talk to people my age about their senior photo experience, they will often say things like….

“It was SO awkward.”

“I felt so uncomfortable the entire time.”

“I couldn’t wait for it to be over.”

“What am I supposed to do with my hands?!”

Let’s face it - senior photos can sometimes have a bad rep for being uncomfortable, awkward, and simply an experience that you have to “get through” in order to get what you really want in the end - the images.

Well, let it not be so for my clients! I strive to create an environment that is laid back, relaxed, and comfortable - like you have a friend taking your photos!

But I know that those pre-session nerves can sometimes still get the best of anyone. So today, I’m sharing some of my TOP tips and recommendations for ways to make your senior photos less awkward and uncomfortable! First up…

1 - Consider doing them alongside a friend!

These twins opted to have their photos taken together, simultaneously! We had such a blast!

Have a friend who needs their senior photos taken, too? Consider having your senior photos taken simultaneously! I’ve done a few “best friend” senior photo sessions, where two separate seniors have booked me together - and because they are doing their senior photos together, they can encourage each other, share outfits, and even have some photos taken together! Plus, that session will be a fun experience and memory for the two of you to have together!

2 - Bring a friend or trusted family member with you.

The person you bring to your session doesn’t necessarily have to be having their photo taken, too. Bringing a friend or trusted family member to your session is a great way to feel a bit more comfortable, rather than having your photos taken on your own.

3 - Have your senior photos taken at a familiar location.

This senior opted to have her photos taken at a camp she had attended and counseled at for years!

We all feel more comfortable in places we’re familiar with, right? The same is true for a photo session! If you want to keep things comfortable, consider locations for your session that are meaningful to you in some way. Maybe there’s a park that you visit often with your friends. Maybe you grew up visiting the Strip District with your family and feel comfortable there. Maybe your parents, grandparents, or a family friend have a picturesque property that you’ve visited many times - that could be a great spot, too! Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box!

4 - Consider a morning senior session vs. an evening senior session.

As a more natural-light style photographer (meaning that I don’t generally use off camera/artificial lights to light my senior subjects), I take senior photo sessions within two hours of sunset, and two hours of sunrise when the natural light is at its best. There are a few advantages to morning senior sessions that might help a senior feel more comfortable!

First, you can get your session done. Instead of waiting around all day for it, you can wake up, getting ready, and get it finished before lunch time! That way, you don’t have to spend the day thinking about it.

Second, there are generally less people in public spaces in the morning. Lots of popular photo locations have WAY less people early in the morning, rather than later in the day (especially on a nice evening, when we’re bound to run into lots of other photo sessions taking place!). If you want more privacy for your senior session, I would recommend a morning time slot!

5 - Look at your photographer’s work in advance.

All photographers have different ways they pose and direct images. To be more familiar with the poses your photographer might pose or direct you into during your session, be sure to look through some of their photo sessions in advance! That way, when they ask you to do something, you might be able to recall how it looks on camera based on what you’ve seen of their work - whether in their portfolio or on their blog.

Personally, I love sharing blog posts from my senior sessions with my favorite 10-25 images! I love giving upcoming seniors a feel of how they can expect to be posed/directed through the work that I share, in advance, so they can feel more comfortable and confident going into it!

6 - Talk with your photographer beforehand.

Whether it’s over the phone, by email, or by text, having a conversation with your photographer prior to your session might alleviate some of your pre-session jitters! They can reassure you, provide outfit advice, give tips for what to expect, and even quell some of your specific fears that you’re willing to share.

I always love to prep my seniors as much as possible before a session! Every senior who books with me gets digital access to a “Senior Style & Experience Guide,” which is meant to walk seniors through the process of what a shoot with me will be like, introduce who I am, and give tips for what to wear, what not to wear, and how to get the most out of their session.

I truly hope this blog posts helps you feel more comfortable and confident heading into your senior session! Can having your photo taken be awkward and uncomfortable? Of COURSE, because it’s something we’re not always used to doing in a professional setting! But by implementing one, two, or all of these steps, you’re sure to have a great session and feel more confident going into it!