Senior portraits are hands down one of my favorite photo shoots to do. Seniors are usually excited to model and pose, are very cooperative, and know exactly what they want. Right?

55 Brilliant Tips for Getting Stunning Senior Portraits

Reality struck me when my oldest son became a senior. The deadline for submitting the photo was rapidly approaching, and he would consistently have (often legitimate) excuses for why we couldn't do the pictures during the golden hour of the few days I had available.

One Sunday afternoon (three days before the yearbook deadline, no less), we raced the sunset and arrived at the perfect time and location. Usually, the enthusiastic senior eagerly complies with my every request, tilts their head just so, smiles on cue, and of course, has a great experience...but not my kid. He told me exactly how every tilt, smile, and position made him feel, and the look on his face represented his exact feelings. Of course, his sister, who was with me holding my reflector and carrying my equipment, didn't help the matter by continually telling him how "cute" he looked.

Senior Boy Tips for Successful Posing

Sigh.

Though we still got some great photos, it inspired me to change how I approach senior portraits, particularly with boys. It turns out not all seniors are excited to model and pose, nor are they all very cooperative. So the next few posts will be on improving your senior photo experience as a photographer and improving the experience for the less than enthusiastic senior.

Why I love Taking Pictures in Portland (and you should, too!)

Tip #1: Don’t tell a reluctant senior boy he looks cute. They already feel uncomfortable, and being treated like a little kid only reminds them of how much they hate this. This leads me directly to my next tip:

Tip #2: Do tell them it is okay for them to hate this. And repeat that it will all be over soon (think dentist chair-side manner here). When they know you aren't the crazy photographer who expects them to love this, they relax and feel like they can be themselves. Pictures are something that must be done (like a root canal!). When they know we realize they don't want to do this, then they don't have to SHOW you how much they don't want to do this with body language and facial expressions. Make sense?

Tip #3: Plan ahead to keep an impatient participant at the photo session for as short as possible while still getting the maximum number of fabulous pictures. The window of cooperation is possibly shorter than it is for a toddler.

Tip #4: Do embrace the thoughtful face. Too many requests for smiles may result in Rage Face (see the picture of my son above for reference). Encourage them to look away or capture them in a natural facial expression so they can take a breath between each "now smile at the camera!" b/c that rapidly leads us right back to Rage Face.

Levi backlight grouchy face platinum.jpg

Tip #5: Don’t try too hard. Just be yourself. Teenagers are so much fun, and they aren’t stupid. They can sense a fake, patronizing tone a mile away. They want respect and to be treated like adults. If you treat them like children, they won’t respond as well to the camera. Keep it real and treat them like a close friend, and you will get great pictures! (For more info on talking to teens, I highly recommend this book: How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk.)

Stay tuned for more tips on senior boys in my next post.

Click here to go to Part 2 of Senior Pictures with Difficult Teens