After photographing Ryan’s family for his grandparents’ 50th anniversary, his mom asked me to do his senior photos. As with most teenage boys, he was less than thrilled to have photos taken. My job was to put him at ease and make this as quick and painless as possible. When I arrived we got right to it by taking a few photos in their backyard. This allowed for some warm-up time for both myself and Ryan.
It was time to head to the other locations already picked out. With mom, Ryan and I loaded up we hit up downtown Noblesville. It is a quaint little place, with shops, restaurants, and a courthouse square.
They were both interested in using a brick alleyway, the perfect backdrop for male senior photos. Ryan relaxed right away. He was easy to direct into natural poses for him. I always tell my clients, if I suggest a pose that is uncomfortable or does not feel right, let me know. My theory being if the client is relaxed and comfortable it will show in their photos. Ryan had such a natural, relaxed way about him. A wonderful smile rounded out some great photos of this teen.
Next, it was up to me to come up with some great spots for photos. They had chosen late October for his photos to capitalize on the fall foliage. When the original date had to be rescheduled, due to rain, there was some concern the peak fall colors would be gone. Lucky for us it was the perfect day with plenty of colors and sunshine. I choose a few different locations around the courthouse. The stairs and the leaf covered lawn provided some nice backgrounds.
Ryan’s mom had one last location in mind, the Potter’s Bridge in Noblesville. Ryan was accommodating and willing to do some more photos. This location is one of my favorites. The covered bridge combined with the fall foliage made excellent backdrops. Ryan actually seemed to be enjoying himself although I am sure he was ready for it to be over.
We found a great fence to take some photos and then ventured over to the covered bridge.
Along the way, we snapped a few among the fall foliage. Once we got to the bridge we just had a lot of fun snapping various poses. Toward the end, Ryan decided to climb up, so with my camera in tow I too climbed up after him to grab the shot.
In the end, the shoot went well. Ryan was a good sport and followed along with what I asked of him with no problem. Mom was happy with the afternoon and on the way home, we had a tired teenager on our hands. He was sound asleep in a matter of minutes.
Let your teen pick their clothes, hair style, and accessories. If you have a particular outfit, shirt, etc. you want them to wear, ask them to add it to their clothing for the shoot. I always try to work in what the parents would also like while focusing on the teen.
If you are the parent and want to be present for the shoot, I suggest being just an observer. Try to keep opinions to yourself. This helps your teen to relax and to not be confused with directions coming from the photographer and their parent. If you have particular shots or backgrounds in mind feel free to share those either before or during the shoot.
As the teen being photographed, relax and have fun with your shoot. As the photographer, I always take more photos than I will ever need. This ensures I capture some really great shots. Be yourself and suggest poses and locations you would like to have. This is your session and your time to shine. Senior year brings with it many upcoming changes so enjoy this time.
Be as natural as possible. Try not to overdo the make-up & hair. My style of photography is more natural than a fashion model shoot. If that is the look you are going for, there are plenty of photographers available for that look. In the end, I want us to both be a great fit. If I’m not the right person for the job I will say so. Not every photographer is right for every job.
Have fun! I cannot stress this enough. When you have fun it will show in your photographs. Your senior photos are about capturing you and your personality at this important time of your life.
Ralphie Rough Road 
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