Your friends are an integral part of your school years, so it only makes sense to take a few photos together to commemorate your senior year. An important part of planning your senior photo session is deciding on the poses and shots you would like to take. Your photographer will thank you too. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
1. The Inside Joke. If there’s one thing all friends share, it’s a few inside jokes. Grab a shot of you and your besties talking and laughing together. Aim to walk towards the camera so that the photographer can capture your faces and outfits.
2. The Line-Up. Including more than just one best friend in your senior photos? Get the girls to line up with their backs towards the camera, your arms around each other’s waists, and your legs criss crossed for a great group shot. For the guys, you can place your hands on each other’s shoulders.
3. The Gowns. The iconic gown should make it into at least a few of your best friend shots. Have everyone walk towards the camera, laughing and smiling. You can even throw a few balloons into the mix for some added character.
4. The Year. Find a way to highlight the current year in your senior photos. You and your bestie can hold up a blackboard or even write the year across your feet, which will face the camera.
5. The Fun Signs. On the topic of props, you can also incorporate some fun signs into a few of your shots. “Finally” and “We Did It!” are great options.
6. The Hug. There are few things that feel as good as a hug from your best friend, which is why this makes for such a great senior shot. Embrace your friend in a way that your photographer can see both your faces. Another option is to capture a side hug from the back.
7. The Team. Were you and your best friend a part of the same sports team? Bring some memorabilia into your shots to highlight this special link you both share.
8. The Hat Toss. If you will be wearing hats on graduation day, don’t forget to capture a photo where your friend group throws their hats into the air.
9. The Confetti Shot. Add a little sparkle to your senior photos with beautiful dresses and confetti. You can have the confetti falling down around you and your friends or blow it towards the camera.
10. The Other Perspective. Get a few shots from a completely different angle by lying down with your head next to your best friend’s. Your photographer can then capture your faces from above.
There are so many ways to capture senior photos with your best friends. If you need any extra inspiration, speak to your photographer or browse through their portfolio
When it’s so easy to take out your phone and take a good photo, you might be wondering whether it’s really necessary to hire a professional photographer for your senior photo session. Most smartphones have some impressive cameras and they’re great for capturing your everyday moments with friends and family. However, your phone won’t quite hit the mark for your senior portraits – here’s why.
- Your Photographer Has Experience. There are a number of elements that make for a good photo and a photographer knows how to bring them together. What’s more, they can help guide you during your senior shoot, which can be helpful if you’ve never posed for important photos before.
- They Know How to Use a Location to Their Advantage. The location of your senior shoot matters, as does the lighting. When you work with a professional photographer, you benefit from someone who knows how to use their surroundings to create beautiful images. Over and above that, your photographer can provide you with the best location options based on your vision for your shoot.
- They Have the Equipment. Your smartphone’s camera might be impressive, but it will never match up to professional cameras, lenses, and accessories. When you hire a professional senior photographer, you are also hiring their equipment. Plus, professional equipment is necessary for different scenarios, including bad weather and indoor shots. - Editing is a Part of the Package. It’s one thing to add a filter to a photo and another to edit it in a way that highlights all your best features at once. A professional photographer can edit your images in ways that are natural but eye-catching.
- They Bring an Artistic Eye. When you work with a professional senior photographer, their job is to bring your vision to life. However, you can also benefit from their artistic eye – you might end up using ideas you never even thought of.
In the end, this is a big milestone, one that deserves professional photos. Your senior photo session is an investment and an experience you won’t soon forget.
Anyone who hasn’t been in front of a professional camera before or simply doesn’t like photos can end up looking a bit stiff when posing.
It’s completely natural to feel nervous before your senior photoshoot, but you still want your images to look natural and highlight your personality and style.
Here are a few ways that you can pose more naturally and enjoy your upcoming session.
Keep It Light-Hearted
One way to feel more relaxed throughout your session is to talk to your photographer. Get comfortable, be a little silly, and have some fun. The result is photos that look more authentic. Your photographer is there to get to know you and make sure you enjoy yourself. If you haven’t found a photographer yet, make sure you choose someone you feel comfortable with.
Lean Back Slightly
This is a very slight lean and should be done from your waist. This minor movement stops your body from tensing, making you look more natural in your photos. Yes, it’s going to feel weird at first but don’t overthink it.
Lean Into the Frame
Another way to make your poses more natural is to lean into the frame. Again, this needs to be very slight, almost as if you’re leaning in to listen to someone telling a story. If you had to try doing this right now, you would immediately see how your posture and demeanor changes.
Keep Your Hands Busy
It’s only until you’re standing in front of a camera that you realize your arms and hands aren’t doing anything. To stop your poses from becoming awkward, keep your hands busy. Place your hands in your pockets, twirl a finger around a lock of hair, or use some props. What you do with your hands depends on the photo style and story you’ve decided on.
Get Moving
Not every photo needs to be posed, you also have the freedom to move around and have some fun. Walk, spin, laugh, lay on the grass, do whatever makes you feel most like yourself. If you’re not sure what to do, ask your photographer for some guidance – they are there to help.
It’s important not to overthink your session. When you get too nervous about doing the right thing, the anxiety will automatically affect how you look in your photos. Do something that will help you feel more relaxed before your session and let your photographer help you with the rest
