Olivia and Penny
Summer is often considered the golden season for senior portraits, but the fall too comes with it’s own special light…
Late September through mid-October is when the fluffy rabbit brush and dried out grasses gift us a palette of mustard and straw. Crimson leaves and orange skies light the fields with a warm glow. Rich and rustic textures reveal the soul of the landscape.
And for this senior shoot, the mood of fall in a private canyon was the perfect backdrop to Olivia’s naturally beautiful, earthy western style.
I love Olivia’s pairing of a warm red collared shirt and turquoise jewelry for her main portrait look. These colors mimic fall. And, her varsity jacket adds the perfect layer of ‘classic American high school’.
Notes for First Time Portrait Sitters:
(Unless you’re a pro model) bodies tend to be stiff at the start of a photo session. Hands are often balled up and fingers clenched. It is not uncommon to feel like your facial expressions are weird and that you might be doing something wrong with your posing.
Listen, it’s totally, 100%, more than normal to need time getting used to the interaction with a camera. Heck, I’ve been photographing myself for years, and I still need a good hour to let go of all my insecurities when posing in front of another photographer’s lens. Don’t worry though, a good photographer will help you with the nuances of posing and offer direction on where to look and what to do with those hands!
The way I prefer to work with a client is to first study how the client naturally stands or sits in a chair. Where does their weight lean? How do they tilt their head? What do they fidget with? (This shows me where the client’s insecurities are.) Then, I’ll make micro adjustments to the pose so that the client’s natural self is captured while also looking good on camera.
Posing for a portrait is also similar to acting…embody the energy of a character…and the person you want to be. What kind of energy do you want to come forth in your photos?
Vibrant and playful? Grounded and earthy? Avant garde and moody? …what types of poses (and wardrobe pieces?!) express this character’s style?
