feels like we’ll never get old ; ;
Wildlings, you’re graduating!! Senior year is around the corner, you’re making plans for your future and your senior session is one of them. I know that everything feels a little stressful right now so let me eliminate one stress by giving you the best tips, tricks and thoughts about planning the perfect senior session for you! So my first question is who the heck are ya?
The main factors that will make your session unique to you are locations, outfits, props and “aesthetic” but to help you make decisions on these, I need to know more about you. You know you better than anyone so making your senior session authentic to you will be a breeze. I want to know what feels important to you, what you like best about yourself, what you like to do outside of work and school! The more I know, the easier it is for me to make suggestions on locations, make sure the session will flow smoothly and make you as comfortable as possible.The more I thought about how best to explain this, I realized real life examples would probably resonate better than any lengthy explanation would!
the vision |
Occasionally, seniors know exactly what they want but the where is the hard part. Odds are, I already know of a location that is going to knock your socks off but if I don’t, I start scouting or ask the photo community! Last year, Abby and Lauren were both looking for a flower field vibe and a water element. Abby ended up in the poppy field in Fennville before we shot over to Oval Beach in Saugatuck for sunset! Lauren and I played in the creek at Trestle Park before we drove to Wahlfield Park to wrap our session in the wildflowers. Both ladies had similar requests but we were able to do them so uniquely from the other.
about you |
Maybe you have no idea what you’re looking for in a location. This is where your hobbies and aesthetic come into play for me. Tommy is a pretty quiet guy but he told me that he loves fishing. We leaned into that! We started the session at the Fish Ladder next to the Grand River, then walked around to let the industrial, masculine vibes downtown do the rest.
Gavin only had one preference – he wanted to lean into something a little edgier and avoid the more common greenery + trees. I had a lot of fun curating a route through the alleyways and storefronts of downtown Grand Rapids, ending the session on top of a parking garage overlooking the city.
Owen knew he wanted to be downtown and lean into colors. We got lucky and were able to play into the colorful art installations on Monroe, which was the perfect tie into his love for stage lighting!
the vibes |
Sometimes, seniors want to get a little more conceptual! Having specifically studied fine art photography in college, I love when I get to flex those muscles. Lucy wanted to not only include her horse in her session (always yes to animals, by the way) but she wanted to make a portion of those images feel like they were straight out of a fantasy novel! One stunning sunset, a black dress and a gorgeous horse later, we were making those dreams come true.
On the other hand, Tatum’s main request was to give off moody, Taylor Swift vibes. I got to play with this concept a little once I understood the assignment, starting us off with a walk through the woods and ending the session at the last dregs of sunset on the beach. Her outfit choices really pulled the vibe together too! If you have a reference or vibe you want me to play into, I will always go all out for that kind of senior session!
what you love |
If you still don’t have a location in mind, you might lean into a “prop” that you’d like to include. I see musical instruments or sports equipment the most for this category but it could be absolutely anything you’re interested in. In Bella’s case, she plays a mean cello and was excited to highlight her skill during her senior session. We started simply with the stage in Ada, then moved into moodier spots nearby to bring the visual magic. Dez knew that Dad’s vintage truck was going to be a must for her session, which made location a no brainer. I came out to their farm house and played into what they had on the property, including that old car! Sometimes having a something rather than a somewhere is more authentic to you and the somewhere can be secondary!
lessen the spotlight |
The spotlight can be a huge factor for a lot of seniors, making the planning process even more stressful. Did you know that you can schedule your session with your bestie, significant other or sibling? I’ve doubled a senior session a few times now for a lot of reasons but the main benefits to this are saving time (especially with family), taking some of the spotlight off of you as an individual and having someone to offer support with you!
Alexa + Gibson are twins and although Alexa was excited about senior photos, Gibson was less hype. We were able to capture each of their personalities, took the pressure off of Gibson and Mama Mears got photos of them together too! The same idea played out with step brothers and a pair of besties. They were there to support each other, took a little bit of the spotlight off of each other and got some shots together as well. You don’t have to do it alone.
If you know what you want already, why are you reading this? I kid! If you know, you made my job super easy and we will capture it, regardless! Otherwise, my hope is that this sparked some inspiration for you or at least gave you a better idea of what I need to curate your session for you. Other things to keep in mind for your senior session are your outfits, which I’ll save for another blog, and when your yearbook photos are due at school! Ready to start planning and get your session booked? You know how to reach me!
Stay wild, stay tuned and don’t forget to soak it all in!
