"I don't know how to pose."
"I'm not a model."
"I'm awkward in front of the camera."
I hear these (and others like it) all the time from my senior clients. The question of "How will I look in my final photos?" is one that weighs heavily on most of us, but let me put your mind at ease. Everything from planning your session to your gallery reveal is designed to help you feel comfortable and confident.
I never expect you to come to your session having it all figured out. You don't have to know how to pose, you don't have to be a model, and you won't look awkward in your final gallery. Posing is my job. I give specific instructions, I demonstrate what I mean when I need to, and I pay attention to the little details so you don't have to think about them. You don't need to "come prepared." You just need to show up.
Movement Makes a Difference
One of the strongest ways I help you feel at ease during your session is through movement. Most seniors show up feeling a little uneasy, so we start with something simple to help you loosen up and let go of any preconceived notions you have about posing: walking. You know how to walk, and we have a lot of fun with it to create a variety of photos that feel comfortable and like you. Movement is at the heart of what I do in my sessions. Walking, twirling, playing with your skirt, brushing back your hair, turning back to the camera. These prompts (and others like them) help to give you something to do, create natural transitions, and establish natural movement in your hair and clothing. Movement helps us capture you "in a moment" instead of posing every part, and helps the final results feel more authentic and true to you.
Even standing and sitting poses are still fully guided. I will give your hands a purpose in the pose, create smaller movements with your hands, head, or feet, and adjust one thing at a time to create a pose that looks natural and comfortable. And if we hit something that doesn't look quite right or doesn't feel like you, we'll move on to the next thing. Sometimes a pose or prompt doesn't work, not because of you, but because I gave a bad instruction or the environment doesn't fit the prompt I gave you. In those cases, we just move right along.
Posing That Feels Like You
A huge part of looking natural during your senior session is making sure the experience feels like you. The poses and prompts we use are shaped by what you wear, your comfort level, and the environment, while the energy and expression of your session will naturally reflect your personality. You don't have to pretend to be someone else here. You get to be unashamedly, authentically you, and I have the joy of capturing that in real time.
Another important piece of natural-looking photos is your expression! Throughout your senior session, we'll have conversations, crack jokes, and let your expression change naturally. We'll capture a variety of expressions from serious to lighthearted and anything I can capture in between! My goal is always to capture at least one genuine laugh, so I'll do everything I can to get that out of you during your session. And if things start to feel forced, we'll find your reset button and use it to get back to the effortless and confident look I promise all my seniors. (My favorite reset button to date was my senior who said the best thing that could happen to her in that moment was Chipotle 🤣 Anytime we needed a reset, I had to say one word. Chipotle. So don't worry, we'll find your reset button, too.)
Confidence Starts Before Your Session
Perhaps the most important piece that I haven't yet mentioned is how we prepare before your session even starts. Every one of my seniors fills out a questionnaire that tells me more about your personality and preferences. Then we meet for your pre-session consultation, where I can get to know you even better before you step in front of my camera. I help you plan your outfits so you feel comfortable and confident in your own skin. And my professional hair and makeup artist comes to you on session day so you start your session feeling your absolute best. We plan everything before the session begins so you can show up feeling like there's a clear plan in place, not like you're stepping into chaos. Your natural photos begin long before you are in front of the camera.
Natural doesn't necessarily mean we won't pose anything. As you can see, there is posing and prompting throughout my sessions. Natural does mean I will guide everything so that you feel like you throughout your session. If you're a Kansas City senior ready to feel confident, comfortable, and unashamedly you, contact me today to set up your consultation!
