Senior Pictures

As a homeschooler, the homeschool community is awesome. If you would like to find someone who is more experienced in photography, reach out and see if a homeschooling family is willing to trade for services!

I am not a photographer, but I have friends who are and they plan their shoots in the afternoon for good light - I would also go look at other senior picture websites and blogs and see what kind of poses and shots they are doing and recreate with your son. Maybe even let him pick out the ones he likes.

Keep in mind you can do the pics however you want but he will most likely still have to have the school's "photographer of choice" take his picture for the yearbook for him to be included.

I am not personally a fan of pictures with things in them. I am an amateur photographer with my family and always like to get close up shots of the people - every now and then I'll take a nature shot.

I love to go on Facebook and look through other photographers pictures. It gives me ideas of things to do with my kids. Maybe try that??

My daughter gratuated in June and her senior pictures were done by a great studio. They didn't do anything outside and I was completely happy with them. She did her one in a sweater backed off a bit, close up in same outfit, cap and gown almost full body and cap and gown from the shoulders up. I think I did a couple of the same shots in black and white.

The type of camera you have will make all the difference in the quality. Have you considered having a high school or college student who is into photography take them? You could pay something very minimal ($40) and get someone with a more professional eye and a better camera. My niece did this and they came out great. See if there is someone in your local homeschool association or call the arts teacher at the local high school or community college for recommendations. Maybe check craigslist ads. Just something to consider. . .

Will he have a ceremony for his graduation? If so, what will he wear? Try something formal because it's nice to have a formal picture, IMO. Take one of those. Take some close ups and some far shots. Go to his favorite place or sports field.

what is your son in to? If he is into a certain thing, try to incorporate that into his picture. Let him choose the outfits for most of the photos. I would only do one formal outfit if any, because you will get way more natural and "real" looking shots if he is in clothes that he is comfortable in and make him feel great. I have done senior portraits for several teens, and the ones that have come out the best were always the ones that the teens had a say in what they were wearing. (much better smiles) They relax more, and look very natural. I have had some who were REALLY into certain bands, and we used a bunch of band items they collected as props, along with her guitar. Others were done with surfboards, football gear, their dog, even a horse and saddle. My own daughter is into theatre and she had feather boas and costumes strewn around with her face paints/ make up for her special effects make up that she is so well known for in some of her pics. She was outside with a tall dressing style mirror so you could see her in the reflection of the mirror as well. They all came out great. Use your imagination! Best part about photography these days.......... digital is unlimited and free! Have fun!

what kind of camera are you using? You will need to do it outside. You will probably not have the good lighting to do it inside. find a unique setting. DO NOT shoot mid day. You want morning like or evening light. it is less harsh. it helps if he can be in a slightly shaded area but facing the light (sun) also use the rule of thirds. http://www.digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds You should be able to get something pretty good. Just take a LOT of shots and from many angles. Have fun and let him be natural.

We did the same thing for our daughter. We took hers in fields of wildflowers in the mountains of Colorado. Let him choose what to wear. Our favorites are in casual clothes and colors that compliment her complextion. She is very fair and blonde and her best pictures are the ones where she is wearing turquoise. Take lots of pictures, way more than you think you'll need. Also make sure that any grass or other objects in the foreground are not in front of his face. We also took some pictures of her with our airplane...she is learning to fly and WAS contemplating the Airforce Academy. For those she wore kahki pants, white T, a brown bomber jacket, silk scarf and aviator sunglasses. They turned out really well too. Rustic buildings or tree trunks make for interesting pictures as well. She got many ideas from looking at friends Sr. pictures on Facebook. She printed her favorites up and brought them with us for reference. We had many that we didn't like, but also some really great ones. Oh, and get some candid shots where your son is not looking at the camera. A good photo editing program can help immensly to get rid of imperfections. Good Luck!

Take the pictures early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the light is the best. Ask your son to take a couple of jackets or sweaters along - just so the photo shoot can seem as if there were a change of clothes without his changing completely.

Look through your camera as if you were a creature from Mars, examining what's in front of you without knowing what it is. Are there funny-looking black things (shadows) in bad places? That thing in the picture that's talking to you right now (it must be a human) - does anything in back of it look as if it's sticking up out of its head? That sort of thinking.

You'll want closeups, but take some longer-distance shots as well.

Ask your client - your son - for ideas for the pictures. Or let him take a friend along. Between them, they'll come up with a lot of ideas. Some of the ideas may be off the wall, but go along with them if you can. One of the best Christmas card pictures I took, when my children were growing up, was their crazy idea: all of them lay down in a row on the grass, with their legs up in the air. In the shot the heads were upside-down at the bottom and the feet were at the top. I don't think that would do for a senior picture, but don't be afraid of going outside the box. You can always delete the unsatisfactory pictures later.

Out of a hundred pictures, you and your client may find a handful you'll really like. That's fine!

If you're unsatisfied with all the work, talk with your son's friend's parents and see if any of them is a photographer. Maybe you can do a little trading of services. But you try it first, and have fun.

Is he a soccer player? Take a ball & have him tuck it under his arm.

Is he a football player? Same idea.

Is there a place with a nice split rail wooden fence he can lean against?

Late afternoon, I believe is the "magic light" time of day.

Good luck!