J.C.
I always like one that don't look overly staged with props, so simple like sitting by a tree or at a park or by a stream.
I am going to take my daughters senior pictures myself. We plan on doing them through out the summer. Can everyone out there tell me their favorite backdrops that they like to give me more ideas. I have a friend who is letting us use his motorcycles, another one that has a corvette. (No she isn't driving either of them). Flower garden, etc what else is out there. Thanks
I always like one that don't look overly staged with props, so simple like sitting by a tree or at a park or by a stream.
I've got to tell you, I like the more traditional poses for "senior" pictures but that's just me. Also, she should still have her picture taken by the official school photographer as most will not allow other pictures in the yearbook.
I like old rikity bridges
I took my son's senior pictures at our Botanic Gardens. Not really with the flowers as I wanted it to be more masculine but they have some great hard scape there with a stone walls with a trellis over it. Think kind of rustic with dressy clothes. Turned out much better than the ones taken by the school place. I made the cards on Snapfish and everybody loved them that I have handed out. Not traditional or formal but I loved them!
I like the old suitcase in the middle of a country road or black top and the formal drape picture in the black V drape and pearls.
I saw a cute one that was a profile style picture with cowboy boots and a frilly dress.the girl was seated and the light was from behind, glowing (which I think was a photo editing effect)
You could also have her go through magazines and pull out pictures/poses she likes. My final word on ideas - PINTEREST:)
I'd say to gear things around your daughter's interests. If she's sporty then take some around a playing field using bleachers and equipment in the background. If she's musical maybe find an outdoor theater to use. Into fashion maybe a dressing room or window display type thing.
Our school required the students to use 1 of 3 different photographers for the picture in the yearbook. We decided to use 1 studio just getting the basic 2 shot deal. I think most of the yearbook packages look silly and all basically the same shots with the same backdrops. Didn't want to put money into pictures that didn't reflect my children's personalities at all.
Won't she need one from the photographer for her yearbook? Check with school.
You could do some really cool shots at the beach. I love pictures in the woods with the trees or natural stones, even near a creek could be good. In a field with tall grass & flowers. I think action shots are great, the subject is not always looking at the camera, but often you catch the best picture. Try bringing out the camera when she is doing something that she loves, just click and see what you get. :)
Good Luck
I love photos with gazebo's in the background. also if you ahve a river or stream near you those make nice photos. for one of my sons senior pics they took one with him sitting in the middle of a bunch of big rocks/boulders. it was cute. also if she is in any sports / music stuff then that stuff should be in some of them. we have one of him with his soccer ball and another with his choir robe over his arm.
My son had his senior portraits taken at school as they will be the ones that appear in the yearbook. You can hire a private photographer (or take photos yourself) for your own personal use, but I would check with the school as there are guidelines as to what can appear in the yearbook.
I know a lot of people that have photos taken outside near rivers, in fields of flowers, etc. You have every right to do that to send to relatives, keep in a photo album, etc. But, like I said, all the schools I am aware of require the standard "senior photo". I don't know that you have to pay for them if you choose not to. Again, ask the school.
My son's portraits taken at school turned out so lovely that his dad and I ordered packages to send to family and friends. They put him in a tux with a bow tie. My son looks REALLY good in a tux. I'm looking at his photo right now and couldn't be happier.
Surely in Minnesota, there are tons of great places for taking photos.
Best wishes.
With my daughter, she had hers done on an old wooden tree swing, in front of an old barn, train tacks, indoors with all of her track stuff, and we brought out two of her horses to the photographers house and she got some taken with/on them. Focus on those things that your daughter loves or is in to. For me, when I got all the proofs back I thought, "WOW. She really captured my Sami.". Her love of track, her horses, and nature......that is my daughter.
Country clubs (with ponds), nature centers, arboretums, fancy restaurants often have nice picture places too. Places that hold wedding receptions. Near my house there is a place of shops called Peddlers Village that has lots of picture spots. Longwood Gardens is also a great place near me. Do you have anything like that near you?
I had some portraits taken a few years back at my old apartment building. It had it's own private garden area that was really lush with a creek going through it. It had a rock bridge so I took a few there. The greenery was a beautiful backdrop. I also took a few with my dog right in front of a pretty flowering bush.
When I had my senior pix done (almost 20 years ago), my favorite backdrop was some steps of a gazebo. I was in jeans and a casual sweater and barefoot. Loved that picture.
Rivers, bright play grounds, train tracks. One of my favorite senior pics of my sister in laws is of her laying on a bench on her stomach just and looking like she is thinking its in black and white