Being a technically great photographer does not outweigh the experience!
Senior pictures are a big deal for those teens getting ready to graduate from high school. It is perhaps the first major milestone they come to in their lives. Senior pictures should be a representation of their current style, personality, and accomplishments. We tell our client that the session is all about their Style, their Story, and their Look. Our clients come to us because they fell in love with our shooting and editing style, but a lot of them choose us because they can see how much time and effort we put into to giving our clients the best experience possible. I’ve heard from numerous senior photographers that the teens do care about the quality of the photograph, but it is the experiences they provide that get the bookings.
Once our clients have booked their senior session with us, that is when the experience begins. The planning process is the first step of their senior portrait session. In the past before I knew anything, I would book the session, we would agree on a location, and just show up and shoot. I had absolutely NO idea what they would be wearing, how their hair and make-up would look, I knew NOTHING! I did not like going into my session not knowing what to expect. I couldn’t brainstorm any ideas. I was offering a complete disservice to my clients.
I knew something had to change. I wanted to ensure that I had some control over the session. I wanted to be involved in every aspect of the sessions to include hair and make-up, locations, and clothing. I decided that I would start working directly with my client to orchestrate their dream senior session. I call this stage of their senior portrait session the “Planning Process”. The planning process for me starts at least one month prior to their session. I start it off with a detailed questionnaire. I ask them questions like “How would you define your style”, “What is your favorite and least favorite thing about your appearance”, and “What type of locations do you like?” These questions give me an idea of the type of session we will be doing and it also helps me when I start to brainstorm location options. I create a private Pinterest board for the both of us to pin all session ideas.
I also love the planning process because it allows the client and myself to interact on a weekly or even daily basis even before their session has started. By the time their session even comes around it’s like we are best friends and they are 100% comfortable with me.
The Shoot
I don’t have a commercial property, so I created a space in my home called the “Style Lounge”. When the client arrives my HMUA and myself greet them. We have already brainstormed hair and make-up ideas, but we look over everything again (clothing/hair/make-up) and choose exactly what look(s) we will be doing. As soon as they start hair and make-up I make an announcement on Instagram that so and so is having their senior portraits today, so stay tuned. This posting lets my followers know that so and so is going to be getting their pictures done and they will get to see behind the scenes action and sneak peeks. I think it so very important to engage with your audience and be consistent. My followers know exactly what to expect from me the day of a session.
The next post is a behind the scenes picture of the client getting their hair and make-up done. I post this picture for two purposes: 1. To serve as a reminder of the day to the client and so they can see themselves getting dolled up and 2. For my audience to see what they will experience if they choose us for their senior portraits.
The third posting is usually a picture of the teen and myself in our custom “Totes Adorbs” T-shirts and putting one finger on our cheek and either smiling or making a funny face. A few reasons why I do this post is to show my audience that my clients get a custom shirt and it’s just me and her having fun before the session starts. I was intentionally consistent with this posting. Now, when I have a client over and I tell them lets take a picture, they already know what to do and are excited about it. I even had a mom beat me to the punch and say, “Hey we have to take the picture”. This whole little part of the session has absolutely nothing to do with senior portraits, but has everything to do with their experience!
My fourth post is a behind the scenes shot. Who doesn’t love to feel like they are right there in the middle of the action? I like this posting for several reasons. 1: It makes my client feel and look like a super model or celebrity. 2: It is a picture to help them remember the day. 3: Gives the audience a look into the session. 4: Shows my photographer followers how I shoot. 5: I want to see a picture of me in action!!! I tend to only post one behind the scenes shot, but if there is more than one that I like then I may also post it or make a collage.
My fifth post (wow that’s a lot of posts) is a cell phone picture of some of the pictures taken from the preview screen on the camera. This posting right here is a big one. The benefits from this posting are 1. Your client gets to see what their pictures look like instantly, 2. Your viewers get to see it instantly, 3. It helps to make YOU a better photographer. How would this help you become a better photographer? This has helped me tremendously because I have to make sure that every picture I take is going to look good straight out of camera. I will not be posting preview screen sneak peeks if an image is under or overexposed, or simply just not perfect in my opinion. This will help you from taking or keeping a picture that just isn’t that great. Honestly, it will help you to strive to be a better photographer. It also saves you so much more time if you have perfect SOOC pictures when it’s time to edit or retouch your images.
My lasts post are 2 to 3 edited image sneak peeks. These are so important in my opinion. Your client has just left you feeling beautiful and thrilled about their senior session, so you got to give them a little taste of what is to come. I post a little caption with the sneak peek about the senior and our day together. This is also a good marketing tactic. 1. Your viewers get to see your finished work and 2. Your client is going to be raving about them and their experience while it is still so fresh in their heads.
So the session is done, what’s next. It’s the in-person sales part. I like to call it the Premier Party. This is where the client is seeing all of their pictures for the very first time, so we know they are excited. We wanted to make this an even bigger deal for them, so we also have cupcakes for them to snack on during this session. They view and love their pictures and order their products. We deliver, they love them, and months later are still sharing and raving about their experience.
As photographers we do need to strive to be as technically great as possible, but we cannot ignore the experience we are providing to our clients. I can tell you right now from my own past experience as the client, you can deliver amazing images, but if it is a horrible experience before, during or after the session, you may not see that client again.
Shooting Tips
I use a Nikon D800, 70-200mm, 24-70mm, 50mm Nikkor lenses. 95% of the time I use my 70-200mm. I like using that one because I get great bokeh shooting at 2.8 and even more bokeh when I shoot at a very high focal length due to lens compression.
Below is an image shot at 165mm, 2.8, ISO 500, 1/320. I chose to shoot at a large focal length to due an unpleasing background. The colors were there it just wasn’t a background I wanted my client to remember.
I try to use a reflector for every single image I take. I love to see the reflector in my client’s eyes and the light it brings to their face. It also helps you to properly expose the background to get richer colors.
Nikon D800 Nikkor 70-200mm, 200mm, f2.8, 1/400.
I would go back and forth with the white and silver side depending on the harshness of the light I am working with. Just recently I learned a technique by Roberto Valenzuela. He said in order to bring down the harshness of the reflector when reflecting direct sunlight to put a white sheet over it to diffuse the light. I’ve only been able to try this technique once and you can see it on the image below.
Nikon D800 Nikkor 70-200mm, 122mm, f2.8, 1/640. Silver side of reflector covered with white sheet. Had I not used that sheet, the light would have been extremely harsh and there is no way the baby would be able to keep her eyes opened.
I work really hard to get great SOOC images. This is important for many reasons. It cuts down on editing time, keeps you from having to fix things in post, keeps editing consistent and the integrity of the image is not compromised. I spot meter for the skin to get great exposures and I use custom white balance. I go back and forth with the technique I use for WB. I either set the Kelvin myself or I use an expo disc. I double-check my WB in Lightroom by using the WB dropper. Most of the time my WB is spot on in my opinion. Below is an image SOOC and the final image.
We are in the photography business at a time where EVERYONE is a photographer. Nowadays if you own a camera you’re a photographer. As most of you know, it is very important to set ourselves a part from all the other photographers in our market. We must shine through our technical skills and be able to provide an experience that our clients cannot get anywhere else!
So here’s a little bit about me… I currently reside in Surprise, AZ I was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas, so I do say y’all a lot, but I don’t really have a Texan accent (you can be the judge of that). There are 3 important “must knows” about me. 1. I LOVE GOD! He is the reason I’m here, he’s the reason you’re here, he’s the reason our photography business is in existence! All glory to God for opening the doors of opportunity. 2. I LOVE MY FAMILY! The other half of SMP is my husband Aaron. Without him I would just be snapping pics as a hobby. He takes care of all things necessary to run this business. He is also a photographer. He really is my EVERYTHING! We have a baby girl who we call Aulani. She is so precious and beautiful! We love her and are so thankful that GOD chose us to be her parents. 3. I LOVE FOOD! I do, I do!!! I love eating and trying new things!!! I think I like sweets the best!!!
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