Let's ditch the stiff poses and forced smiles
It's senior photo time, you have a date and location, you have your outfits picked out, your hair and nails done, but you still feel uneasy despite having everything ready to go. It's new territory with a stranger you've never met, all up in your face with a camera, no wonder you're uneasy.
Here are 3 tips you can take with you to mentally prepare for the session so you'll not only have a good (dare I say "fun") experience, but your photos will look natural, relaxed and feel more like you!
TIP 1: Get to know your photographer before the session. Meet for coffee or just have conversation so you can build rapport. The more comfortable you feel around them, the more relaxed you will feel and look for photos. They are the professional and they know how to pose all body types, if you trust them you can focus more of your attention on feeling confident and enjoy your session. I can say from experience that typically the best photos tend to happen towards the end of a session when the model has relaxed and feels more comfortable.
TIP 2: If getting to know your photographer feels awkward, or if it's not possible, bring a trusted friend or family member. Not only will this make you feel more relaxed, but they will call you out when they see a fake smile (you'll thank them later). It's not at all weird to bring a parent or friend to a senior session so don't ever feel like you need to explain yourself for the plus one.
TIP 3: Create movement if you start to feel stiff. Don't feel like you need to hold a pose, moving around slightly to give different angles is actually super helpful for the photographer and, in general, should give you a bigger variety of photos to choose from. If you feel really stiff, take a minute to shake it out. Remember, it's your session, do what you need to do to feel your best.
