Anyone who hasn’t been in front of a professional camera before or simply doesn’t like photos can
end up looking a bit stiff when posing.

It’s completely natural to feel nervous before your senior photoshoot, but you still want your images
to look natural and highlight your personality and style.

Here are a few ways that you can pose more naturally and enjoy your upcoming session.

1. Keep It Light-Hearted
One way to feel more relaxed throughout your session is to talk to your photographer. Get
comfortable, be a little silly, and have some fun. The result is photos that look more authentic. Your
photographer is there to get to know you and make sure you enjoy yourself. If you haven’t found a
photographer yet, make sure you choose someone you feel comfortable with.

2. Lean Back Slightly
This is a very slight lean and should be done from your waist. This minor movement stops your body
from tensing, making you look more natural in your photos. Yes, it’s going to feel weird at first but
don’t overthink it.

3. Lean Into the Frame
Another way to make your poses more natural is to lean into the frame. Again, this needs to be very
slight, almost as if you’re leaning in to listen to someone telling a story. If you had to try doing this
right now, you would immediately see how your posture and demeanor changes.

4. Keep Your Hands Busy
It’s only until you’re standing in front of a camera that you realize your arms and hands aren’t doing
anything. To stop your poses from becoming awkward, keep your hands busy. Place your hands in
your pockets, twirl a finger around a lock of hair, or use some props. What you do with your hands
depends on the photo style and story you’ve decided on.

5. Get Moving
Not every photo needs to be posed, you also have the freedom to move around and have some fun.
Walk, spin, laugh, lay on the grass, do whatever makes you feel most like yourself. If you’re not sure
what to do, ask your photographer for some guidance – they are there to help.

It’s important not to overthink your session. When you get too nervous about doing the right thing,
the anxiety will automatically affect how you look in your photos. Do something that will help you
feel more relaxed before your session and let your photographer help you with the rest. 

We can plan your senior session during your complimentary consultation.  It only takes less than thirty minutes!
217-962-0048 Call or text

There are a number of decisions you need to make when planning a senior photo session and
choosing a location is one of them. You can’t choose just any location either – it needs to fit in with
your personality and the style of your shoot.

Here are a few tips to help you narrow down your options a little quicker.

- Decide what you want your photos to say about you. Who are you? Do you love the
outdoors, art, sports? Are you a bit of a flower child? By jotting down the things you love, a
few location ideas should spring to mind. Your photos need to showcase your personal style,
so choose your location accordingly.

- Look for locations with different features. To ensure your photographer can capture a
variety of photos, look for a location with different spots and features. Examples of features
include fences, trees, a swing, water or anything that could act as a backdrop.

- Find out about possible restrictions. If you’re considering using a commercial location, find
out whether you need a permit to take photos. Keep in mind that permits can sometimes
take several weeks to process.

- Consider timing. Some locations are busier than others and if you want to avoid crowds of
people, you will need to time your shoot well. It’s better to have as little people in the
background of your photos as possible.

- Lighting matters too. Natural light is a must for photos, including your senior portraits. You
could have the best background, but if the lighting is bad, you won’t get the best results. It’s
also important to remember that you might need to time your shoot around the best
lighting.

- Decide what you want to wear. The outfit you choose for your senior photo session also
matters when choosing a location. For example, wearing an evening dress to the park
doesn’t exactly work very well. Your outfit should also match your personality, so decide on
this before you start looking at locations.

- Get creative. There are no set rules when it comes to choosing a location for your photo
session. Get creative, think outside the box, and choose a location that suits you. Ask around
about interesting venues, take a drive through your city, or turn to Pinterest for some
inspiration.

If all else fails, explain your vision to your photographer – they will have a number of location
suggestions to offer. 

Call 217-962-0048 so we can plan your senior session!