Involve Them Right Away

The number one thing to get a senior excited about their milestone portraits is to involve them in the planning process. 

Young man in navy jacket and white sweater poses outdoors near beach with overcast sky.
Smiling young man with curly red hair wearing a brown plaid jacket outdoors.
Young man with red curly hair in navy sweater and jeans smiling against a yellow wooden shed.
Young man in a tan Carhartt jacket leaning against a brick wall with hands in pockets.

Pre-Session Chat


Hop on a quick video chat with me where we get to know each other. This gives them the opportunity to voice any insecurities and anything else I should know about. It also gives them the opportunity to share any hobbies, interests and passions that we can incorporate into the planning for their session or just so we will have fun things to talk about during our session.

Young woman with red hair sits against a brick wall outdoors, wearing a plaid shirt and jeans, smiling warmly.

Pre-Session Questionnaire


Complete my questionnaire ahead of time.  This gives the same opportunity that a call does and gives me a visual record (I’m such a visual learner!). It also is an opportunity for those kids that either have too busy of a schedule for a video chat or feel too shy to do the video chat.

Outfit inspiration collage featuring womens, mens, and childrens clothing including dresses, tops, shorts, and casual wear.

Ongoing Style Support


They can text me photos of their desired outfits for a collaborative approach to what looks and feels best.

Person sitting against a colorful handprint tile wall in a park at golden hour sunset.
Young male athlete in navy Adidas jersey poses near chain-link fence outdoors.
Young Asian man in a beige polo shirt poses outdoors against a rustic wooden wall in warm sunlight.

Selecting an Intentional Location


We also can find a location that is a bit more secluded and private. If your kiddo is already nervous about having their pictures taken, let’s not take them to a busy park with lots of eyes.

During the Session


Next, during a session, I have many ways to warm up a reluctant kiddo.

Young blonde woman smiling in light blue jeans and white top on a park path surrounded by tall trees.

We Chat First Before My Camera Comes Out


We really chat in the beginning. I truly try to get to know them. Before I even pick up my camera we chat about their day and go over a few things from their questionnaire or our previous video chat.

Smiling young man with curly hair wearing a plaid flannel shirt outdoors in golden sunlight among trees.

View Photos As We Go


I’ll show them the back of my camera so they can see what they look like instead of just trusting me and get input on if the images are matching their vision.

Smiling young woman with long blonde hair leaning against a tree in a denim top outdoors.
Young man in plaid flannel jacket smiling outdoors on a wooden fence surrounded by lush forest greenery.
Young woman with long red hair smiling warmly, leaning against a rustic wall in a professional portrait.

Enter Hype Girl Mode


I hype them up. Seriously…I’ve never had a person in front of my camera that I didn’t feel was beautiful and model worthy. When you let out your personality, you are my newest favorite person to photograph. Truly.

Smiling young man with short hair wearing a black t-shirt, leaning against a wall outdoors.

Good Light and Intentional Prompting


I am very flexible and rarely pose people, but I will help them find incredible light and make sure that they are comfortable. If they don’t like standing, we will walk or sit or lie on a blanket. There are so many ways to be comfortable.

A person standing by a reflective puddle creates a stunning upside-down mirror image at golden hour.

In my experience even the most reluctant seniors will open up and get into the collaborative process of a photo session. And if all else fails, it may be time for mom and dad to leave the session and meet up with us after we are done. Sometimes, without family dynamics, kids are able to loosen up and be more relaxed. No need to take offense to this as it seems true for all of us. I know it’s true for me and I’m in my 40’s and my parents in their 70’s.


If you have a senior that may be a little reluctant, I'd love the chance to help bring them out of their shell so that you can memorialize this awesome phase of life. 



Before you go, please check out my friend, Leslie's blog, pink sunset big family photos. Her blog is all about extended family photos on the beach during a glowing pink sunset!