Posing has to be one of the most asked about subjects in senior photography.  What is right?  What is appropriate?  What happens when you are on a session and you get stuck?

One way to answer these questions is to practice.  Practice, practice, practice.  The session below was one where photographer Jessica Slingerland of Buttonfield Photography wanted to do a shoot just for her.

“I recently wanted to do a few sessions that were just for me,” said Jessica.  “Nothing too stylized and over the top, but shoots that took the pressure off of getting it right and allowed me to play around with posing a little.”

Check out the photos below and read what else Jessica had to share!  I think she did a great job with posing and I am so glad she shared this session with Seniorologie!

Website:  www.buttonfield.ca

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/buttonfieldphotography

What was your inspiration for this photo shoot?
Honestly, as cheesy as it may sound, Julia herself was! She’s absolutely stunning and I just got super inspired by how gorgeous she is and worked off of that.

Where did this photo shoot take place?
It took place downtown in a city close to where I live. We first went to a small field by a local museum and then headed to the Court House where we utilized the awesome stairs, mirrored wall and concrete planters.

Did you collaborate with this senior to come up with the clothing and/or concept for this shoot?
I sent her a link to my Pinterest board, full of ideas on what to wear, and from there she chose her own outfit.

What camera, lens or other equipment was used for this shoot?
I used my Nikon D7000 as well as the 85mm 1.8

What time of day were these taken?
Approximately two hours before sunset

Can you share any post-processing techniques used when editing this session?
I always try to keep my editing as clean as possible. I cleaned her skin up a little, popped the contrast and that’s pretty much it!

What is your favorite thing about this session?
I have to say the outcome! haha I absolutely love the way the hair and make up turned out, the posing and the way her outfit pops in the pictures.

What do you want this session to convey about this senior and about your senior photography style?
I wanted these pictures to show off Julia’s natural beauty in a simple and clean way. I love drawing attention to my senior’s gorgeous faces through hand placement and I think the effortless way Julia held her hands helped to nail that.

What is one tip you can share with other photographers regarding photographing seniors?
Don’t be afraid to do some shoots for yourself! Seniors want their images to be unique and amazing and it’s completely okay to go out and do some free shoots just to practice new things. Practicing new things will help build your confidence and you’ll then be able to deliver a much stronger finished product to your clients.