When I first opened this email to view the photos submitted, I was struck by how natural they felt.  I could literally see the movement in these photos along with the natural beauty of this senior and her personality jumped off the screen.

The photographer who captured this session, April Christensen of Esprit Photography, did a wonderful job of documenting this senior and her natural beauty.  And how perfect that the name of her photography business is Esprit, which means spirit and liveliness.  I think the spirit and liveliness of this senior shines through these photos!

Be sure to check out what April had to say about this shoot below and check out more of April’s work here.  Thanks for sharing April!

What was your inspiration for the photo shoot?

I was definitely inspired by the beautiful hues of the beach on overcast days. Oddly enough, I was also inspired by the wind and breeze that was surprisingly strong that day. I wanted Bronte to look like she belonged in the wind.

Where did this photo shoot take place?

Outer Banks, North Carolina

Did you collaborate with this senior to come up with the clothing and/or concept for this shoot?

Yes, we knew we would be at the beach, but we also knew that there would be some greenery around the road area. So we took a look at the clothing that she brought, and together we chose out what would work best. We both really liked the idea of a dress on the beach. Somehow, the idea seemed almost romantic to us, even if the dress was a cut-out.

What camera, lens and equipment were used for this shoot?

I used my Canon 7d body and mostly my 50mm 1.2L lens. For wider angles, I used my 35mm 1.4L lens.

What time of day were these taken?

2 pm

Can you share any post-processing techniques used when editing this session?

I slightly adjusted the white balance and color in Lightroom. Then in Photoshop I sharpened the images, and I boosted the colors and saturation.

What is your favorite thing about this session?

Definitely the (landscape) picture where Bronte’s hair is billowing in the wind with the ocean in the background and the seagull just off to the left in the background. I love how naturally happy and energetic Bronte looks in the picture. Her hair is almost verging on looking too crazy, what with the wind blowing it, but not quite over the top. I just love it!!!

What do you want this session to convey about this senior and about your senior photography style?

I want the viewer to see a very natural essence in all my pictures. I try not to overdo the makeup, so that each senior’s beauty can shine through. I try to capture each client in a very natural pose. Yes, sometimes I’ll have them pose for me, but I never want that pose to look like the person is trying too hard.

What is one tip you can share with other photographers regarding photographing seniors?

Not every senior you meet is going to be comfortable in front of the camera. In fact, most of them aren’t. Most of the time, you (the photographer) have be overly friendly, or overly loud to help make them comfortable. Get to know them as much as you can prior to each shoot, that way you can find a way to connect with them when you meet.

Also, I would say that constantly reassuring your client as you’re taking each picture really helps them feel like they’re doing a good job. When you say things like, “OH wow, that looks really good Kelly,” or, “Ooh, I like that pose Jason, hold it there for a few seconds,” they start to feel pretty darn good about themselves, even if they were already confident.

Senior Inspiration – {Esprit Photography}

  1. Casey says:

    These are gorgeous!! Love the colors, composition and style.

heck, yes i do!

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