This session screams spring and combines the beautifulness of the season with the whimsy of a fairy tale.  Alice in Wonderland is perfectly portrayed in this senior styled session by Robin Haws of Studio Eleven Photography.

Read below for all the details on how this shoot was created and get some tips on how you could style your own concept senior shoot!  Thanks for sharing Robin!

What was your inspiration for the photo shoot?

About a year ago I had an idea to do an Alice in Wonderland inspired shoot. I wanted to do Alice in a different way and have it be slightly edgy but, with my well known vintage flair. I was mostly inspired by the Mad Hatter Tea Party and let the other ideas fall into place from there. I knew I needed the perfect senior to really bring my ideas to life. I first photographed Cori in the summer of 2012 at our Senior Spokesmodel group photo shoot and knew as soon as I clicked the first picture of her that she was my Alice.

Where did this photo shoot take place?

I chose a large gorgeous field in the small Texas town we are located in for the location mostly because of it’s perfect lighting and green grass. Winter in south Texas can tend to be a little brown so having ample green around was definitely a plus. I also knew that the large trees would be the perfect background for some of the shots I had in mind.

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

We definitely collaborated on the clothing and overall look of the shoot. We planned the shoot for almost 6 months. I told her my ideas so she could get a good grasp of my vision. We chatted back and forth on ideas for the dress and accessories. I loved collaborating with her and think it made both of us all the more excited for the session.

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

I shot this with a Canon 60D and my “go to” lens, the 17-50mm f2.8. I used natural light and my assistant with a reflector.

What time of day were these taken?

We started shooting about an hour before sunset.

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

I‘m a Lightroom girl. A few shots were edited with Pretty Presets but most were my own presets and tweaking. I combined a mixture of soft, hazy vintage editing with some vibrant and bold edits as well to give each individual image the perfect touch and highlight the best of each shot.

What is your favorite thing about this session?

Um, everything! LOL! I love how Cori was able to pierce the camera with her eyes. I love seeing something that started as a late night idea turn into such an amazing storyboard of images. I love how much fun we all had with it and I love the senior’s reaction to the photos.

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

I think it perfectly conveys her beauty and how photogenic she is. I think that at that time in your life there can be this battle between growing up and staying a kid and all these huge changes are happening in your life. I loved using the Alice inspiration in a more dramatic and grown up way to kind of portray those battles and changes. I hope that the session conveys my photographicrange from vintage to modern, soft to slightly edgier. 

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

Take them out of their comfort zone and get them to trust you. I’ve had so many seniors that were unsure in front of the camera and didn’t have the confidence to just strike those incredible poses. By pulling them out of their comfort zone, putting them in a pose or location they never would have thought of or done on their own and then showing them how beautiful they are you can gain their trust and boost their confidence. From there, you’ve got gold!