After photographing seniors for over 10 years, I can tell you this: a smooth session usually starts way before I ever pick up my camera.
Of course posing matters. Lighting matters. Locations matter. But if I walk into a session feeling scattered, trying to remember outfits, locations, what the senior told me she loves, and what pose I should start with, I can feel it.
And honestly, I think the senior can feel it too.
I don’t want my sessions to feel rushed or overly planned, but I also don’t want to show up and just hope inspiration hits me. I like having a loose plan so I can be creative without having to think about every single little thing in the moment.
Here are 7 things I do before almost every senior session.
1. I Go Back Through Their Questionnaire
This is probably one of the most important things I do.
Before a session, I go back through everything the senior and parent told me. What kind of locations do they like? Are they more edgy, sporty, girly, western, simple, colorful? Is there something they absolutely want included?
I want the session to feel like them.
It also gives me little things I can bring up during the session. If I know what sport they play, where they’re going to college, or what they love doing, it gives us something to talk about and helps them relax.
And relaxed seniors photograph a whole lot better than nervous ones.
2. I Look at Their Outfits Beforehand
Outfits help me start building the session in my head.
If she has a long flowy dress, I’m already thinking movement.
If she has jeans, boots, and a hat, I may know exactly which location I want to use.
If she has something super clean and simple, I may want to start in the studio.
You do not have to plan every single pose ahead of time, but looking at outfits can give you a really good idea of how the session should flow.
It also keeps you from getting halfway through the session and realizing the perfect outfit for a certain location is already sitting in the car.
Been there. 😂
3. I Build a Loose Location Order
The key word here is loose.
I am not making a minute-by-minute schedule.
I just want to know where we’re starting, where we may go next, and where I ideally want to end when the light is really pretty.
This is especially important if I’m using multiple locations.
I also think about practical things like changing clothes, driving time, sunset, and whether one location is going to look better earlier or later.
Having a basic order keeps me from wasting time standing around thinking, “Okay… where should we go now?”
4. I Think Through the Light
I am always thinking about light before a session.
Where is the sun going to be?
Which location will be back lit?
Is there going to be open shade?
Do I need to bring a light?
Is there somewhere I know I want to shoot at golden hour?
This doesn’t mean everything always goes according to plan. Texas weather definitely likes to humble photographers. 😂
But knowing what the light is probably going to do keeps me from scrambling once I get there.
5. I Know How I Want to Start
The first few minutes of a senior session matter.
Most seniors are a little nervous at first, even the confident ones.
So I do not usually start with some complicated pose that requires them to know exactly what to do with their hands, feet, chin, shoulders, and expression all at once.
I start easy.
Walking. Leaning. Sitting. Looking away. Something that gives them something to do.
My goal at the beginning is not necessarily to create my favorite image of the entire session.
My goal is to make them think, “Oh. This is actually easy.”
Once they relax, everything gets better.
6. I Have a Backup Plan for When My Brain Goes Blank
Because it happens.
I don’t care how long you’ve been photographing people, there will eventually be a moment where your brain suddenly forgets every pose you have ever learned.
Instead of panicking, I go back to something simple.
Change the hands.
Change the crop.
Have them look away.
Have them look back.
Change their weight.
Add movement.
Move yourself instead of moving them.
Sometimes we think we need an entirely new pose when really we just need to change one small thing.
This is one of the biggest things that has helped me create more variety without constantly feeling like I need a brand new idea.
7. I Leave Room for the Session to Change
This may actually be the most important one.
You can plan every location, pose, outfit, and idea in the world, and then your senior shows up and something completely different inspires you.
Maybe the wind is doing something amazing with her hair.
Maybe you find a random little spot on the way to your planned location.
Maybe she mentions an idea she had that you never would have thought of.
Some of my favorite images have come from things that were not planned at all.
The checklist gives me a foundation.
It does not box me in.
And I think that is the sweet spot.
You want enough of a plan that you feel confident, but enough freedom that you can still create.
If your sessions ever feel a little scattered, or you find yourself wondering what to do next halfway through a shoot, start here.
You do not need 100 poses memorized.
You need a simple system you can fall back on.
And that is exactly what I’m working on creating more of for senior photographers: practical tools that make sessions feel easier, smoother, and way less awkward.
More on that soon. 🤍
You can check it out here: AWP for photographers
I’ll be adding more education, session tools, and resources there as I build them.
