Mellon Park Senior Session | Zach
Mellon Park Senior Session | Zach
Puppies & high school senior photos? Always a good mix. Zach rocked his session at Mellon Park. He already has his college picked, and sported some fan gear during the shoot. I’m all about those candy striped pants!
Mellon Park Senior Session | Zach
Puppies & high school senior photos? Always a good mix. Zach rocked his session at Mellon Park. He already has his college picked, and sported some fan gear during the shoot. I’m all about those candy striped pants!
5 Senior Portrait Poses
When the time finally comes for your senior portraits , don’t get stuck with stiff and unnatural poses. Below are a few poses to put a creative spin on this exciting shoot.
5 Senior Portrait Poses
Take it from me, when the time finally comes for your senior portraits, you don’t want to get stuck feeling stiff and unnatural. Your senior session should be a fun experience! Below are a few posing options to put a creative spin on this exciting shoot.
Traditional
In every senior portrait session, it’s important to get a headshot looking at the camera. It’s a must-take photo for parents and family, as it’s the most mature and professional-looking one. It’s also a great idea to have when you’re applying to internships or colleges. Having a professional headshot is a must for everyone starting their career, so it works out well that you’ll have a great photo for your LinkedIn page and beyond!
Model
Let’s put your modeling skills to the test during your senior portrait session! These expressions can be a bit more serious and will be great images for your parents and family members to display in their home (and, of course, on Instagram)! This is a great opportunity to play with black and white imagery, or even get your hair and makeup done beforehand to complement the overall more serious tone of the shot.
Work with the weather
If there’s one thing you don’t have control over on the day of your senior portrait session, it’s the weather. So why not embrace whatever it brings your way? If it’s a bit windy, we can use it as a natural way to give your hair some movement. If there are leaves on the ground we can incorporate them into some of your poses. If it’s raining, perhaps we can grab an umbrella as a prop and take some Singing in the Rain style shots. The options are endless!
Candid
There’s something about candid images that people are simply drawn too. The trick is not being afraid to laugh at yourself (or me - I do some strange things to get the shot!). Another option is to bring along a friend to watch from the sidelines! It will help relax your nerves and help you feel a bit more comfortable in front of the camera. This will also help me get shots of you laughing, smiling and enjoying time with your friend.
Incorporate the scenery
Depending on where we take the shots will affect the kinds of poses you do. If we take photos in a field with wide open spaces I can take shots of you holding flowers, sitting under a tree or incorporating nature some other way. If you’re in the city we can snap pics of you against a graffiti wall or standing near a statue or in a city park. We’ll let the setting guide us!
Want to learn more about my Pittsburgh Senior Portrait experience? Click the link to read more, or just give me a call!
What to Wear For Your Senior Portrait Session
The question I get asked the most by my seniors is, "what should I wear?" Senior portraits are supposed to celebrate your personality, so that is a difficult question to answer. However, there are a few tips & tricks that make it easier to be photo-ready!
What to wear for your senior portrait session | 5 Tips to Make You Look Your Best
When I sit down for a senior portrait consultation, the number one question I get is, "what should I wear?" This is actually a difficult question, because the answer is different for everyone. My next question for you is, "what do you usually wear?"
Senior portraits are all about YOU. They are supposed to highlight your personality, interests, and style at this point in your life. That being said, there are some tips and tricks that can help you look your best.
1. Neutrals are classic (Accessories are fun!)
You are going to be looking at these photos for years to come. Incorporating your own sense of fashion is important, but having something that you aren't going to regret is important as well. Neutral colors always photograph well. Beige, ivory, grey, rose, brown, black, blue, burgundy & olive allow the attention to go back to where it is supposed to be - on you.
To add in color and coordinate with the background, bring lots of colorful and fun accessories that we can play with! Things like your favorite hat, a bright scarf, a bold necklace or earrings, and more can be mixed and matched to get a variety, without having to change constantly.
2. Avoid busy patterns & stripes
A very busy or colorful pattern can draw the eye in a photo. Patterns are fine, but try to stick to something that is neutral in color, or a subtle pattern that won't draw attention. To get the look of a pattern, you can always mix and match textures and layers to create interest in your outfit (think chunky knits, lace, crochet, scarves, vests, etc).
3. Dress to impress
These are once in a lifetime images. You're not going to have another senior portrait session. In all my senior sessions, you can have unlimited outfit changes. My suggestion is that one outfit is more formal. Go big! A formal gown, or a suit, can definitely make an impression (at least for one or two shots). Many of my seniors choose to do night shots. A formal outfit is perfect for those - it adds a little extra glam.
4. Don't forget about your shoes
Many people spend so much time thinking about their outfit, they forget about the shoes! Your shoes will be in some of the images, so make sure you have clean shoes that are camera ready. If you do choose to have outfit changes, make sure the shoes you bring match all the outfits, or that you bring more than one pair.
Girls - heels photograph very well, but we do a lot of walking during your shoot. If you're planning on wearing heels, bring a pair of comfy walking shoes that are easy to slip on and off so that you're comfortable while walking between locations.
5. Be Comfortable
This is probably the most important one. DON'T go shopping and pick something you're not sure about. If you look in the mirror, and you don't think it works for you, don't bring it. These photos are about capturing you. You should feel relaxed and comfortable in what you chose to wear (especially since you'll be sitting on the ground, climbing on things, jumping, and more during your shoot!).
bonus tips
Pinterest is a great tool to get ideas and inspiration. You can even add me on a board and we can collaborate together.
We'll sit down at the studio for a consultation before your shoot to plan everything out - so don't stress. Together, we'll go over style ideas (boho, grunge, glam, classic, etc), and plan outfits and locations around that concept (or two, or three!). The options are limitless.
Make sure you check out my info on senior portrait sessions here!
Alayna | A McConnells Mills Senior Portrait Session
alayna | A mcconnells mills senior portrait session
Alayna and her family drove up to McConnells Mills for her senior pictures. There was only a 20% chance of rain - so of course it started pouring right as they arrived. Perfect Pittsburgh timing. Since she had gotten her hair and makeup done, we started with a few pictures under her umbrella. Just as we were about to call it, the rain stopped.
We decided to risk it, and we hiked around for a while. We even got back into the car and drove down to the mill! While there, it did start raining again, but we worked through it and made some magic. I'm thrilled they were willing to keep pushing on.
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Kali | A Pittsburgh Senior Portrait Session
Kali wanted the city to be her background for her senior portraits. She brought a few different outfit changes, and I brought some lighting so that we could continue after sunset. The combination made for an amazing variety!
Kali wanted the city to be her background for her senior portraits. She brought a few different outfit changes, and I brought some lighting so that we could continue after sunset. The combination made for an amazing variety!
Check them out!
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Molly | A North Shore Senior Session | Pittsburgh Photographer
Molly rocked her session! We went to the North Shore first, to capture the city skyline, yellow bridges, and the water steps. Afterwards we drove up to Phipps Conservatory and Schenley Park to capture a more natural vibe. Sunset came quickly, so we ended the night with dance pictures in front of Phipps.
Check it out!
