Senior Portrait Trends for Class of 2013: Are you part of the right trend?
First post in a series that is going to make sure you look amazing. Follow these tips from those in the know. You’ll be glad you did.
Set the scene…
For the past few years, everyone has been looking for the most amazing outdoor locations for their Senior Portraits. Old cars, junkyard settings, the flowers, the waterways, the great shot of the Minneapolis skyline just over your shoulder are great examples. Top of the list for recent favs are the railroad tracks, old barns and graffiti walls. These environment shots have really opened the door to creating truly unique and personal portraits. Cool, cool, cool.
But there is a new look on the horizon…
Studio shots are coming back, in a huge way. Clean and simple backgrounds. Props are simple and unobtrusive. Heavily painted backdrops are gone. Even classic patterns like black and white damask are becoming less popular… sort of. Shiny, semitransparent backgrounds are really hot, so are really clean solids like black, white or grey. Maybe a couple of bold colors too… orange and red are really slick. Think of high fashion. Perfect studio lighting and clothes. Attention to small details and the focus directly where it needs to be… on you!
Back on the subject of outdoor locations, these are trending in the direction of looking more and more like a freeze frame. Think of it like this; instead of finding an awesome place to plop down and take the shot, perhaps you are walking down a crowded street. People are around. Life is going on around you and you are part of it. Click, that is the shot.
Or environmental shoots with mood and setting. Sort of candid, but with a bit of a plan. They should end up looking like a still frame taken out of movie – freeze frame. (Both pics above are perfect examples with the left using passersby as props and the right image taken while the student was walking towards the camera.)
Your Senior Portrait Session should really include some studio shots. Do not get trapped into location shoots because your photographer does not have a studio, or even worse, tries to sell you on, “I prefer natural lighting.” I love natural lighting too, but even the sun needs the help of a strobe light from time to time. Maybe even most of the time.
Quick recap.
Outdoor pics need a better sense of direction. Don’t just stand by something, interact with it. Studio shots, got… to… have… ‘em.
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