Senior Photo Advice Needed

Sometime next week I am going to attempt to take senior photos for a friend's daughter outside on a rustic farm setting. To say that this is a tad out of my comfort zone would be an understatement. I am a wildlife photographer that primarily shoots birds. That I know how to do, senior images, not so much. So, I am hoping that the generous and talented amongst you will take a moment to share some advice and tips, e.g. which lenses, settings, etc.

I have already gone through every post in both of the, "How to Photograph A High School Senior" threads. Amazing work in there and I did get lots of ideas from it. One of the main things I took from it though was that my current kit is less than perfect for the task. So, again any tips or advice that might aid me in this shoot given my current equipment (listed in my signature) would be greatly appreciated. Thank-you.

How comfortable are you with your flash? Using fill flash is the one of the keys. Ideally you would get your 430exII off camera with an umbrella kit, but if you dont have the modifier you might use it in bounce configuration off of a reflector or bit of whiteboard/foamcore. If not the flash, then a reflector itself is a good light source.

shoot natural light at golden hour
50mm & 70-200mm
combo of head shot, 3/4 and full body
Senior: standing, sitting, laying down
More than one outfit for variety
Good luck, have fun and shoot away

Edit: FYI, your Bird photos are SICK!!!

Thanks all. The only other piece of equipment I have but is not in my sig is a Sto-Fen diffuser. Should I be using that?

Airedale1 wrote in post #16286402
Thanks all. The only other piece of equipment I have but is not in my sig is a Sto-Fen diffuser. Should I be using that?

Not outdoors. The only thing that piece of tupperware will do is rob your flash of power. If your ambient exposure is close to correct, then use your flash on camera direct, with FEC of around -1 for fill.

tim1970 wrote in post #16286427
Not outdoors. The only thing that piece of tupperware will do is rob your flash of power. If your ambient exposure is close to correct, then use your flash on camera direct, with FEC of around -1 for fill.

Thank you much appreciated. Also, I see that there is a product called a beauty dish by Cowboy Studio available for my flash unit. Would that work well outdoors? Is it a good product?

Airedale1 wrote in post #16287339
Thank you much appreciated. Also, I see that there is a product called a beauty dish by Cowboy Studio available for my flash unit. Would that work well outdoors? Is it a good product?

Beauty dishes are hard light meant to be used up close for people with great skin. For portrait work you should look at a shoot through umbrella and stand. Its a lot more versatile and is big enough to actually soften the light.

gonzogolf wrote in post #16287763
Beauty dishes are hard light meant to be used up close for people with great skin. For portrait work you should look at a shoot through umbrella and stand. Its a lot more versatile and is big enough to actually soften the light.

Thank you. Here is a picture of the girl (on the left) and she does have great skin. So, would a beauty dish be applicable for her, for outdoor shots? Also, another question is should I suggest that she not wear glasses for the shoot? Would asking that be wrong? Also, if she does want to wear the glasses (she obviously did want them for her Jr. Prom) are the angles I shoot her at limited? I mean how would I control reflections on her glasses?

Also, her mom asked me what I plan on charging her. What is considered a reasonable price?

IMAGE LINK: http://s60.photobucket​.com …rma2_zps56a6fc5​6.jpg.html

Honestly, if you dont know the answers to some of your questions you ought not to be charging. Just tell them to pay what they think its worth, or if they are friends dinner or a gift card might work.

A beauty dish shouldnt be your first modifier. If you dont have stands get some along with a triggering method and a shoot through umbrella You want nice soft fill light that you can balance with the ambient. You cant ask her to go without her glasses. Looking at those frames you can tell they are part of who she is and wouldnt look like herself wihtout them. You can avoid reflections by placing the light at an angle so that the reflections are at such angle they are not picked up by the camera.

Tigerkn wrote in post #16274049
shoot natural light at golden hour
50mm & 70-200mm
combo of head shot, 3/4 and full body
Senior: standing, sitting, laying down
More than one outfit for variety
Good luck, have fun and shoot away

Edit: FYI, your Bird photos are SICK!!!

Thank you very much. I think your suggestion to shoot natural light will serve me well. I know from perusing the forums that some of the very best portraits are captured via natural light, e.g. the work of my friend Ken Robertson

Below is the only senior portrait I have ever done any C&C would be appreciated. It's my daughter and I shot it 4 years ago with a 20D and 50 f/1.4 also a self portrait that I shot with the 50mm and my 40D. I tried to Draganize my self-portrait.

Again, thank you all for the advice and tips and wish me luck the shoot is this Saturday.

IMAGE LINK: http://s60.photobucket​.com …PORT_zpsbe156a3​3.jpg.html

IMAGE LINK: http://s60.photobucket​.com …GAN2_zpsbbfbd24​2.jpg.html

You don't need any flash equipment. Just bring your camera and the longest lens you have available. Shoot in the afternoon if possible. Look for open shade or back light your subject - always spot metering for your subject's skin. I actually just shot a senior girl in a rustic, outdoor location. You can check out the photos on my blog if you wish: http://ljhollowayphoto​graphy.com …pher-bryce-class-of-2014/

This entire session was done with the 200L, 85L, and natural light.

If you have a reflector (or a white foam core board, or a automotive windshield screen thingy) you can use those to easily fill in extra light when needed, instead of filling with flash.

One of my favorite portrait photographers (aside from Lisa just above) is Amanda Holloway (no relation to Lisa, I believe) and I LOVE her poses! In her pull backs, she uses a reflector to bring lots of light in.

http://amandahollowayp​hotography.com/portfol​io-3/portfolio/

If she wears glasses and that's who she is and wants to wear them, then let her wear them. Watch her poses, pose her very intentionally and have her tilt her head (usually downward or to the side just a tad) to get the reflections off. Make sure her eyes show through both lenses, and watch the shadows the frames create on her face. Just adjust her angle to the light and her head tilts. Take your time. Also, it's much more flattering and easier to work with the glasses when you are at least eye level or above the model instead of below as in your example.

LisaJH wrote in post #16295345
You don't need any flash equipment. Just bring your camera and the longest lens you have available. Shoot in the afternoon if possible. Look for open shade or back light your subject - always spot metering for your subject's skin. I actually just shot a senior girl in a rustic, outdoor location. You can check out the photos on my blog if you wish: http://ljhollowayphoto​graphy.com …pher-bryce-class-of-2014/

This entire session was done with the 200L, 85L, and natural light.

Thank you one and all for the advice. I thought the shoot went well yesterday. We shot at an old farm that was about a 40 minute ride (she drove) and she had about 6 different outfits. I took about 300 images and I will spend some time reviewing them today and will PP the chosen ones tomorrow and post them up here in a new thread for hopefully some C & C.

Lisa I took your advice and did not shoot any with flash. It just made more sense to me to do what I was confident with and that is shooting in natural light.

Again, thanks all I look forward to the C & C and getting better at this genre.

Shoot her from above whenever possible. She'll appreciate it.

EDIT: Oops, too late. Hopefully you did anyway.