"senior pictures" for younger clients

Hey

In my neck of the woods, the senior pictures almost don't occur
but we do something similar for age 12.

My daughter (11 now) is interested in me doing the sessions
even though she knows I haven't ever done soemthing like this.

I am starting to scout for locations - it seems "gritty" locations or nature seems very popular.
I was also thinking of getting/renting/borrow​ing a 135 f2 for some of the shots - though I have the 85ii and the 100 macro

but my questions are these:

1.) wardrobe - some outfits I have seen the older kids wearing seem to be too risque for age 12 (though this may be the dad in me speaking) - what changes would you make to wardrobe?

2.) makeup - would you consider this a must?

3.) how many sessions do senior portraits take if you change venue?

4.) lighting. I have only a single speedlight. I was planning to get (and learn how to use) a reflector. other ideas?

5.) poses. most of the senior pics seem to be translatable - but some are less so. Would you add something "younger" into the repetoire?

Many thanks and excuse my inconfidence. since this is the most important "client" in the world...i need to make her happy
and if she isn't happy - have you ever seen a happy and healthy daddy with an unhappy teen girl?!?!?

Wardrobe, some of my seniors wear more risque clothes then others. I have a daughter that is 11 right now and I do not let her wear some of the things that others her age do. I would say what ever you and her decided on is best. Personally I keep the shirts covering the stomach, no low neck lines and long dresses (short shorts are something i have to deal with as my daughter has real long legs).

Makeup, my daughter was in tap dance for like 5 years so I got good and putting stage makeup on her. A little bid does help in my opinion.

Sessions, for my seniors we do a 2 hour shoot which can have 2-3 locations if they are close by. Even my daughter how loves modeling is done after 2 hours.

Lighting, if you find the right locations you can get away with using your flash for some fill, or not at all.

Poses, I use a lot of the same poses on my daughter as I do on the older kids, there is very few that don't work. Then again we never do any risque poses on senior shoots.

thanks for the insights
i was happy to get your personal experience which seems to be close to my own.

i am starting to compile a list of sites for shooting
and now she surprised me in that she also wants staged silly pictures

which will be interesting how to compose them.



I am of course to other ideas/opinions.

ceriltheblade wrote in post #17601497
thanks for the insights
i was happy to get your personal experience which seems to be close to my own.

i am starting to compile a list of sites for shooting
and now she surprised me in that she also wants staged silly pictures

which will be interesting how to compose them.



I am of course to other ideas/opinions.

Check out Meg Bitton's work. She does a lot of the age you speak of and it may be what you're looking for.

i was unaware of Meg's work. Fantastic!
Thanks so much for the idea!

There were some presentations on Tween Photography this year at the PPA convention. Just google Tween Photography and you'll get a lot of information.

thanks for that search word! I had not heard that phrase before.
and indeed it opened some great searches on google.
many thanks!