Teen photography and senior portraits can be challenging, due to the very nature of our subjects. They can feel shy and awkward being the centre of attention, and worry about how they’re going to look in the photos. So it really helps when the photographer is confident, giving the teen the feeling they’re in good hands.

And we all know in order to be confident at a session, you need a plan.

So we turned to Pam Gosenheimer – a Click Love Grow Advanced Photography Course Grad who is known for teen and senior portrait photography that is nothing short of breathtaking!

In this fantastic article, Pam gets you started with foundational poses you can use to help you go in with confidence, and build on as you gain experience. Read on and check out her gorgeous images… I challenge you not to be blown away!

Basic Posing 

As part of a teen or senior portrait session you are focused on a single individual, so you need to tell their story with your posing and compositional choices.

Most of your posing will fall into these four basic categories:

• Standing
• Leaning
• Sitting
• Movement (walking/spinning)

While this list seems pretty elementary, you can use it as a foundation of poses to build on as you gain experience, and in turn become more and more confident in your teen and senior portrait photography sessions. 

Related: 9 Poses & Prompts for Teen Guys

1. Standing

Standing requires no other structure and can be pulled off anywhere. However, it can be a vulnerable position for your teen because there is nothing for them to do in this position other than stand. To help them feel less awkward, have them place their hands in their pockets or give them something to hold. 

Compositional Tip

The standing position is really effective compositionally when used in combination with a path or a road. Introducing the path or road as another element in the image also adds a degree of storytelling of the journey they are about to begin.

Related: How to Use Leading Lines for Great Photos

2. Leaning

Having an element for your subject to lean on will ground them and give them something to do with their body. Walls, fences and even trees are great for this and can add fabulous color and texture. Leaning will also create a natural shift in weight so that your subject doesn’t appear stiff and rigid. 

Location Tip

When scouting locations for teen photography sessions, look for elements and textures on your walls that can add compositional elements such as leading lines that will draw your eye to your subject, or work to frame them such as overhanging branches, doorways, windows, etc.

3. Sitting

Sitting is such a great pose for teens. In this position they naturally look relaxed and comfortable. Posing your teen this way will add some casual looks to your gallery. I occasionally bring a chair to offer more variety to the sitting pose.

 

However, you can still take a fabulous portrait with your teen directly on the ground. Just as with standing and leaning I like to work compositional elements into the frame for interest and storytelling, such as the path and lines you see below.

Framing Tip

A sitting pose will afford you the opportunity to shoot from above, and capture the catchlights in their eyes. This angle also helps to define their jaw as the head is lifted up and neck falls into shadow, further enhancing their facial structure and features. 

 

4. Movement

Movement is a great ice breaker and will get your teen naturally in position to capture them authentically.

One of my favorite ways to do this is by having them walk away and look back over their shoulder at me. This action is particularly effective with female clients in that the movement naturally creates a desired position and flattering profile as she turns to your camera. That gentle turn of the head also lifts the chin and brings beautiful definition to her neckline.

Lighting Tip

I find this action works particularly beautifully when it backlights my subject against a darker background creating the luscious rim light you see below.

Related: Secrets of Beautiful Backlit Photos

 

Building Confidence in Your Subject

It can be obvious when anyone feels uncomfortable and is forcing a smile, especially at a teen photography or senior portrait session. And with any of the above poses, the pose and resulting image is only as good as your subject feels in that moment.

This is when introducing a prompt can help. When you use a prompt, you engage them directly and help them forget that they’re standing in front of a camera. 

Prompts for Teen Photography

The following is a list of some of the prompts I use during teen photography and senior portrait sessions. This is by no means a comprehensive list and you will certainly develop your own as you begin to engage your teens in sessions.

When prompting, keep in mind that teens and seniors are just bigger kids. They like to laugh and giggle, move and dream. Most of all, they want to have permission to still be a kid. Help them laugh and be silly and they will light up for you in front of the lens.

• Close your eyes and picture your most favorite place in the world. What does it look like, smell like? Now open your eyes and look at me
• Take 3 deep breaths and look at me
• Raising your shoulder and lowering your head, sniff your shoulder
• Look at your shoulder. Now laugh because shoulders are weird
• Slowly comb your hair with your fingers
• Fake laugh (this almost always results in genuine laughter)
• Look down. When I say, look up through your lashes – hold it
• Play with your hair, mess it up a bit
• Twirl your hair
• Walk towards me looking off to the side and think “perfume commercial”
• Pretend you are walking on a tightrope and pretend to balance
• Grab the edge of your dress and twirl/rock from side to side
• Spin looking out/looking up

For more ideas to get great photos of teens, check out our new workshop all about taking incredible photos of teens and senior portraits.

 

We hope you enjoyed these tips and Pam’s stunning teen portraits and get to have a play!