If you are a photographer and your own child becomes a senior, taking her photos is extra special.  That is exactly the case in this beautiful session below by Suzanne Deaton of Suzanne Deaton Photography.

“My dad was in the United States Navy from 1967-1970 and passed away about a year ago,” said Suzanne.  “In an attempt to honor him, and have a concept for senior portraits, we decided to pull out Dad’s old sailor pants and create a session centered on a vintage nautical look.”

Check out this very special senior photo shoot and read what else Suzanne had to say about it.  Thank you for sharing your work with us Suzanne!

Website:  http://www.suzannedeatonphotography.com

Blog:  http://www.photosbysuzanne.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.deaton.1

What was your inspiration for this photo shoot?

My Dad was in the United States Navy from 1967-1970 and passed away about a year ago.  In an attempt to honor him,  AND have a concept for senior portraits, we decided to pull out Dad’s old sailor pants and create a session centered on a vintage, nautical look.  My Father was a petite man, as you can see by the fact that a size 4 girl can fit in the 100% wool pants!!!!!

Where did this photo shoot take place?

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Did you collaborate with this senior to come up with the clothing and/or concept for this shoot?

Yes, we collaborated on the Taylor Swift inspired red lips.  Ralph Lauren’s nautical collection and the gorgeous sunset on the Myrtle Beach coast.

Keeping the session contemporary in pose, makeup, and hair, our U.S. navy inspired session touched home

What camera, lens or other equipment was used for this shoot?

Canon 5D Mark 111 body

jumping shots were with 50mm 1.2L  ISO 100 1/250 @ f5.6

The majority of the session was shot with 135mm 2.0L with ISO 100 @f 2.2  various shutter speeds depending on the light

A few of the full lengths were with my 85mm 1.2mm @ f10 for the full sun ones and @ f 2.8-3.5 for the open shade

all available light, some backlit, some open shade

What time of day were these taken?

the hour before and sunset

Can you share any post-processing techniques used when editing this session?

As a digital artist, color harmony, style and editing go hand in hand.  I wanted the entire session to feel vintage and have a 70’s vibe but not overpowering, so after softening skin with “Portraiture” I ran an action called, “eggshells” from (Lights, Camera, Action palette).  “Eggshells” is perfect for a session that has blue anywhere in the scene or on clothing, so having a blue sky, the ocean and navy pants was pure heaven!

What is your favorite thing about this session?

Incorporating a vintage piece into a senior portrait session!  My Dad would have cracked up at the fact that his granddaughter could fit in his sailor pants and at watching her button 30 buttons with fake nails before the shoot.

What do you want this session to convey about this senior and about your senior photography style?

As a photographer, I always encourage my seniors to bring things to the session that they might never of thought of being photographed in to help tell a story of who they ARE, where they have come from, and where they are headed.  Losing a grandfather was so tough for my daughter, McKenna and losing a father for me, the photographer.  Together, we laughed and cried before and after the shoot and mended some of our broken hearts.

What is one tip you can share with other photographers regarding photographing seniors?

Don’t forget to think about the obvious, how YOU will want to see your own daughter (or son) as a senior? I want to see her heart.  We spend all this time on the styling, makeup, location and concept, let’s not forget to shoot from the heart.