Tapping into what each of your seniors’ likes and dislikes are will help set their sessions apart from their friends.

In this session below, Carey Hough of Carey Hough Photography said that this senior did not want her session to be like anyone else’s from her small rural town.

“She wanted a bit more grit, and desperately did not want to be next to a barn,” said Carey.

Check out this beautiful session below and read what else Carey had to say about it.  Thanks for sharing your work with Seniorologie Carey!

Website:  www.careyhoughphotography.com

Blog:  www.careyhoughphotography.com/blog

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/careyhoughphotography

What was your inspiration for this photo shoot?
My seniors are always my inspiration. We discuss all their likes (from clothing styles, to TV shows, to books!) and I make sure to tailor the session to them. For this session Gabby really wanted a look that no one else in her small rural hometown had. She wanted a bit more grit, and desperately did not want to be next to a barn!

Where did this photo shoot take place?
This shoot took place in and around downtown Laconia, NH (of Lake Winnipesaukee and Bike week fame!). We started off in the park next to the river by an old mill and then went around the alleyways and cool doorways of the city.

Did you collaborate with this senior to come up with the clothing and/or concept for this shoot?
We absolutely collaborated. At first Gabby wasn’t sure where she wanted her photos taken, so the day before we drove to two different spots – one a lake feel the other the more urban feel. She chose the urban. She also sent me different photos of outfits ahead of time and we decided what would look best on her. It also helped me plan which locations to shoot against to best compliment the outfits.

What camera, lens or other equipment was used for this shoot?
Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM

What time of day were these taken?
5:00pm-7:30pm

Can you share any post-processing techniques used when editing this session?
I start in Lightroom and cull through, then edit for exposure, color balance and add a bit of contrast boost. Then everything goes through Photoshop for skin smoothing, blemish/stray hair removal and some specific actions I use to give them a little more pop.

What is your favorite thing about this session?
I am slightly biased, in that this was my cousin, but I really love the texture and the feel of this session. I definitely LOVED having her rock her prom dress at the end – that was a fun series to shoot for sure!

What do you want this session to convey about this senior and about your senior photography style?
I really hope that this session shows what a fun experience taking your senior portraits can be and that it shows that I can capture lots of different sides to my seniors. For Gabby in particular, I hope that she sees how beautiful she is (those EYES!) inside and out and that realization translates into confidence that fuels her throughout her life. I really hope that for all my seniors – that’s my endgame.

What is one tip you can share with other photographers regarding photographing seniors?
Really talk to your seniors – find out their likes and interests and use that to make some amazing photos. They’ll mean that much more to them and you!