It is always so much fun for photographers when your senior clients allow you to be creative and add something different to their sessions.  Stretching our creativity as artists really helps us grow.

“This adorable girl, Abbey, is my boyfriend’s cousin, who was so kind to let me play around with different ideas and let me kind of take the wheel of her senior session,” said Hayley Christiansen of Christiansen Photography in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Check out this session below and the amazing photos as well as the super cool lighting!  Thanks for sharing your work with Seniorologie Hayley!!

Website:  www.christiansenphotography.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/christiansenphotography

What was your inspiration for this photo shoot?
I got a feel for what Abbey wanted and imagined and then threw a little of my own creativity in the mix. I honestly have no idea where I got the idea for the hanging light bulbs .. It just came to me! I’m weird like that. 🙂

Where did this photo shoot take place?
We started shooting in a forest behind an old baseball field, which I knew had a neat bridge for a cool industrial look. Then we headed off towards Denton, Nebraska, where she lives, and settled for a perfect tree near the sunset.

What camera, lens or other equipment was used for this shoot?
I used my Nikon D800 and my 50 1.4.

What time of day were these taken?
We started about 2 hours before sunset.

Can you share any post-processing techniques used when editing this session?
I start my process by uploading to Lightroom, where I pick and choose the best images from the session. From there, I adjust lighting and use VSCO Film presets with my own customizations. I finish off in Photoshop, where I do skin retouching and minimal adjustments.

What is your favorite thing about this session?
I love how stunning Abbey looked with the light bulbs in the background. It was the exact look I was going for!

What do you want this session to convey about this senior and about your senior photography style?
I strive to make fashion-forward, unique images that really capture my senior and their personality and style. I want each senior I work with to feel beautiful – inside and out.

What is one tip you can share with other photographers regarding photographing seniors?
Have a meeting with your senior before your shoot!! I have “Senior Consultations” with my seniors a week or so before their shoot date, where we talk about ideas, locations, outfits, props, and anything else they may have imagined for their session! That way I can try to make every session unique and unlike any other clients!