I truly believe that incorporating YOU into your senior photography business is the way to stand out. Create a business that is unique to your set of skills and you will attract clients that want what YOU have to offer.
Never is that more true than with this senior portrait photographer! Katherine Nissley of Katherine Nissley Photography out of Tucson, Arizona, decided to capitalize on her cosmetology education and offer hair and makeup sessions to her senior clients. We have heard from lots of different photographers that hair and makeup make a huge difference in senior portrait sessions and Katherine definitely agrees.
Check out this fabulous photo shoot by Katherine and read below how her stylized shoots are being offered to her seniors! Thanks for sharing Katherine! To see more of Katherine’s work, click here.
What was your inspiration for the photo shoot?
This was actually a ‘break out’ session for me to reveal that I am now providing hair/make-up for my clients. I decided to take my Cosmetology education and incorporate it with my photography education to create something that is unique to me. Not only is the hair & make-up my works of art but so is my photography, all rolled into one big piece of fabulous-ness! 😉
–This beautiful young lady is a 2013 rep for Tucson High!Where did this photo shoot take place?
Tucson, Arizona. Kind of funny, I had driven past this little diamond in the rough a thousand times before I worked up the courage to ask the owner if I could use his land for a photo shoot! he he.
This was actually a ‘break out’ session for me to reveal that I am now providing hair/make-up for my clients. I decided to take my Cosmetology education and incorporate it with my photography education to create something that is unique to me. Not only is the hair & make-up my works of art but so is my photography, all rolled into one big piece of fabulous-ness! 😉
–This beautiful young lady is a 2013 rep for Tucson High!Where did this photo shoot take place?
Tucson, Arizona. Kind of funny, I had driven past this little diamond in the rough a thousand times before I worked up the courage to ask the owner if I could use his land for a photo shoot! he he.
Did you collaborate with this senior to come up with the clothing and/or concept for this shoot?
Yes, I did. After our pre-session consultation, I knew that her style was soft and conservative, which allowed me to pick the location appropriately.
What camera, lens and equipment were used for this shoot?
SIMPLE: Canon, 50mm 1.8– and that is IT! My style is very simple.What time of day were these taken?
SIMPLE: Canon, 50mm 1.8– and that is IT! My style is very simple.What time of day were these taken?
Tucson’s weather is pretty predictable. It’s always some sort of sunny around these parts. I always try to shoot around 4:30pm-5:30pm (sun down) Warm, glowy light is my FAVE.Can you share any post-processing techniques used when editing this session?
Again, my style is very simple! The only thing I do is adjustments to the my white balance, contrast, sharpening and then I do a little skin smoothing/color popping via hand editing.
Again, my style is very simple! The only thing I do is adjustments to the my white balance, contrast, sharpening and then I do a little skin smoothing/color popping via hand editing.
What is your favorite thing about this session?
I love everything about this session. The posing, the location, the light, the beautiful girl…
What do you want this session to convey about this senior and about your senior photography style?
I want this session to convey her soft personality. I was able to capture many different moods just by allowing her to be herself. And my style is just that– natural.
What is one tip you can share with other photographers regarding photographing seniors?
One tip: don’t expect too much! Just go with the flow~
(I also try not to dress up too much the day of their session. I feel like it helps them to relax with me)
(I also try not to dress up too much the day of their session. I feel like it helps them to relax with me)
How important do you think hair and makeup are to a senior photo session?
– I think it is very important. In my opinion, it is icing on the cake. The cake is good without the icing but add the icing and the cake is THAT much better. From the client’s perspective: every young woman enjoys feeling extra beautiful. I have found that my clients look at themselves in the mirror constantly after having the hair and make-up done & then they make comments the entire session about being excited to show their friends and family the final results. From the photographers perspective: it also saves me a lot of time in post processing, as I only have to do minor retouching to ‘clean up’ the face.
Would you mind sharing with us what your Stylized session includes?
-My stylized sessions include a lot of my time discussing with the client what they’re going to wear. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of shopping online with my clients; to avoid having to interrupt their busy schedules for a more personalized pre-session consultation.
I had one girl text me pictures of herself in the outfits & I told her whether or not it would work (ie: if the color will photograph well, if it looked good on her, etc)
After we decide on the outfits, we talk about how to style the hair…
After we decide on the outfits, we talk about how to style the hair…
Do you have a choice between a stylized session and a non-stylized session?
-The only time I do not 100% style out a session, is if it’s a male. I have a male Senior scheduled right now, and he is pretty set in what he’d like to wear. And of course, I won’t be doing his hair and make-up but I did suggest to him that he not get his hair cut the day of the shoot, etc. Just keeping minor details in mind for the best final results.
About what percent of your seniors choose the stylized session option?
-This boils down to: boy vs girl 😉
I am not booking a lot of male clients because I am getting a lot of referrals based on the work I’ve produced lately- which is all stylized female clients.
I am not booking a lot of male clients because I am getting a lot of referrals based on the work I’ve produced lately- which is all stylized female clients.
What tips would you give someone else who may have this same set of skills to incorporate into their photography business?
-Gosh, that’s a tough one! I still feel like I’m learning my way around the Senior portrait market… BUT, here is what I’d suggest: PRACTICE. Don’t practice on your clients. Practice on people you know. I’ve practiced make-up application on my nieces. I practice hair-dos on my manikin heads (haha)
I take pictures of the hair-dos on my manikin & send those ideas to my clients.
Senior Inspiration – {Katherine Nissley Photography}
heck, yes i do!
You, want in?
We're busy curating all the best resources, trends, and opportunities for creative women in business - just like you!
✤
THE LATEST
THE LATEST
SIGN UP TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW
Ahhh Katherine!!! So lovely my dear!!!! Congrats!