Making sure you prepare your senior clients for what to expect from their session and giving them all the tools they need to prepare for their session is a must as a senior photographer.

Keri Hamilton of Keri Hamilton Photography from Rockwood, Illinois says she always sends her senior clients a digital magazine full of information on how to prepare for a great session, outfit and makeup inspiration and much more.  The senior in this session came to the shoot so excited to have her photos taken.

Check out the photos below and read what else Keri had to say about the session.  Thank you for sharing Keri!!

Website:  www.kerihamiltonphotography.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/kerihamiltonphotography

What was your inspiration for this photo shoot?
I always send my seniors a digital magazine full of info on how to prepare for a great session, outfit and makeup inspiration, etc.  If it isn’t a concept shoot, I love using the outfits they choose to bring as my inspiration.  I’m much more creative at the spur of the moment, so it’s always fun to see the ideas I come up with while shooting each individual senior.

Where did this photo shoot take place?
This shoot was taken at locations on my family farm, as well as a nearby small town.

What camera, lens or other equipment was used for this shoot?
Canon 5D Mark iii
50mm 1.2L
large reflector

What time of day were these taken?
3:00 pm

Can you share any post-processing techniques used when editing this session?
I always try to nail it “in-camera” to cut down on post processing time.  After a shoot, I import the images into Lightroom to do my basic adjustments.  I really like to add contrast and increase the blacks for a bolder image.  From there, I pull them into Photoshop for basic skin retouching, sharpening and anything minor like a curves or levels adjustment.

What is your favorite thing about this session?
My favorite thing about this session is that I made myself use new locations, as well as poses. I wanted to push myself, and step out of my comfort zone, and I’m so glad that I did.

What do you want this session to convey about this senior and about your senior photography style?
With any session, including this one, I want to convey a girl’s natural beauty.  Young women can be so critical of themselves, and I always try my hardest to turn out awesome images for them to share with their friends and family;  images that they’ll be proud of for years to come. Seeing their eyes light up when I show them the back of my camera lets me know that I chose the right path in my life.

What is one tip you can share with other photographers regarding photographing seniors?
Seniors are my favorite for a reason.  Of course they’re a blast, but each one is so unique. For the few hours that I spend with them, I strive to make it all about them.  For those few hours, they’re the center of attention and getting a major confidence boost.  That, to me, is a priceless experience.