It is that time of year when senior photographers across the country are recruiting Class of 2015 models and creating photo shoots for those models.  Some photographers create individual photo shoots for each models, and others create group shoots.  No matter which way you choose to photograph your models, having some beautiful inspiration will help you create the perfect shoot for your senior business.

Rebekah Musser of Bekah Imagery in Virginia shared her Class of 2014 Senior Model Shoot with us and it is beautiful!  She chose to do a group shoot that has a retro road trip vibe.  Check it out below and be sure to check out more of Rebekah’s work here.  Thanks for sharing Rebekah!

What was your inspiration for this photo shoot?
My vision was a bunch of girls having a fun weekend away, starting on the road with the sweet vintage Mustang and ending up by the lake. I wanted to have a nice mix of fashion and style with lots of personality and fun. The lake shoot was meant to feel more moody and editorial, I absolutely loved working with my team on this shoot.

Where did this photo shoot take place?
We started out at an old abandoned hotel, it has the most amazing views of the mountains and because it is outdated it has a fun retro vibe that I totally love. I picked out this amazing Mustang to add some more interest and give it more of that road trip feel. For the second look we then headed out to a private residence to shoot the cabin by the lake. I wanted this set to feel more boho/free people inspired and the girls totally rocked it.

Did you collaborate with this senior to come up with the clothing and/or concept for this shoot?
Unlike most of my shoots this was a rep shoot so my seniors did not have any part in the concept or styling. Most of the wardrobe was supplied by a local boutique called bevello who partnered with me for the shoot. They were amazing to work with and I can’t wait to work with them again in the future. We had fittings the week before the shoot and I crossed my fingers that everyone would like what I picked out. I wanted everyone to feel completely confident and happy with their wardrobe but also it was important to keep the overall look of the shoot cohesive. I ended up doing last minute shopping for extra accessories and even ended up using several pairs of my own shoes for the looks. This is one of my favorite parts of my senior shoots and I really wanted to showcase the fact that I stylize my own sessions.

What camera, lens or other equipment was used for this shoot?
I used my Canon 5Dmark iii and my 50mm 1.2 lens for the entire shoot.

What time of day were these taken?
Afternoon-until sunset.

Can you share any post-processing techniques used when editing this session?
I use my own actions and presets, I also used a few light leaks on the “hotel” portion of this session. I love how it adds that extra fun vibe.

What is your favorite thing about this session?
Oh my, I would have to say it’s the overall vibe, it’s so many parts that made one epic shoot come to life. The girl’s were amazing the wardrobe was fantastic, my makeup artist Sarah Hatch did an incredible job, and the locations were just epic. I didn’t do a very good job at picking just one favorite thing did I? ha!

What do you want this session to convey about this senior and about your senior photography style?
Capturing my seniors in a way that empowers them is always my goal, this session is slightly different in the fact that I was shooting more from a group perspective rather than having the one on one time to really capture personalities. I tried to capture each girl individually while also maintaining the groups energy. My photographing style is editorial and I always strive to evoke emotion through my work, I also wanted to convey the fashion and styling aspects as they are a huge part of what I do.

What is one tip you can share with other photographers regarding photographing seniors?
Hmmm….I would say without a doubt it’s being real. Building true relationships and getting personal with seniors makes all the difference from start to finish. When you think about it they are trusting you to help them to tell their story, their senior pictures are a huge part of their identity as they end their last year in High School. Being real and on a personal level with them while maintaining professionalism helps them to loosen up and be themselves so you can do a better job of capturing who they really are.