Working with a stylist to come up with outfits that fit each model’s personality is exactly what Jared Rey of Jared Rey Photography did with his Senior Model Photo Shoot! As you can see, the stylist created unique looks for each senior but they all had an American Summer vibe to them.

Jared says that he provided hair and make up for the girls, a stylist to pick out the clothing from two boutiques and a videographer to film the entire shoot! Check out the photos below and the magazine (click here) Jared put together with the final photos from this amazing shoot! Thanks for sharing Jared!

How did you come up with the theme for your rep shoot?

I got some theme ideas from other photographer’s as well as collaborating with my stylist Meg Bechtel (www.megbdesign.com). We talked through my ideas and then figured out our own way to make it unique.

Where did this photo shoot take place?

My uncle has a beautiful home out in Edgewood, TX and he was kind enough to allow us to take over his home for the day. He also has a friend down the road that had a great barn and bridge that fit perfectly with our ‘Americana’ theme, and he allowed us to come out for a portion of the day to use his property.

Did you collaborate with the seniors to come up with the clothing for this shoot?

I did speak with each of the girls individually to get a feel for their personality. When Meg went out to pick outfits from two clothing boutiques who were providing our outfits, I asked her to fit the outfits with each of their personalities and she did a great job doing just that for the girls!

What camera, lens or other equipment was used for this shoot?

I used a Canon 5D Mk3 paired with a 50/1.2 and a 135/2 primarily.

What time of day were these taken?

We began the shoot at 4 p.m. which was about 4 hours before sunset.

Can you share any post-processing techniques used when editing this session?

I used the VSCO presets from Lightroom and the Alien Skin Exposure 4 plugin from PS. I also have begun playing with the Radioactive actions from Morgan Burke Photography which adds some fun/colorful light leaks.

How did you find your reps/models?

I found them through mutual friends of past reps on Facebook.

How many different high schools do you have represented with your reps/models?

2 high schools are represented in this shoot but I am planning on getting a few more reps from other high schools by the time summer is complete.

What qualities do you look for in a rep/model?

I wanted reps that had a clear positive/fun personality and a distinct clothing style. It didn’t matter what clothing style necessarily but that they enjoyed fashion and clothing in general. I also wanted to find reps who had great relationships with their parents because the parents are equally involved in the program.

Could you share the incentives that your reps/models receive for referrals?

Each rep pays to join the program just as if they were a regular client, but they have different participation levels to choose from depending on how much they are willing to invest. The more they invest in the program the bigger rewards they will reap during the school year: iphone app, larger percentage off products based on referrals, etc.

How many years have you done a rep or model program?

This will be my 3rd year trying a rep program.

What is one tip that you would give another photographer on how to build a successful senior rep/model program?

Get parents involved. Don’t solely rely on your reps to get the word out for you. Getting the parents involved from the beginning will help make your rep program successful.

What is your favorite thing about this photo session?

If I had to narrow it down to one thing it would be my awesome models, the beautiful locations, and my life-saving stylist. (I know, I know, I couldn’t narrow it down to just one thing!)

What is one tip you can share with other photographers regarding photographing seniors?
Share the load. I would NOT have been able to do this shoot on my own. My biggest piece of advice (especially being a male photographer) is if you are not an expert at styling and choosing outfits, hire a professional who is amazing at it! Meagan was the best stylist for me and took a HUGE weight off my shoulders and made my job 100 times easier the day of the shoot. It left me with only worrying about photography which was perfect.