When I ask my senior clients what they’re most nervous about before their session, there is one answer I hear over and over again: “I’m so awkward in front of the camera.”
Honestly? I get it.
Most people are not naturally comfortable standing in front of a camera. They don’t know what to do with their hands, where to look, how to stand, or how to smile without feeling like they’re forcing it. And if you’ve never had professional photos taken before, the idea of spending several hours with a camera pointed at you can feel a little intimidating!
But here’s the thing I tell every single one of my seniors:
You do not have to know how to pose.
That’s literally my job!
One of the biggest misconceptions about senior photos is that you’re supposed to show up already knowing what to do. Maybe you’ve seen other senior photos online and thought, “I could never do that,” or you’re worried that you’ll freeze the second the camera comes out. Maybe you’ve even practiced a few poses in the mirror and still feel like you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing.
Please don’t stress about any of that.
You are not the photographer. You are the senior I’m photographing. Your job is to show up, bring your personality, wear the outfits you love, and let me take care of the rest.
Posing is a skill, and after nearly two decades of photographing seniors, I’ve learned how to teach it in a way that feels natural and approachable. I’m not going to put you into a complicated pose, step ten feet away, and expect you to magically figure it out. I’ll show you exactly what I want you to do before I take the photo, and then I’ll make little adjustments along the way.
Sometimes that means moving your hand just a little. Or it means shifting your weight, turning your shoulders, changing where you’re looking, or adjusting the way you’re standing. And more often than not, it means getting you moving instead of having you stand still at all.
Because the best senior photos aren’t always about holding a perfect pose. So much of what makes an image feel like you comes from movement and those little in-between moments.
We’ll walk, talk, laugh, spin, lean, sit, and move your hair around. Promise it will be fun! We’ll play with your jewelry or your jacket. We will change locations and outfits. And yes, I’ll probably say something that makes you laugh just so I can catch that real expression.
You will never hear me tell you to “just act natural” and then leave you standing there wondering what that actually means. If you already knew how to be natural in front of a camera, you probably wouldn’t be worried about being awkward in the first place!
Instead, I’m constantly watching what you naturally do and using that to guide the session. I pay attention to your mannerisms, your personality, your outfits, the location we’re shooting in, and even the way you’re feeling in the moment. That helps me create poses that make sense for you instead of forcing you into a one-size-fits-all shot list.
And the funny thing is, the more photos we take, the less you think about posing.
At the beginning of your session, you might be asking me, “What do I do with my hands?” five times in a row. By the end, you’ll probably be moving into poses on your own without even realizing it. You start to understand how to move, where to look, and what feels comfortable. Your nerves loosen up. You’ll start laughing for real instead of giving me the nervous smile you think you’re supposed to make.
That’s when the magic happens…
I’ve had so many seniors tell me after their session… “That was actually really fun,” or “I thought I was going to hate this,” or my personal favorite, “I can’t believe that’s actually me!”
And that last one is exactly what I want!
I don’t want you to look at your senior photos and see someone who looks like they were trying too hard. You don’t have to be a model. I want you to see yourself. Your personality. Style. Your confidence. The version of you that existed during this very specific season of your life.
Confidence doesn’t come from being naturally photogenic. It comes from feeling comfortable, knowing what to do, and having someone there who knows how to guide you.
That’s one of my favorite parts of being a senior photographer in Chicago. I get to watch someone walk into the studio or meet me at our first location feeling nervous and unsure. Then a few hours later, they’re moving in front of the camera like they’ve been doing it forever.
You don’t need to practice your poses before your session. I don’t expect you to know what to do with your hands. You don’t need to be a model. And you definitely don’t even have to consider yourself “photogenic.”
You just need to show up as yourself. I’ll take care of the posing… That’s literally my job!
Talk soon,
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You Don’t Have to Know How to Pose (That’s Literally My Job) | Chicago Senior Photo Inspo | Senior Photo Posing Ideas | Senior Potrait Photography in Chicago | Chicago Senior Photography
