Choosing the Perfect Senior Portrait Location

Choosing the perfect senior portrait location can definitely have an impact on your photos!  Below are some tips! I’ve used Tanner’s senior portrait session to show examples below.  If you are a senior looking for ideas for your own shoot pin this post to your senior session inspiration board!

1. Look for the light!  Choose a location that has gorgeous soft light in the late part of the day (when we will be shooting)

2. Choose a location that open shade available.   The beginning of the shoot the sun may still be high and  bright  which is why I like to start in open shade and then move to the spots more out in the open as the sun drops and we have that gorgeous golden hour light.

This image below was shot in open shade with the sun filtered through the trees behind Tanner.  The area was a bit greener than I like so I used a reflector to avoid green color cast on her face.3.  I know that many people are drawn to green when searching out locations but that can be awful in reality.  I do love green trees in the background but I am always trying to avoid lots of green grass.  Choose a location that has lots of golden grass, or dirt on the ground that will reflect beautiful gold light onto the skin rather than green grass reflecting green light onto the skin.  Green skin is not a good look!

Both of these shots are also in open shade.  The image on the left I placed her in front of tall golden grass that acted as a reflector and the image on the right she was in open shade with the use of my reflector.  You can actually see my reflector in her eyes!4.  Choose a location with lots of versatility!  I love spots that can give me a ton of different looks so that my clients have many options to choose from.5.  When choosing your location also keep in mind your hobbies and interests!  If you love the city and rarely go exploring in nature, a setting with lots of pretty scenery and plant life is probably not the best choice for you!  Choose somewhere that you feel comfortable and yourself.  

6. When in doubt, or even if you aren’t ask for your photographers opinion or trust them to choose the location for you!  It’s always a bummer as a photographer to show up to a location that we have been assured is amazing to find that it is less than ideal!