PRO CASE STUDY
Senior portrait and prom photography expert Erin Perez (ecubedphoto graphy.com) shares her experience and pro tips
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH SHOOTING SENIORS AND SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY?
After shooting all of the genres of portraiture, I came to the conclusion that senior portraits fit me best. Seniors were fun, adventurous, and more than anything talkative – making senior portraiture perfect for creating fun images with stressfree marketing.
WHAT ARE THE GREATEST CHALLENGES YOU FIND SHOOTING SENIOR PORTRAITS AND PROMS ON A REGULAR BASIS?
With senior portraits, my main challenges are staying relevant and keeping it fresh. My main market is a small town with closest towns at least 1 to 2.5 hours away, which can make location scouting a bit redundant.
HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES AND ENSURE REPEAT BUSINESS WITH YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE?
Senior photography trends change seasonally. In order to stay relevant to a teenager, I try to incorporate some of the trendy elements with my signature style. Sometimes that means just throwing in a pair of clear aviator glasses or changing the posing.
The major trend is to have a candid editorial. The pretty posed images sell to parents, but the trendy images get likes and shares on Instagram with your target audience.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL SENIOR PORTRAIT AND PERFECT PROM IMAGE? HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR IMAGES APPEAL TO THE TARGET AUDIENCE?
Senior portraits are not about perfect lighting or amazing locations. Successful senior portraits are about taking ugly locations with bad weather and still making the senior feel amazing. It is the awe and excitement during the image reveal. My goal is to capture true personality, find a sense of stillness, as well as boost self-esteem.