Must-Have Senior Posing Tips

After years of photographing seniors, I have compiled my BEST senior posing tips that totally changed the game for me! What I didn’t realize when I first started is that posing plays a HUGE part in client experience, and how you direct your seniors will affect how they feel about their session. Knowing how to successfully pose your seniors will also improve your galleries overall, in both quality and variety!!

Without further ado, here are my top THREE senior posing tips!

Start every single session with a phrase of reassurance. Tell your senior that they don’t have to worry about knowing how to pose, and that you’ll guide them the whole way! All they have to do is relax, have fun, and be themselves. This will set a positive tone for the rest of the session, and will assure them that you know what you’re doing!
Ask them if they have a better side! About half of the seniors I have worked with have a side of their face that they definitely prefer. If it’s within my control, I will always have them face their better side. This will ensure that they feel most confident in every pose, and will cut out any possible insecurities before they can even become a problem. If you don’t ask this question, you could possibly photograph their bad side for the majority of their session. Then, they won’t want to share their images!
Always start with the easy stuff! I always start with my most simple standing poses, and will typically have them place their hand on their hip – which is something they’d do naturally anyway! Having them slay the easy stuff in the first 10-15 minutes will allow them to build some confidence before moving onto the tricky stuff. It will also give you the opportunity to shower them with praise as they nail every pose!