How to Audit Your Senior Posing Flow in 6 Steps | Senior Photography Education

Having a senior posing flow changed the game for me as a senior photographer. I used to get a bit nervous before sessions, print out entire posing sheets, and scramble through Pinterest inspo before a session — only to forget it all once we started. Leaning on shortcuts, like a posing app or storing pose inspo on my memory card, wasn’t cutting it either. Having a posing flow means being able to nail LOTS of different poses with a degree of speed that keeps the client comfortable (which should be a huge priority for senior photographers) and most importantly, creates killer results. A well-developed posing flow is like a built-in guide in your mind that guarantees each session, no matter the time limit or circumstance, will lead to happy clients who love their images.

A senior photographer’s posing method begins well before the session takes place. Use the following questions to assess whether or not your senior posing flow needs a revamp.

1. Prep

Is your posing expertise communicated in the inquiry, discover, prep, & check-in phase of your senior photography experience?

Posing starts waaaaaaay before the photo session. Before physically posing the client, it's important to mentally and emotionally check-in with their expectations around the session in general. This is the perfect opportunity for you to be their trusted advisor, their guide, the expert in their photography experience. Don't miss out on these important pre-session touch points.

2. Kickoff

What are you SAYING before you start DOING? How do you establish yourself as the trusted guide? Do you show the back of the camera? What pose do you start with?

Start with the same base pose and/or introductory phrase: 

"You couldn't mess this up if you tried!"

"Remember, I'm going to tell you exactly what you need to do."

"Let's start with some easy, no-pressure warm-up poses."

The number one thing on your client’s mind when you first get started is probably something about being nervous, so help them feel safe and excited with a simple verbal reminder.

3. Language

Are you explaining the pose verbally or physically? Are you snapping photos in silence? Are you using positive, proactive language when redirecting your clients?

If your plan going into sessions is to stay quiet behind the camera and wait for your client to figure it out, think again! Try to fill almost every moment with verbal affirmation, positive/constructive adjustments, and of course, physically demonstrating the pose as well. 

Remember, these clients don't have a mirror, and they can't always see the back of your camera! All they see is a photographer with a big camera pointed at them. How are they going to know how it's looking if you don't tell them? Communication is non-negotiable for a positive client experience.

4. Expectations

Are you establishing expectations early and clearly?

Establishing expectations as they relate to posing includes:

• Where to park and meet you

• Who should come to the session

• What parents or guests do during the session

• How you’ll be directing the client today

• Choosing poses according to both parent & senior preferences

Remember, we serve TWO clients: parent and senior. Be sure to have clear approaches to making each party feel catered to and taken care of.

5. Variations

Do you spend several minutes setting the client into a pose, only to snap a bunch of the same base pose without taking advantage of the variations available?

Are you posing your clients, prompting them, or both? 

How do you change your posing flow between girls, guys, twins, young teens, and larger groups? 

Are you leveraging the posing power of props during your senior sessions?

Even the slightest change to add variations can be the difference between a regular photo session that simply satisfies the client and an amazing senior photo session that has your client posting your images, leaving you rave reviews, and insisting their friends and family book with you ASAP!

6. Style

How are you making your poses unique to your photography style? Do you enjoy posing your clients? How often are you trying out what inspires you?

"No one is you, and that is your power" 

The best poses will reveal themselves over time. At first, maybe by accident, but eventually you'll start to see patterns in your work and realize, "hey, that's kind of my thing! I love it!" Of course in our world it's easy to find ideas and be inspired by others, but don't forget to also look inward, take time to rest and recharge your creative battery, and try new things with willing clients or your model team.

Not only will having a solid posing flow allow you to show up to your sessions confident that you can trust yourself and nail it, but your clients will feel it, too. Every client is different and will require different degrees of guidance, and every location, weather scenario, and session differs, too. Having a flow means having an ADAPTABLE method, rather than using the same reference sheet for each and every client. They’ll see your confidence and expertise during the session, and be wowed by the results in their photos. Happy clients lead to the most valuable result of them all: warm, eager, trusting word-of-mouth referrals!

Ready to take your senior photography to the next level? With a solid senior posing flow and my 9-piece posing kit, you’ll be unstoppable! Download the posing kit here for free.