You booked the session. Your senior is excited, kind of. Underneath the excitement, there's usually a little knot of nerves they probably haven't said out loud. I've photographed enough seniors on the Main Line to know exactly what that knot is made of — because almost every senior has the same handful of fears walking in.
Here's what they're actually worried about, and what I do about each one.
1. "I'm going to look awkward."
This is the big one. Most seniors have spent years being photographed in a groups of friends and maybe tagged in unflattering photos. the idea of an entire session dedicated to just them feels exposing.
How I handle it: I don't ask anyone to hold a pose. I give simple, natural prompts — walk toward me, laugh at something dumb I just said (I say lots of dumb things, its a talent), look off toward that tree line — and let real movements and expressions happen in between. The best shot of the day is almost never the one where someone was trying hardest to "look good". It's the one where they forgot the camera was there.
2. "What if I don't know what to do with my hands / face / body?"
Nobody is born knowing how to stand in front of a camera. That's not a personal failing, it's just true for basically every human who isn't a professional model.
How I handle it: Direction, not demands. I tell you exactly what to do, one small thing at a time — "chin down a touch, weight on your back foot, now walk toward that fence and stop when I say stop." You're never left guessing. And if something isn't working, I just say so and we try the next thing. No pressure to nail it on the first try.
3. "My parents are going to be watching the whole time."
For a lot of seniors, this is a real source of tension. It's hard to loosen up and be yourself when Mom is standing a few feet away. The option is yours to stay, be a distance away or return later.
How I handle it: I keep some parents involved but not hovering — they get to watch the process, cheer their kid on, and see the story unfold, while I keep the actual direction and energy focused one-on-one with the senior. By the second or third location, most of the self-consciousness has faded because we've built a little rhythm together.
4. "What if the photos just look like… everyone else's?"
Seniors scroll Instagram constantly. They've seen a thousand senior photos and they don't want theirs to blend in.
How I handle it: This is why my initial call to discuss what you want is so very important. Location scouting matters so much to me — I'm not shooting the same three spots for every senior in the area. I build each session around who you are: your sport, your interests, a place that may mean something to you. Real Moments. Genuine Emotion. isn't just a tagline, it's the actual filter I run every session through. If a moment feels generic, we move on and find one that isn't. At the end of the day, it doesn't serve either of us if things feel robotic.
5. "This is a lot of money for photos I might not even like."
This one's less about the camera and more about trust. Seniors and parents alike want to know the investment is actually going to pay off.
How I handle it: Transparency up front, no surprises later. After we have our discussion on your goals, I scout the locations and provide a style guide with outfit suggestions. We talk through the session plan. And because I'm shooting for real, unscripted moments, you end up with a wider range of genuinely usable images to choose from — not three good shots buried in large gallery of weak ones.
The Bottom Line....
Almost every fear a senior brings to their session comes down to one thing — not wanting to feel exposed or judged. My approach is built around removing that pressure so what's left is just them, being themselve. That's where the real photos come from.
Ready to see it for yourself? Book your senior session and let's create something that feels like you.
