Mastering a session

End of May or early June can signify a new start for many people. The end of the school year means a new break before the next challenge. The next chapter begins. I recently had the honor of capturing graduation portraits for Sarah, who recently accomplished her Masters Degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the prestigious Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut.

Solo sessions can be intimidating if you aren’t used to being in front of a camera. My goal as your photographer is to make you as comfortable as possible so that even the most inexperienced model can strut their personal runway. I accomplish this through a few factors like the questionnaire you will be sent pre-shoot. With this questionnaire, I get to know you and your comfort levels so that I know how to approach the shoot. One of the questions I ask is for your music taste and the vibe you want to accomplish for the session. I travel with a portable speaker and I am always willing to either make a playlist or at least find a general playlist to set the mood. This will help you get in the groove and loosen up a little.

Sarah had an advantage to this despite not having professional photos done since senior portraits of undergrad or being directed by a photographer for her sister’s wedding. Sarah and I have been close friends since our freshman year of college when we were studying at University of New Haven. A photoshoot with me was a familiar experience. I let out my silly theatre major self to crack a few jokes and make it a relaxed and fun experience.

Maybe you already know me and you’re thinking about using me for a photoshoot or event coverage. Maybe you don’t know me at all and this blog post is your first impression of me. To make what could be a long winded conversation a little more specific, here are just a few ways I bring the best out of you for photos and make sure you feel comfortable:

• MUSIC

As I previously mentioned, in the questionnaire, I will be prepared to bust out the tunes and make your session feel like a party. Music has a great way of setting the mood to make you feel empowered, confident, and powerful to bring your true and vibrant self forward.

• BOUNDARIES

One of the questions will be “How are you comfortable being directed?” with options of verbal, physical touch, demonstration, or any of the above. This is a question you will be asked again at various times throughout the shoot. Consent is a big part of comfort and if you need me to physically place you and pose you I can. Some people prefer verbal instruction or for me to demonstrate the pose and then they replicate it. The answer to this question can change throughout the session and that is okay.

Another point to boundaries, if I suggest a pose you are unsure about please say something! I always make sure to ask about physical limitations when planning poses but sometimes you hear a description or see a demonstration of the pose and you know it’s not for you. I will adapt to your comfort both physically and mentally. I’d rather change a pose that I prepped for than to make you uncomfortable. We can either alter that pose or cut it completely.

• UNDERSTANDING THE ENERGY

I will always read the room and the energy based on your questionnaire. If you need a hype girl pumping you up from behind the camera, I got you. If you need a more serious approach so you can be inspired by the soap opera smize, I can manage. My goal as the photographer is to empower you so that your authentic self or character you want to display comes through. Working with Vivid & Vibrant Photography is a collaborative experience. Together we can bring the vision to life.