PREP YOUR GEAR
***Prep at studio whenever possible***

You should have the following:

Assistant bag
White balance
Meter

One case of black aa batteries (8)
Small case off AAA (4)
1-2 Canon camera batteries Gold Label batteries for Tom’s camera
Clothes pins 4-6
Speaker for lightstand
Cheetah stand (or double check photog has one before you leave the studio for the session Cheetah softBox (or double check photog has one before you leave the studio for the session )
Shade
Paperwork for all sessions that day



PRE SESSION
Read the jotform information given to create rapport with seniors


THE SESSION
Greet the senior introduce everyone

What do you love about this location? Are there spots that are important to you?(not “why did you pick this spot?”)

This one Optional: What Spotify station or music artist(s) would you lie to listen to? (Make sure photographer has speaker)

Let's take a look at your clothes
(line up the order of the outfits as they will be photographed in advance)
use clothing guidelines to suggest best outfit for the locations(s), background.
Understanding the Parent Pleaser, Senior Pleaser and Classic outfit ideals.
i.e. – no white jeans (or only with white top when possible, darker is generally better, stripes and patterns distract. Jewel tones look best.

Before the session: write the card number the senior was photographed on. This can/should be done on the client profile or the client session details form.



POSING TRAINING FOR THE SENIOR

Explain the following to the senior

Awkward is natural, we promise it will look good
Over accentuate everything
We will be in Your personal space a bit
Turn body one way head the other
If u can bend it we will bend it
We will show you all of the poses
Roll shoulders back
Hair will usually fall half in back and half on one side, is that okay?
Photographer will control your head with their  hands and nose with their finger (show example)
Not all of the images will be smiles – Renee and Tom like to do the model face too, they  will show you how to do this.
Make a crazy face when we hold this in front of you (white balance)

DURING THE SHOOT

Assistants

DON’T:
Text (unless studio communications)                                    Yawn excessively
Wear uncomfortable clothes                                                   Put down any gear
Stop talking

DO:
Bring Sunscreen + Bug Spray                                                Bring you’re a game
Bring lunch when possible                                                      Stay hydrated
Communicate + Build Rapport  with the senior


Meter light toward  main light source (the sun or open sky where light is brightest on the senior’s face) - call out settings to photographer. Don’t stand in line with sun, stand on other side.
It's better to meter from exactly where they stand.

White balance - point white part at brightest part of the sun light (not the flash)
We will take multiple shots of the white balance.

Make sure to keep all gear on you at all times, do not put anything down

Make sure to stay within a 3 foot distance from the subject unless asked to move farther away.
Staying close insures that quick adjustments can be made

Find a good time, spot or location (once rapport has been established to shoot an image for IG when we have the right kind of senior)

CONVERSATION DURING THE SESSION

keep focus of conversation on topic of senior and their interests (jotform)

Occasionally mention how great the images are going to look

Be careful not to chat too much with subject, after all we are there to capture them looking good, not talking. Try to chat only when the subject isn’t being photographed

If something needs correction or photog needs to be told something - make sure to be discreet we do not want to talk about the subject or changes out loud – i.e.”fly down”, “bra out”

Remember that the photog sees a different angle than you – keep in mind when making suggestions



POSING & HAIR/makeup

Please read the FAQ’s + Senior Guide

Assistant will start with the pose, assistant will be asked to change hair, fix a fold or crease in clothing, move background etc

If you have a posing suggestion or an idea that you would like to try make sure not to bring it up quietly


SPECIAL NOTES

***WE CANT STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE CORRECT CARD NUMBER ON THE PAPERWORK***

Read over client paperwork & senior questionnaire before session

When client arrives... No bad days, no personal issues, no sadness... The show has begun! It's all about them now.

Occasionally times call for us to be the buffer between senior and parent. Examples are when Mom is being super critical of senior, a fight between senior and parent, etc.