The Best of Teen and Senior Portrait Photography: Techniques and Images from the Pros

by Bill Hurter

Overview

Get Behind the Images and See How Award-Winning photographers ereate memorable portraits of teens and seniors, eapturing images that please both seniors and parents -- and stand the test of time. Beginning with a review of the industry and its practices, you'll learn how senior photography has evolved from simple yearbook photos into an exceptionally creative and demanding genre. Next, you'll learn how to communieate effectively with teens and use creative lighting and posing to design images that refleet their individuality and style-conscious tastes. You'll also learn how to tailor your marketing strategies to this savvy demographic, get ideas for special profit-boosting promotions, and see how specializing in senior portraits has worked for many top photographers. Filled with practical ideas and over two hundred dazzling portraits, this book is an excellent resource for those seeking success in this challenging field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781584283409
Publisher:	Amherst Media, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/01/2003
Series:	Masters Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	126
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Bill Hurter is the editor of "Rangefinder" and the author of "Portrait Photographer's Handbook," "Group Portrait Photography," "The Best of Children's Portrait Photography," and "The Best of Wedding Photography." He lives in West Covina, California.

Table of Contents

	The Photographers	6
	Introduction	10
1.	Senior Portrait Photography, Yesterday and Today	18
	Yearbooks	19
	School Dress Code	21
	Deadlines	21
	When Contracts Work	22
	Today's Senior Studios	24
	Why Good Photographers Turn to Seniors	25
	Web Sites	25
2.	Ways of Posing	27
	Relaxed, Natural Posing	28
	Subject Positioning	28
	The Head and Shoulders	30
	The Head-and-Shoulders Axis	30
	Male Posing vs. Female Posing	31
	Tilting the Head	31
	Sloping Line of the Shoulders	31
	Face Positions	31
	Seven-Eighths View	31
	Three-Quarters View	32
	Profile View	32
	The Eyes	32
	The Mouth	34
	Posing Hands and Fingers	35
	Three-Quarter- and Full-Length Poses	37
	Weight on the Back Foot	39
	Camera Height	39
	Working Distances and Focal Length	39
	Active Posing	41
	Giving Directions	41
	Subject Comfort	41
	Applying and Breaking the Rules of Posing	41
3.	Communicating and Getting Great Expressions	43
	Pre-Session Consultation	43
	Two Clients ... Always	45
	No Parent at Session	45
	Number and Type of Poses	46
	Individuality	46
	Facial Analysis	48
	Psychology	49
	Breaking Down Defenses	50
	Clothing and Accessories	50
	Colors and Patterns	51
	Shoes	52
	Eyeglasses	52
	Hair and Makeup	52
	The Makeover	54
4.	Studio Lighting for Seniors	55
	The Illusion of Three Dimensions	56
	Key and Fill Lights	57
	The One-Light Lighting Effect	57
	Differences Between Direct and Diffused Light	57
	Hair and Background Lights	58
	Broad and Short Lighting	59
	Umbrellas and Softboxes	60
	Lighting Ratios	62
	A Wall of Fill Light	63
	Fashion Lighting	64
	Feathering the Lights	64
	Reflectors	64
	The Softer the Better	66
	Retouching	66
5.	Natural Lighting for Seniors	68
	Window Light	70
	Diffusing Window Light	71
	Photographing in Shade	71
	Photographing in Open Shade	73
	Light Modifiers	73
	Reflectors for Fill	73
	Gobos	74
	Scrims	75
	Flash Techniques	76
	Fill Flash	76
	Determining Exposure with Flash-Fill	77
	Flash Sync Speeds	78
	Flash-Key on Overcast Days	78
	Flash-Fill with Direct Sunlight	79
	Working at Midday	79
	Using Long Lenses to Cut Image Contrast	80
6.	Senior Marketing Techniques	82
	Be Consistent in Your Marketing	82
	Bulk Mailing	83
	Constantly Evaluate Your Marketing Program	83
	Copyright Notice	83
	Digital Graduation Announcements	84
	Direct-Mail Campaigns	86
	Direct-Mail Frequency and Guidelines	86
	Dollar-a-Day Sessions	86
	The "Dream Team"	86
	Ellie Vayo's CD Business Card/Portfolio Presentation	86
	The "Friends" Promo	87
	How Much Should You Spend?	87
	List Brokers	87
	Market in Threes	88
	Notice of Secondary Usage	88
	Posting Proofs on the Internet	88
	Senior Albums on Display	89
	Senior Contact and Follow-Up	89
	Senior Photo Exchange	89
	Student Representatives	89
	Video Marketing ... and Then Some	90
	Wallet Special	90
	Yearbook Advertising	90
	The "You Ought to Be in Pictures" Promo	92
	Window Dressing	92
7.	Pricing and Proofing	93
	Session Fees and Types	93
	Liability Waiver	96
	Pricing	96
	Package Pricing	96
	A-la-Carte Pricing	97
	Special Offers	97
	Finish Differences	99
	Deposits and Prepayments	99
	Proofing Session	100
8.	Senior Photographer Profiles	102
	Fuzzy and Shirley Duenkel: It's All Happening at Home	102
	Jeff Smith: Reinventing the Senior Market	106
	Ellie Vayo: Customer Service at the Highest Level	109
	Richard Pahl: 100 Percent Digital, 100 Percent Seniors	111
	Ralph Romaguera: Understanding the Savvy Senior Market	114
	Deborah Lynn Ferro: The Artist's Touch	117
	Michael and Pamela Ayers: The Senior Album	120
	Glossary	121
	Index	125