I talk a lot about senior portraits, as well, it’s a big deal. That high school senior yearbook photo, the images that state transition of end of childhood to the beginning of adulthood. What professional images come before that senior year?
Everyone overloads on newborn and baby images, as they should. Then there are family portraits with each new addition, and maybe they continue until the children reach school age, with maybe an attempt here or there. Then there is this lack of time somewhere between age 7 and 17 where the only portraits are the sit and click school photo, with un-brushed hair, a strange expression and quite possibly closed eyes . . .
The pre-teen and teen years all to often are lost in the scurry of life.
Why not capture this time of growth and self discovery! Yes it can be an awkward time, but personally, I’d rather remember my pre-teen and teen years by the friendships I made, the laughter we shared and the interests we had, rather than by the frizzy hair, and braces filled fake smile school photo . . . no I’m not going to share – your welcome.
There was this one image that was taken, a quick snap shot my dad happened to take from when I was 12, four heads sticking out of a tent in the back yard. I love that image, we all have these genuine giddy smiles as we were doing something that was so much fun to us at the time and with our best friends.
(I would be happy to show you this image – but old photos are still packed away somewhere from the move)
So why not do just that with these pre-teens and teens, why not get them with their friends doing things they love and let me tell you, this age group LOVES being in front of the camera, why have we been denying them!?
I’m sure your thinking of fun ideas for your teen, or what you would have loved captured from your own childhood!
Going with the camping out in the back yard idea, I ran with it and these three thirteen year olds and I had a great time!
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