Photos that teens AND parents will love
In the next blog post down from this one, you’ll find Chelsey’s Rockstar session. Awesome, right? Fun? Gorgeous? And perhaps also … age-appropriate?
You see, Chelsey, who generously modeled to help us promote our Rockstar sessions, is just 16 years old. She looked picture-perfect in her chunky sweater, funky scarf, jeans, sneakers with super-fun pink laces and awesome hair and make-up. Her mom, Wanda, came along for the session, which was terrific! It was an ideal set-up, with a total of three adults (Wanda, myself and my assistant Patty – three moms!) along for the session.
As a mother and as a photographer it’s very important to me that I show your teens how beautiful/handsome they are and allow them to show off their personality while maintaining a certain standard of morals.
Lately, I’ve been seeing a trend in photography that really bothers me – as a mother and as a professional. Time and time again, I’m seeing “grad photos” that sexualize the teen in the image. And that really grinds my gears. I find it to be inappropriate and unprofessional of the photographer to have photographed the teen in a suggestive way – whether it shows a length of thigh peeking out from a grad gown, puts the teen in the water in a grad gown, dripping with water, showcases the teen’s cleavage by having the teen lay down on a prop, or simply shows the teen posing suggestively. It’s not appropriate for grad photos – and yet, they’re being presented as graduation images that will be seen by parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m no prude. I photograph boudoir sessions. I LOVE creating fabulous boudoir images and showing women how beautiful they are. But my boudoir girls MUST be 18 or older, and they’re doing the photos for themselves and/or their significant others. Their parents and grandparents are NOT going to be seeing the photos.
So … getting to my point(s).
Parents
1. When you’re choosing a photographer for your teen’s grad images, make sure you’re choosing the right one. Take a really good look at the photographer’s previous work. Make sure there’s nothing suggestive about the photos, and if there is, make it very clear to the photographer that you don’t want those types of photos for your teen – or go elsewhere.
2. Always accompany any underage teens to their photo sessions and remain in the room/studio/area while they’re being photographed. Keep your teen within eyesight!
3. Pre-approve your teen’s outfits and veto anything that shows too much skin or clings too tightly. If the photographer will be providing some wardrobe – such as a grad gown – make doubly sure whatever your teen wears underneath will cover enough skin to keep you comfortable.
4. YOU are the boss. As the client, you’re in charge, and while you may give the photographer creative freedom, only YOU know what’s right for your teen. If it’s not something you would be comfortable displaying on your mantle for years to come, then you can veto it.
Photographers
It IS possible to satisfy both the teen and the parents by creating a compromise – showcase the teen’s youth and good looks, but don’t use certain poses, and don’t shoot from angles that are suggestive. You can do it!
About The Author
I really agree with this article! I too think its somewhat alarming to see teens so sexualized in their grad photos these days. Ultimately, it’s up to the teen/parent how they want their images to look, sexual or not, but I personally prefer them toned down a bit. I think it is possible, as you said “to show off their personality while maintaining a certain standard of morals.”
Thanks for the comment and support Kristen! We’re lucky that as artists, we can choose what we will or won’t shoot – and we’re lucky that we have great clients who choose us for our style!