Great Falls, Montana Senior Session
- Posted in :
- seniors
- Blog Post by :
- Caroline Madsen Photography
My goal as a senior photographer is to capture the essence of who my clients are at a defining moment of their lives-their senior year of high school! Jade’s Montana senior session began like any other with a pre-session planning and consultation meeting.
Once she booked her session, we set a date 2-4 weeks before her scheduled session date to meet at my home office and get to know each other, sort through her outfit possibilities, discuss professional hair and makeup options, and visit about what she had envisioned for her senior session.
At my pre-session planning and consultation meetings, we go over all my product offerings so that my clients have a vision of what they might like to purchase after the session is completed.
This time is so valuable for me, as the photographer, to really connect with my clients. While it does take a little extra time, the results can be seen in the images; my clients are relaxed, comfortable, and confidant. It also results in better sales because my clients have seen a variety of wall art options, graduation announcements, session albums, and print finishes.
By the time the session comes around, I generally already have an idea of where I’d like to take my senior clients based on their outfit choices. Considering clothing is important to me when I’m trying to coordinate backgrounds. As we all know, however, since all of that might change at the last minute depending on the weather, it’s wise to have a plan B in mind and to be flexible.
Once we are out on location, I just try to have fun with my clients. I not only want to capture their personalities in their images, but I also want to capture their unique beauty and completely natural expressions. We talk, we joke, and we laugh as I direct posing by either verbalizing what I’d like them to do or physically demonstrating it myself.
As a rule of thumb, I shoot each outfit in a different location, trying to keep them in the same general vicinity so as to use time (and light) most effectively.
Jade and her parents were thrilled with the results of her senior session. At her in-person ordering session, her parents purchased a beautiful wall art display, a deluxe leather custom-designed 10×10 session album, and a variety of prints to share with family and friends. We created images that will be treasured for a lifetime and an experience that she will never forget!
Equipment used: Cannon 5D Mark III, Canon 35mm1.4, Canon 50mm1.4 (affiliate links)
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Caroline Madsen is a natural light photographer from Great Falls, Montana specializing in high school seniors. Caroline grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 80’s, plastering fashion spreads from W Magazine all over her bedroom walls. She went on to work in the fashion industry in Milan, Italy for several years, moved to Paris, France for a couple more and finally settled down in Montana to start a family.