Senior Location Trends - please help me understand!

[reader0428]

OK, I think I was born about 20 years too late. :) I need help understanding the appeal of having senior portraits made at abandoned buildings, construction sites and other industrial/grungy type locations. Not to disrespect anyone's work - I've seen some really nice images in locations like this. I'm just wondering how the subject will feel about his/her photo in front of a dumpster 10 or 15 years down the road. Please enlighten me! I'll be doing more senior sessions soon and if I can understand what's behind this trend I may be more comfortable shooting in these types of locations, if it's what the client wants.

[texkam]

+1, and I'm off to make some popcorn.

[Steelsun]

It's part of the whole urban and hip-hop culture now.
They'll feel the same way we do when we see old pictures on us in parachute pants, mullets, and/or vinyl.

[kimberley]

yep its what is hot in the industry...as for me I love it....shooting in front of dumpsters....if your going to shoot seniors then you have to be in the know with what is trending...

[Sonny]

I agree with Brian and Kim.

Although not everybody is doing it. It all really depends on what your client wants, or should I say...the parents paying the bill. Yes, the urban or grunge look is hot right now, but do not feel like you have to offer that style to your clients.

[keripayne]

I took my senior pictures with my cat in front of the standard mottled-blue background from 20 years ago. A dumpster would have been an improvement. Lol

I think you just have to embrace it and go along with what the kids want. Shoot some for them, then shoot some for you and their parents. Yes, they'll suggest some weird locations and weird poses but if you do it they'll LOVE you-----and then go tell their friend!!! Which is the point, right?? Lol

[Tom]

Part culture, part something different, part contrasting youth and beauty with old and decaying.

[ronocnikral]

Originally Posted by keripayne

I took my senior pictures with my cat in front of the standard mottled-blue background from 20 years ago. A dumpster would have been an improvement. Lol

I think you just have to embrace it and go along with what the kids want. Shoot some for them, then shoot some for you and their parents. Yes, they'll suggest some weird locations and weird poses but if you do it they'll LOVE you-----and then go tell their friend!!! Which is the point, right?? Lol

Sort of the point...we don't do exactly what the "kids" want. Why? In 95% of cases, they aren't the ones with the money. The real decision maker is the parents. You want the parents to like the pictures and the "kids" are secondary. Of course, making everyone happy is the ultimate goal...but if we have to choose, we do what the parent wants. If mom hates the pictures, you hate your sales numbers. ymmv.

of course, going along with the theme of odd locations in today's world, goes the theme of the tail wagging the dog.

[kimberley]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

The real decision maker is the parents. You want the parents to like the pictures and the "kids" are secondary.

haha you must not have a teenager...lol....my goal, yes, one is to get some beautiful images for the parents to hang on the wall and give to nana and papa BUT my ulimate goal is to please the teen I want them to feel beautiful, and in most of my ordering sessions the parents pick a few but usually its the teen who is in control of the picking...and the parents pay :)

[d2creative]

Originally Posted by kimberley

haha you must not have a teenager...lol....my goal, yes, one is to get some beautiful images for the parents to hang on the wall and give to nana and papa BUT my ulimate goal is to please the teen I want them to feel beautiful, and in most of my ordering sessions the parents pick a few but usually its the teen who is in control of the picking...and the parents pay :)

And it's the teen that is going to put them all over facebook, twitter, etc.

[Some Idiot]

i agree with the contrast comment, I think if you take something beautiful and put it in front of something grungy it makes the beauty of the subject stand out that much more, however, I like a classic boring backdrop too.......

[brad]

Ya... its trending... and yes, believe it or not, the teens have a HUGE influence on the picture picking... and the photographer they pick.

You have to think about the kind of parent/kid that is going to go to a boutique photographer for their senior pictures. They are not the client who is looking for the "same old thing" and they are not satisfied with the "Sears Portrait Studio" look.... but most importantly, they are (usually) going in with the idea that they are going to spend some money -- and they are spending that money on the senior.

As such, the parent is paying - yes - and the parent will (often) want a few traditional images - a headshot or two.. the dreaded cap and gown.. the plain background. But the senior will want the beautiful art pieces.. the fun backgrounds and locations.. the heavy over processing (lomo effects and the like).

And as someone above said, the senior is the one that is posting all of those images all over their facebook and twitter (hopefully with your logo and contact info on them... you did make that part of the agreement allowing them to post them online, right?)


You should have seen the senior I just shot light up when I told him I knew of a close, safe spot where we could get up under the highway. And surprisingly enough.. they were some of mom's favorites, too.

[reader0428]

Originally Posted by brad

believe it or not, the teens have a HUGE influence on the picture picking... and the photographer they pick.

Oh yeah, I believe it. I used to be a youth minister, and it's quite apparent that for better or for worse (usually for worse, IMO), kids are often the ones running the household and doing a lot of the decision making, from the time they can talk until they leave for college. So we (meaning photographers) give them what they want (and what the parents want), and let them talk the parents into spending the $$$.

I'm a big fan of on-location photography vs. studio for senior portraits - I'm just failing to see the appeal of the really trashy/grungy locations. But that's just me - I'm a pretty traditional gal. But, as I learned early on in my advertising career, "You are [usually] not your target market." A great phrase to keep in mind, always.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by reader0428

I'm a big fan of on-location photography vs. studio for senior portraits - I'm just failing to see the appeal of the really trashy/grungy locations. But that's just me - I'm a pretty traditional gal. But, as I learned early on in my advertising career, "You are [usually] not your target market." A great phrase to keep in mind, always.

You'll have to pick a side and take a stand. It's your business. If you're taking pics of snot nose brats that make all the parental decisions, most likely you're not going to be happy and it will show in your work. So what if you have a narrow market. Be the best in that market and kick butt.

[kimberley]

amanda....true some kids do run there parents but I run my business and kids/parents choose me based on how I shoot and where I shoot all 100% of my kids this year chose me because one, Im awesome ( just kidding)...no really they chose me because I am diffrent and because of the location I choose to shoot at.....urban...for instance this girl wanted WAY urban in her prom dress...mom loved this and so did dad ( both tagged along for the session and loved this location with her dress, as did I....the senior business is a very fast trending market and to stay afloat in that market IMO you have to do what the kids are looking for and for me Im lucky this is exactly how/what I love to shoot....alagrunge :)