In Australia, where I live, it’s only a few short months until Year 12 students wrap up the year and move on to their next adventure. With Covid-19 throwing such a spanner in the works this year, there’s never been a better time to bring in some smiles and laughter to your next shoot with a graduating teenager.
Ask and laugh: photo prompt for high school seniors, teens and tweens
This one works for tweens and teens on their own, or in groups (e.g. formal photos or prom photos). The goal is to get them relaxed and laughing (ideally at you for being weird). Also works well for family shoots: get siblings and parents involved!
How to use this photo pose prompt
This one’s pretty easy: point camera at teen, ask weird questions, shoot when they laugh! Give them time to think of their answer before offering examples or filling in the possible-awkward silence. Share your own answers and make it a conversation.
Need an in-depth class on how to organize, promote and conduct high school senior portraits?
- This class is great for editorial style, including lighting, plus business strategy.
- This one is great for embedding seniors as the core of your business, and takes you through studio and lifestyle shoots.
- This one is great for adding something different to your senior photography.
Prompt: Ask and Laugh
- What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
- What’s the most out-of-character thing you’ve ever done?
- Can I see your phone wallpaper? Tell me the story behind it.
- You can have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life. What is it? Sushi? Duct tape? Why?
- What’s your best scar story?
- Would you go with aliens if they beamed down to Earth?
- Are you sunrise, daylight, twilight, or night-time? Why?
- What season would you be?
- Are you a good dancer?
- What fruit or vegetable would you most want to be?
Creative extension
- To photograph a group of teenage friends (prom or formal photos, for example), have them reminisce about the funny moments of their friendship / high school days by sharing their answers to the following questions.
- Do you have an inside joke that only you guys get? Can you explain it to me?
- Who’s fashion has improved the most (since starting high school, since you met, etc)? Who used to rock the worst style?
- If a movie was made about you guys, who would play each of you, and why?
- What would your group’s Disney theme song be? (Bonus points for making one up.)
Tag me @promptographerguide and use the hashtag #promptographerguide to share your favorite prompts for seniors.
Featured image licenced from Yelyzaveta Anysymova.
Want this prompt in your Field Cards set?
All the info in this prompt post is summarized onto a single card in the Promptographer Guide Field Cards, with the details given in the accompanying Guidebook. All the ideas are given on the one card so you have a rich, comprehensive tool for sparking ideas. I’ve designed it this way so you only need five to ten cards to build a whole photoshoot.
If you want this prompt in your set, make sure you include Set 9: Teenage Moments in your Field Cards.
