I’m absolutely loving The Factory at Franklin for senior sessions lately! There’s something about the rustic brick walls, industrial elements, and gorgeous natural light that creates such a perfect backdrop for showcasing senior personalities. (Just a quick note: The Factory does charge a $50 photography fee, but I promise it’s worth every penny for the variety of backdrops we get to use!)
One question I get asked fairly often is whether parents should come along to their senior’s portrait session. I think the answer is really personal and depends on your specific senior. While most of my seniors bring someone—usually mom—to their session, some teens might feel more relaxed without an audience. It’s worth having a conversation about what makes your senior most comfortable.
For this particular senior session, both the senior and his mom were absolute naturals, creating such a relaxed, fun atmosphere that made capturing these images a joy. I just love the way everything turned out! I said this during the session, but I’ll repeat it here for all of you: blue-eyed people should almost always include at least one blue outfit choice at their sessions. That’s just facts! The blue really makes those eyes pop in photos.
We were a bit worried about the weather turning on us—it looked like rain might interrupt our plans—but the sun came out at the perfect moment, blessing us with a gorgeous sky for those outdoor shots.
Parent’s Guide: The Dos and Don’ts of Attending Your Senior’s Portrait Session
If you’re a parent who will be accompanying your senior to their session, here are a few helpful tips to make the experience amazing for everyone:
The Dos:
- Do help with small, easily fixed details. Feel free to point out minor wardrobe adjustments like an unbuttoned button, a collar that needs straightening, or the outline of a phone in a pocket.
- Do hold their phone, keys, and extra items. This practical help is genuinely appreciated and prevents awkward pocket bulges in photos.
- Do maintain a relaxed atmosphere. One of the most valuable things you can do is help keep the mood light—chat about whatever, tell stories, or just be a calm, encouraging presence.
- Do trust the process. Just like I tell parents of toddlers, I’ll take tons of photos, and plenty of them will capture perfect, genuine expressions.
The Don’ts:
- Don’t criticize their expressions. The most common concern I hear from parents is about “fake smiles.” I completely understand wanting natural photos of your teen, but pointing out forced expressions never makes it better—it just makes them more self-conscious.
- Don’t tell them to smile. I know parents really want those smiling photos, but many teens actually prefer more serious expressions. I love both and will work to capture a variety, so we don’t need them smiling in EVERY pose.
- Don’t hover too closely. Give your senior and me some space to work together and build rapport.
- Don’t worry if they seem uncomfortable at first. Teens are often most awkward at the beginning of the session, and that’s completely normal! As we chat, move around, and get into the flow, we’ll find many 1/500ths of a second of natural, authentic expressions.
Remember, the goal is to create images that reflect who your senior truly is at this milestone moment. Sometimes that means letting them take the lead on their expressions and poses, even if they’re different from what you might choose.
Looking at these images from our Factory session, I’m reminded of why I love photographing high school seniors so much. There’s something magical about documenting this transition—capturing who they are right now, while hinting at who they’re becoming.
Interested in scheduling your senior’s portrait session at The Factory at Franklin or another location? I’d love to hear from you! Get in touch soon as my calendar is filling quickly.
