K. Carey Photography

Who says photoshoots are just for gals?

When you think about a tween, teen or senior photoshoot, what comes to mind? For me, it is the image of a lovely, smiling girl, introducing herself to the world. I love photographing girls. They know what they want, have ideas about posing, and are excited to be participating in their own professional photoshoot.

I also love photographing guys. But guys are different to be sure. They tend to come a bit more reluctantly. Often times, mom has bribed or begged them to come. It takes a bit of work to get them to relax and feel comfortable. But when they get comfortable, the sparks can fly!

Still, guys are less likely to seek my services. So I was a bit surprised when I had a parent sign her son up for my Tween Project. Until that point, I had only photographed tween girls. The mom confided that she had signed up her son to boost his confidence. I was hopeful his experience with the Tween Project would do just that.

Breaking the Ice

Breaking the ice with any tween can be a challenge. But throw in a camera and an excited mom? Challenging can be an understatement. I find having genuine conversations with my tween clients really starts the ball rolling. I ask questions, listen to their answers, and look for ways to connect. And the first pictures I take are always no pressure, casual and familiar (think, “say cheese”). I find that after the first few clicks of the camera, my tween clients start to relax and show me who they are. That was the case with my tween guy client. Below is one of the first photos I took during his shoot at the Howard County Conservancy.

Getting Comfortable

But once we got the smiling shots out of the way, and we had talked a bit, I saw the tween was becoming more comfortable. I worked to make a connection with him. Turns out our connection was soccer! Soon this tween guy became comfortable and confident. I think he even began to have fun!

Tween Fun

Of course, no photoshoot for a guy or a gal is finished without a little fun. When I talk to my clients, both tweens and seniors, I always invite them to include props or outfits that represent their likes and interests. For this tween, soccer was the name of the game! Not only did he come with two different soccer jerseys, he also came with a ball and a clear idea of what moments he wanted to capture.

Finding His Look

By the end of the photoshoot, this tween guy had as much fun as any tween girl I had photographed. He had energy and spirit and I think we genuinely had a good time together. I was thrilled with his final gallery and when I presented this tween with his gallery, I saw the smile! So, who says photoshoots are just for girls? Not this photographer! I hope more guys, tween and otherwise, find their spirit in a personal photoshoot.