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5 Senior Photo Poses for the Best Grad Cards
Senior photos capture the beautiful time of life when your child is celebrating the achievements of their teenage years, and shining bright as they enter the adult world. Here at Persnickety Prints, we are passionate about preserving memories. This is an important milestone to capture! Not only will your teen feel honored and recognized in these moments, in a few years they can look back and remember the sense of love and belonging. Whether your teen is having a professional photoshoot or you plan on capturing it yourself using a phone, these 5 senior photo poses will help highlight your teen’s personality and help them look their best. We print hundreds of senior photos every April-June, and have seen incredible work from many photographers. We’ve polled our team and compiled a list of tried and true poses that are sure to produce a stunning photo and cherished print.
1. Over the Shoulder
Shots with this pose are typically in a teen’s top 5 favorite pictures from a senior photoshoot, if not top 3. While it seems like a very unassuming pose, it is universally flattering and works well with any gender or aesthetic.
This pose is a riff on the timeless portrait, but plays with angling the body slightly away from the camera and turning the head towards the lens. The turned head sculpts the jawline, and the final effect is a photo that captures the warmth of walking next to a friend.
2. frame the face
One of the reasons we love senior photos is the opportunity to document how they look at this time in their lives. It’s a sweet time when teens are starting to look like their adult selves; within a few quick years, they will completely mature.
Use hair, tree branches, arms, or hands to bring attention to the senior’s face. If they have a feature that is particularly striking, try to place or rest a hand there. Poses where the hand is lightly touching the chin, lips, or cheeks will bring attention to that area and creates a really soft, beautiful shot.
3. The Classic portrait
A smiling portrait is always a classic pose for Seniors. While it has become more popular with teenagers to have more candid or neutral expressions, we think 2-3 classic portraits are essential for a successful senior photoshoot session.
These poses are also the perfect opportunity to play with outfits and props. It always looks particularly striking with classic styling elements, like a suit, dress, letterman jacket. Did they play an instrument or a sport? Perfect chance to bring it out and position it in their hands or by their feet.
Tip: If you can tell your senior isn’t feeling excited by the pose, tell them that this photo is going to be sent to their grandparents or another loved one! Those family members are typically the people who will want a print of this classic portrait in their homes, and we’ve noticed that having the end goal in mind can help the senior shine an energetic smile.
4. Leading lines
Take inspiration from your location and incorporate lines for visual interest. Think old railroad tracks, stairs, painted lines on a street (safety first!) or a wall. This is a great option if you are working with a teen that isn’t comfortable in front of the camera – they can have a neutral or slightly smiling expression, but the background and framing elevates the shot. In this particular shot, the lighting also gives subtle interest as it comes from the right. The subtle shadows also add some depth.
When working with a camera-shy senior, shots like these are normally their favorites. The candid expression paired with the location creates a photo where they feel effortlessly beautiful or handsome.
5. play with perspective
Experimenting with angles and changing of perspective is easier when working with one subject. Senior photos are the perfect opportunity to play around with perspective, especially if you have a creative teen.
If it’s warm outside, a favorite pose of ours is to have the teen laying down and feeling relaxed. The pose looks natural, and the combination of the ground in the foreground and blurred background adds depth. By getting on the same plane as your subject, you capture a unique POV that mimics the whimsical memories of laying down with a friend in the grass, looking up, and gazing at the clouds.
Print Your Senior Photos
Whether sending a high school graduation announcement, or printing photos for a graduation party, everyone wants to see and celebrate your teen. Don’t trap your photos on your phone or computer where you will only look at them every one in a blue moon. Print what you want to remember!
Some of our favorite ways to print senior photos include:
- an 8×10 photographic print for grandma’s wall
- a photo book that tells the story of your teen’s achievements for grandpa’s shelf
- a collage to display at a graduation party, and afterwards have a home on your walls
- on our classic photo strips or retro prints for table scatter at a graduation party, or to decorate a junk journal
- a scrapbook for the graduate that includes notes of encouragements and love from friends and family
Want more inspiration on poses for senior photoshoots? Check out our senior photoshoot poses Pinterest board.
Commemorate this time of their life by sending friends and family a high school graduation announcement! Upload your images to persnicketyprints.com, and design your card in minutes! Creating a graduation announcement is as simple as 1-2-3.
1. Pick your favorite design, we’ve got dozens of exclusive templates and color options! Whether your teen’s style is trendy or classic, we have a card you are sure to love.
2. Drag and drop your photos into the photo boxes. It’s that simple!
3. Type out a line or two about your grad. Need some advice on what to include? Check out our high school graduation announcement examples.
Why Print your Graduation Announcements with Persnickety?
We offer the same low price for all cards, whether you are printing 50 announcements or 500. Our cards come in packs of 25, and include complimentary silver-lined envelopes. Want a return address printed on the envelopes? We’ll do that too, for free!
If you feel behind on your planning, no need to fear. All card packs are processed and shipped from our photo lab within 1-2 business days.
Send a Graduation Announcement
not sure when to order graduation announcements?
We’ve put together a timeline to help you know when to ship your announcements. Friends and family will receive the cards with plenty of notice for important events like convocation or graduation parties.
3 months – Take graduation photos – it typically takes at least 2 weeks to a month to receive a few edited highlights from the photography session. It’s also the perfect time to start gathering addresses from friends and family.
2 months – Order graduation announcements from Persnickety Prints and take our advice – order the extra card pack! Trust us, you’ll use it. There are always people you remember at the last minute who would enjoy receiving a card.
1.5 months – Mail the graduation announcements and feel a sense of accomplishment by crossing this off your “to-do” list.
1 month – Friends and family receive announcements with plenty of notice and can pencil in time to celebrate your graduate.