My best piece advice for senior parents is to make the experience about your child. Your senior is probably a little bit nervous, maybe excited, or possibly not looking forward to it at all. Help reassure them that it’s ok to be feeling those things. If you are calm and relaxed about it, more than likely your senior will be too. Here are a few other pieces of advice for my senior parents out there.
Tip #1: Communicate with me what you both want from the session. If you as a parent have certain props/ideas and it’s different from your senior’s style, let me know. If i’m prepared with everyone’s expectations, I can help us navigate how to get the best of both worlds. We are on the same team and I want what is best for everyone. Communication will help us get that done!
Tip #2: I want your help. If you see their hair isn’t exactly how they like it or their necklace is a little crooked, tell me. You see your senior every day and know the tiny things that annoy them that I might now know. That being said, some seniors will react better to me fixing things versus their mom “fussing” so just let me know ahead of time and I will do my best to make sure everything is picture perfect!
Tip #3: This might be the most important one. You know your child best. If you think that getting them to relax and smile is going to be a struggle, I would encourage you to consider letting your senior come to their session alone. I have found more times than none that my seniors will let their guard down when no one else is around, even a parent. Sometimes seniors, especially boys, think that it’s cool to not smile and maybe be a bit more difficult when they have an audience. If you feel that this might be the case, please come to the session for a bit at the beginning to be a part of it, but then maybe have an excuse to give me and your senior some one on one to see if I can help them open up.
Gavin Clifford || Brookings SD Senior
Location: Dakota Nature Park, Brookings SD & Surrounding Area
Love Gavin’s senior session and want more information to book your own? Click HERE
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