Teen Portraits - Prom Season is Just Around the Corner

If your child is heading to prom in the next couple of months I'd say there is probably no better time than now to have portraits created of your growing teen. With the purchase of a new (and probably expensive) outfit wouldn't it be nice to capture this milestone with a portrait created by a professional.

Across the pond this is a hugely popular time to create portraits, and although I am not American (I'm Canadian) I wholeheartedly agree that this is a special moment to record. My prom was a key memory in my teen years and in fact I myself had professional portraits created also. I think I'll go dig them up if I can, though admittedly I think my mother has them back in Canada. I wonder if I can get her to scan one for me.

My daughter is currently making plans for college and in the running is one that will move her away from home, as many others are probably experiencing for themselves, particularly those who are 18. This makes it all the more important to create something special before they move away, possibly not living under their parent's roof full time again. This is a portrait that marks the final stages of their childhood.

As such, in addition to portraits in prom outfits I also like to create something that is about them. Something that can be looked back on to show what this child was about at this time in their lives. These portraits will become hugely valuable in later life. For them to have something they can use not only to remind themselves of what they were like when they were young but also to share with their own children, when they need to let their kids know they were once young too. I sometimes think our kids don't believe we were ever once just like them.

There is so many possibilities when we introduce the things teenagers are interested in. I love incorporating those things for so many reasons. First and foremost is the memory it captures. What a special moment in time we are recording that will forever be a reminder of what was such a big part of their lives and quite probably a big part of the entire family's lives. Not only this though, by bringing in their interests it makes it so much easier to create something natural and real. Its not all about a forced pose or smile. Its about them being themselves and relaxing doing something they enjoy. These are always my best and most interesting portraits and the ones they enjoy creating and seeing the most.

I do have one obstacle however, that I am finding these days regarding portraits sessions for teens which both shocks and saddens me. Its that teenagers are afraid to have such sessions because they are afraid of what their friends will say. I can't believe they would want to pass up a great opportunity out of fear of what other people think. I can't seem to combat this fear and I certainly can't offer assurances that people won't mock them for creating portraits such as these. But what I can say is that I only publish work if I have permission to. While it will break my heart to keep something wonderful a secret I would happily do so if it means teenagers still book these sessions.

So if you are interested but are worried about what others will think please be assured that no one else has to know. You can still have precious memories and beautiful portraits that you cherish in private. Either that, or you just don't let what others think bother you. People shouldn't live in fear of what others will think.

I hope to get the opportunity to create more unique and special pieces for this year's teenagers. Its my favourite work to create by far. So far this year's challenge that has been presented to me is water polo. Still haven't quite figured out what or how I am going to create my masterpiece but I know I'll make it fabulous.

If you would like to get in touch to see what we can do my contact details are as follows:

Email: christina@christinalauderportraits.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/christinalauderportraits
Instagram: www.instagram.com/christinalauderportraits
Website: www.christinalauderportraits.com

We can have a chat over the phone or you are welcome to arrange a consultation in our studio where we can meet in person and you can see the studio and products we offer. There is no cost to this consultation and no pressure to book while you're here.

Oh yes, and I almost forgot. Here is a couple of my portraits created just before my prom. My mother was able to scan the first one below for me and I had the second one here. These were taken in 1989 at the Old Masters Studio in the town I grew up in, Streestville, part of Mississauga in Ontario. I was chosen as Prom Queen that year, an honour I have never forgotten.

Comments

5 Reasons you Should Consider Getting a Professional Headshot

Headshots, or profile pictures are becoming a requirement of so many tools we regularly use or reference today. From Facebook to Linked In, Instagram to Twitter and often any website that represents a company for which you work or own will have a place to include a photograph that is meant to show your audience who you are. And how you present yourself there will tell your audience so much about you. 1. A profile picture is your first opportunity for your audience to see you. Its often the first impression you make and we all know you only have one chance at a first impression. A professional photographer has the skills to show you in the best, most suitable way to give a great first impression. (These headshots were created for recruitment firm Optima UK who asked to have their logo placed behind them. I think it makes these headshots quite eye catching and they should do their job well.) 2. Using a professional to create your headshot will ...

I am Still Me: A Story about a Transgender Boy

Meet Leo. Leo is 15 and currently going through an epic transformation that has momentarily turned the lives of himself and those around him upside down. A mum who once had the daughter she always longed for is now coping with the realisation that she will be living the rest of her life with a son instead. When your child is born you have certain expectations of the typical life they will lead but most of us know and accept that it won't necessarily end up the way we imagine. Not every person wants to marry, have kids or be involved with the opposite sex. Most of us have come to accept this and can adjust to whatever comes our way relatively easily. But few of us have expected to have to deal with a change in sex. Its not that we've hoped it won't happen, but just that it never occurred to us that it might. This is a new adjustment that we as a society are being presented with today, just like so many others that have come before. When I first heard that Phoebe ...

Family Photos with Flair - Vanity Fair Style Family Portraits

This style of portrait continues to be the eye catching success I had always hoped it would be. Once again I created a beautiful family portrait that I am really proud of and I know this family loves too. Over the years I have developed this style through influences such as Vanity Fair and the many photographers I follow, though I hope that there is something in here that is entirely my own. Having my work easily identified as my own was a goal of mine from the start. Getting to the point where people will want not just a portrait but a Christina Lauder portrait is where I've always wanted to be and I'm hoping I'm on way. These portraits were created for the family of two professional photographers who wanted some portraits of their own. Family portraits isn't really something one can do of oneself, at least not easily. So they needed the services of another and I was honoured to be chosen for the job. They chose me not just for my style but also for my ab...

Wellies, Wellies and More Wellies

Over the past couple of years I've been photographing Jileon Ltd's wellies for their website. And over the last couple of months I have had quite a bit to do for them. Jileon is a great client of ours, giving us regular work that I can undertake in my own time and in my own way. It makes for such a relaxing change from having to make small children smile in a short span of time. Particularly since they can't get up and walk away just at the moment when all elements of the perfect image come together. The only real challenge in photographing wellies for me seems to be the dreaded reflection that is unavoidable when photographing shiny objects using flash. But without this challenge where would be the fun? Jileon Ltd is a Hinckley based distributor of mainly wellington boots. They do also distribute other things but typically it is just their wellies that I photograph. If you wish to order a pair please vi...

Limited Edition Storybook Portrait Sessions

Well in the end I didn't take this promotion as seriously as was required in so much as I didn't allocate any budget for advertising. I relied only on the few posts on Facebook and as such I only did 2 sessions, which to be perfectly honest, was all I could handle this year given that I'd not properly planned for these sessions in an already busy time of year. However, what I did do proved to me that this is something that deserves proper attention and a concerted effort to push this promotion forward. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it, from shopping for props, to the sessions and then the editing. I really love the fun that these sessions provide and the look of the finished images. Spring will see a second go at this special collection with plenty of advertising in the run up to our event. I will get another chance at shopping for additional props and tools to run this limited edition promotion and I can't w...

Christina Lauder Portraits

Search This Blog