The connection between a photographer and their subject is never more important than when you’re shooting senior portraits. Not only are they at a pivotal moment in their lives, but many of them struggle with self-confidence and body image. If you can dig deep into their personalities and then show them their own beauty through your images, you can truly change lives.In this episode, I chat with senior photographer and photography educator Ariel Perry about her process for connecting and working with seniors. Ariel shares how she fell in love with senior photography and decided to niche down. She explains how she goes about building a connection with a teen, even if they’re not entirely sold on the idea of a portrait session. We also talk about how a photoshoot can make a world of difference in a teen’s self-confidence.What’s in this episode:How Ariel found her passion for senior photography and made it her niche [2:17]How to be assertive during a shoot and establish the creative direction [7:03]How to get to know your client’s personality and pull that out of them during the shoot [10:32]Working with teens who are shy or unsure about senior portraits [12:26]Ariel’s favorite shoots, and her experience shooting in London and Rome [17:01]Business advice for new and seasoned photographers [18:43]How a portrait session can help a senior find their confidence [21:31]If you want to create real connections with your clients and empower them through your work, tune in to this episode.For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/spotlight-on-senior-portraits-cultivating-confidence-with-ariel-perry/Reserve your spot for the 2022 Online Family Photography Retreat: https://themilkyway.ca/2022-family-retreat/