Pre-Teen - Input, Opinions, Ideas Wanted (7 Images)

Bryce Wilson

As many of you know, I do a niche type of session for young children. Worked on it for a long time and kind of have it down to a paint by numbers type of session.

Problem is, that by the time a child reaches 8 or 9, this type of session looses a fair amount of appeal. Both to the child and the parent. It's just not cute anymore at that age and begins to look forced instead of natural and "darling".

I am trying to develop a product and session that appeals to the 8-15 year old crowd as well as their parents. The session needs to be completed in 30 minutes, including wardrobe and prop changes, as well as providing six different looks for the customer to choose from with some aspects of their personal interests included.

These are the results from my first "pre-teen" test shoot and some ideas that I thought might be age appropriate and "excite" a pre teen.

Tell me please, which one's you think are winners and which one's are looser's. And, if you have any ideas for the pre-teen market, both boys and girls, I would be more than happy to hear them!

Mucho Gracias!

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VayCayMom

I don't like #1, the electronic item will soon be so yesterday plus I don't like how her image looks on it. #2 The pose is just what "Glamour Shots" uses and is already out of date.
#3 is a good idea, timeless to a degree. #4 All I see are her curled up feet with wrinkled soles, then I see the shoe and then the girl. #5 LOVE LOVE it! #6 Really like that ! #7 is OK, but I may like it on a white background better. Don't forget the outdoors with pre teens, think of smaller scaled senior session ideas. Trendy looking backgrounds
outdoors can really jazz things up. Outdoor shopping/entertainment hot spots have great spot for shooting the young set. A recent favorite of mine, the girl was 14 and her brother was 15.

Bryce Wilson

Thanks for the input Trudy! That is exactly what I was looking for. Your insight is most appreciated and valued!

The difficult part of this project for me is that the session must be limited to a 30 minute in studio only, and because of the time constraints also limited to one background. Although the outdoor thing has wonderful possibilities as you mention, that idea is off the table.:cry

wave01

heres my thoughts
1 just love it and even if it gets dated they can look back and say did we really use that
2 nice but not for me i agree looks a glamour shot
3 again its a classic shot
4 no not for me to much else in the shot
5 just great hang it on the wall
6 not keen on the eyes
7 i like this one too

divamum

Hmmm....Speaking as a parent, I have to say the "one size fits all" approach doesn't entirely work for me - it's too much like school pictures.

That said, I LOVE #5 - that's one of the best shots you've ever taken, IMO. The iphone is cute. The ballerina pose would work for a girl who dances, but it's probably limited only to those girls (and for maximum impact needs shoes with ribbons, not elastics - even if they're not pointe shoes.)

Personally, I would probably do a more "fun" setup, particularly for the 12-15's who aren't going to like the same "dressup" ideas as the 9-11 tweens. What about plugging their ipod in and catching them dancing? I know you prefer posed shots, but that could be something really cute if you have the space to let them groove around.

Similarly, what about glowsticks? All teens love 'em and they're dirt cheap.

Just brainstorming. I see where you're going with this but, as a parent (not as a photographer) I can tell you the only one of these I'd *buy* is #5.

Dooginfif20

If you want a more effective way of shooting #1 do a composite. If you did then disregard my comment. The best way to do them (because the picture on the screen always looks muted) is to do two separate pictures and PS the other one onto the phone

D3Sshooter

I don't think that they will like any of them, me I do like 5 . A geat shot, but I deal with those kids as well and honest they are bored with this kind of posed/forced pictures. They want something fancy, different, something that makes them interesting. Old shool pictures , no matter how good they are don't work.
I recommend that you check out FB and see what they like. Toss a few samples on FB and have them to tell you. Me, I like your work. But then again a look at them as a photographer and not as a teen.

Bryce Wilson

wave01 wrote: »

heres my thoughts
1 just love it and even if it gets dated they can look back and say did we really use that
2 nice but not for me i agree looks a glamour shot
3 again its a classic shot
4 no not for me to much else in the shot
5 just great hang it on the wall
6 not keen on the eyes
7 i like this one too

Thank you for taking the time to register your opinion. It is most appreciated!

divamum wrote: »

Hmmm....Speaking as a parent, I have to say the "one size fits all" approach doesn't entirely work for me - it's too much like school pictures.

That said, I LOVE #5 - that's one of the best shots you've ever taken, IMO. The iphone is cute. The ballerina pose would work for a girl who dances, but it's probably limited only to those girls (and for maximum impact needs shoes with ribbons, not elastics - even if they're not pointe shoes.)

Personally, I would probably do a more "fun" setup, particularly for the 12-15's who aren't going to like the same "dressup" ideas as the 9-11 tweens. What about plugging their ipod in and catching them dancing? I know you prefer posed shots, but that could be something really cute if you have the space to let them groove around.

Similarly, what about glowsticks? All teens love 'em and they're dirt cheap.

Just brainstorming. I see where you're going with this but, as a parent (not as a photographer) I can tell you the only one of these I'd *buy* is #5.

Thanks Diva! Now all I gotta do is figure out how to light a scene and keep the "glow" quality to the glow sticks. I think that idea has legs!

Dooginfif20 wrote: »

If you want a more effective way of shooting #1 do a composite. If you did then disregard my comment. The best way to do them (because the picture on the screen always looks muted) is to do two separate pictures and PS the other one onto the phone

Thanks. Good idea and I have done that before, but in this particular concept, the business model doesn't allow for any post work. These have to be ready to show and sell SOC.

D3Sshooter wrote: »

I don't think that they will like any of them, me I do like 5 . A geat shot, but I deal with those kids as well and honest they are bored with this kind of posed/forced pictures. They want something fancy, different, something that makes them interesting. Old shool pictures , no matter how good they are don't work.
I recommend that you check out FB and see what they like. Toss a few samples on FB and have them to tell you. Me, I like your work. But then again a look at them as a photographer and not as a teen.

Alas, I'm afraid you are pretty spot on with your analysis. It's almost to the point where the photo booth concept for teens is what they want.

Back to the drawing board for me....:D

sweet caroline

I have two daughters, 11 and 16. I also teach middle school and high school. The kids I know would either want very classic, sophisticated, but not forced, portraits or something very goofy, like a photo booth style. "Trendy" and gimmicky don't fly with them. It's always out of date the moment you take the picture.

divamum

+1 Photo booth. For a 30 minute session with the restrictions you outlined, that would be the way I would go for that age group...........

Gotham

I think the photo booth concept is about right -- let them be themselves rather than posing them too much. If they want to have props, fine. But I think that teens & tweens are like everyone else -- they mostly want pictures of themselves that look really good. With a good clean background and nice lighting, if you can get them to be relaxed you'll get great shots of them that they'll love.