How to take senior pictures | Houston Senior Photographer

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in how to take senior pictures.  See more senior photos in the gallery.  Contact me to book your senior portrait today!

How to Take Senior Pictures

High school senior portrait sessions are tons of fun!  There’s no one right way on how to take senior pictures.  At Tara Flannery Photography, we will be with you every step of the way to create a unique and fantastic session tailored just for you!  First, we first meet for a consultation to get to know each other.  We talk about wardrobe and location and anything you have in mind for the session.  It’s so nice to meet ahead of time so that when we get to the session day, we already have that familiarity and can start photographing right away!  On session day, it’s just having fun and playing with wardrobe, fun photo spots, poses, and expressions.  Then, we will meet together to review all of the images together and select the very best ones for your order.  Finally, the day that you waited for is here: product and digital photo delivery!  Now you can share away on social media and your parents can fill that frame and hang your brand new images on the wall, so exciting!

Senior Portraits with Allison

My senior portrait session with Allison was a blast!  Her mom was there to help with wardrobe changes and to help keep an eye on that gorgeous hair!  My daughter, Leah, was there too to help with lighting so it was an all-girl affair.  We started with a location with lots of brick and rusted iron.  Her white dress was the perfect compliment to this spot.  Then we moved to another location with brick and her pink shirt and jeans and hair pulled half way back.  I love that Allison changed up her hairstyle along with her outfits.  We ended the session with her navy top and brown skort.  My favorite image is Allison’s closeup with the serious expression, her hair in a messy bun on top.  Gorgeous!!  Although there’s no rule book on how to take senior pictures, Allison can definitely point the way towards a fantastic session!

 

how to take senior pictureshigh school senior girl in pink top and jeansgorgeous high school senior girlhow to take senior pictures

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in senior portraits.  See more senior photos in the gallery.  Contact me to book your senior portrait today!

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@taraflanneryphotography

It’s never just pressing a button.

It’s reading the room.
Adjusting in real time.
Knowing how to bring out confidence—even when someone feels uncomfortable in front of the camera.

The technical side matters.
But the connection, the instinct, and the ability to see what others don’t… that’s what turns it into something more.

📩 If you’re ready for photos that feel like you, you can book through the link in my bio.
Come along with me as I set up for a headshot + branding session 👇🏻

When you’re just getting started, it’s easy to think you need all the gear before you can take on client work.

You don’t.

For in-office headshots, a solid setup really comes down to a few essentials:
✅ reliable lighting
✅ a strong lens
✅ a backdrop
✅ reflectors to help control light and keep skin tones consistent

That’s how I’m able to create clean, professional headshots—without being in a studio.

And for branding? That’s where I shift.

Instead of a backdrop, I’m using the client’s space—capturing environmental images that feel more natural, personal, and aligned with their business.

Same session, two different approaches—both intentional.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about having more gear…
it’s about knowing how to use what you have.

📥 If you’re a newer photographer, I’ve put together resources to help with gear, lighting, and posing—click the link in my bio to check them out!
If your brand hasn’t been updated this year… this might be your sign 👇🏻

Summer is one of the best times to refresh your branding imagery—and most people don’t take advantage of it.

Things tend to slow down just enough to step back and actually look at what your brand is communicating.

And for a lot of businesses, this is when it becomes clear:
→ the photos don’t match the level you’re operating at anymore

A mid-year refresh isn’t about starting over—it’s about making sure your visuals reflect where you are now, not where you were a year ago.

But before you even book new photos… you need clarity.

What do you want your brand to feel like?
How do you want to show up?

That’s exactly why I created my Brand Personality Workbook—to help you define that first, so your photos actually align.

📥 Grab it through the link in my bio, and then let’s plan your next session.
Shooting outdoors doesn’t always mean “perfect lighting.” 👇🏻

One of the biggest challenges with natural light is inconsistency—
skin tones can shift depending on shade, surroundings, and even reflections (hello green grass 👀).

That’s why I use off-camera flash, even outside.

It helps create:
✅ consistent skin tones
✅ balanced lighting
✅ a cleaner, more polished final image

So instead of guessing what the light is doing…
I’m controlling it.

📥 If you’re a photographer trying to figure out lighting + gear, I’ve put together a guide with the setups I actually use—link in bio.

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Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

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Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers of America PPA.
Tara is a Certified Professional Photographer.
Tara is a member of TPPA Texas Professional Photographer's Association.
Tara has earned her Master of Photography degree.
Tara has earned her Photographic Craftsman certification.
Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston PPGH.