The frenzy for senior pictures has
certainly set in. With seniors from
all over the school — and all over
the country — flocking to photographers
for quality shots, senior Maddie Hall saw
an opportunity to turn her hobby into a
business, and capitalized on it.
“The business started after I advertised
on my Instagram that I would take senior
pictures for a low price,” Hall said. “I
didn’t think that so many people would
ask me, even people that I don’t know.
However, becoming very busy with it
forced me to think about it as more of a
business by setting prices and being more
professional.”
Hall certainly has amassed an audience
for her shots, after taking over 14
senior’s pictures, with clients lined up
through the rest of the month. But, what
is it that makes Hall’s pictures so popular?
The way Hall has set up a personal
relationship with her clients has made the
shoot more organic and fluid for more
realistic and personable facial expressions.
“It was just nice that we already had
an established relationship where she felt
comfortable telling me these things and
I knew she was saying it to be constructive,”
senior Alexis Livingston said. “We
were laughing the entire shoot, and I
think that made my photos turn out better
because I was genuinely happy and my
smiles were not forced, rather a product
of the fun we were having.”
This process of focusing on the client’s
facial expression, personality type, and
her attention to detail is what makes
Hall’s photo process much more personal
and pleasurable to the clientele.
“If the client is more of a serious
person, I might do a close up with a more
serious facial expression,” Hall said. “If
they are a silly person, I might take some
candid laughing pictures. The location is
also unique to the photo. There is a huge
difference between a photo in the city
and a photo in the park.”
Location of the photos seems to define
the pictures themselves, as it provides not
only the backdrop and scenery but the
lighting and environments the clients will
be surrounding themselves in.
“I leave it up to the client to decide
where they want their pictures taken,”
Hall said. “I’ve done photo shoots from
everywhere to downtown, to people’s
homes, but I always set up my shots
by looking for shade and a background
that doesn’t clash with what the client is
wearing.”
Her clients appreciate this careful
preparation and willingness to adapt.
“She did a really good job with
lighting and timing because as the sun
started to go down she would move me
to certain places to make sure it was a
good picture,” senior Braiden Blatt said.
“She could just tell me what looked good
without it being awkward.”
Something to note as well; it is just
Maddie and her camera. No fancy equipment
or special lighting. She has created
a business from the Canon across her
neck and the 50mm f/1.8 lens attached to
it. Not even a tripod. Because her lens of
choice has no zoom, and her decision to
not use a tripod, Hall herself is constantly
moving ensuring that she captures all
angles and uses every opportunity to get
the perfect shot.
“I differ from other photographers who
do seniors pictures in the composition
and mood of my images,” Hall said. “I try
to photograph people in the most comfortable
and organic way as possible.”
Being comfortable with the photographer
seems to be a key reason for Hall’s
success. Her clients feel that it contributes
to the authenticity of her comments and
helps make the process less of a struggle
for both parties.
“The shoot was unique in a sense that
it was more of hanging out too and I just
felt comfortable with her,” Parkway West
senior Jenny Chai said. “She really is an
awesome photographer and is great with
making natural poses, especially when
you’re awkward like me.”
The creativity that created a senior
picture business was ignited during Hall’s
time in the photography classes she took.
“Photo class has allowed me to experiment
with different film and digital
processes, while becoming a more skilled
photographer,” said Hall. “I use the skills
I learned in photo class when taking
senior pictures and I probably wouldn’t
have this business if I didn’t take a photo
class each year.”
With Hall’s success already apparent,
it will be interesting to watch where her
career will take her and what other moments
she will be able to capture.