Let’s be real.

You want amazing senior pictures of your son.

But your son would rather do approximately 147 other things than spend an evening getting his picture taken while you stand behind the photographer begging and pleading, “Can you please just give her ONE real smile?”

I get it. Truly, I do. I am a boy mom. When I bring out my camera, my boys yell “Run! It’s the Paparazzi!”

For a lot of senior guys, taking senior pictures ranks somewhere between cleaning their room and going to the dentist. They know the photos need to happen. Mom definitely knows the photos need to happen. But are they counting down the days until their senior photo session?

Probably not.

The good news? Senior pictures for guys don’t have to be awkward, painful, or an all-night production. Colorado senior pictures for guys can be relaxed, adventurous, and actually reflect who your son is—without forcing him through hours of awkward poses and fake smiles.

My goal as a Castle Rock senior photographer is to make the whole experience relaxed, easy, and—dare I say it—actually kind of fun-ish.

We’ll choose a Colorado location that feels like him, keep the posing natural, incorporate the things he loves, and get you the photos you want without making him feel like he’s competing on America’s Next Top Model.

And if he walks away saying, “Well, that wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” I’m calling that a win.

First Things First: Pick the Right Senior Photo Session

Not every senior wants a two-hour photo shoot with six outfit changes.

And that’s okay.

Some seniors love the whole experience. They want multiple locations, lots of outfits, and plenty of time in front of the camera. The hair and the make-up.. the whole shebang.

Other seniors—especially some of my senior guys—are perfectly happy with:

“Can we just get this done?”

Yep. We can.

That’s exactly why I offer different senior session options. A shorter senior session can be perfect for the guy who wants great photos without making an entire evening out of it.

The important thing is choosing a session that fits your senior’s personality, not what you think senior pictures are supposed to look like.

Less time doesn’t mean boring photos. With the right location and a little planning, we can create plenty of variety without dragging things out.

Choose a Location That Actually Feels Like Him

Colorado gives us a pretty unfair advantage when it comes to senior pictures.

We’ve got mountains. Golden fields. Pine trees. Red rocks. Creeks. Downtown streets. Urban architecture. And some pretty epic Colorado sunsets.

The key is finding a location that matches your senior.

If he’s an outdoorsy kid who spends every free weekend hiking, camping, fishing, or snowboarding, let’s head somewhere with a mountain backdrop.

If mountains aren’t his thing, that’s fine too. Maybe an urban session with brick buildings, murals, and downtown streets feels more like him.

Does he love the water? Let’s find a creek or lake.

When planning Colorado senior pictures for guys, I love choosing locations that give seniors something to do and plenty of room to move around. Whether we’re exploring a mountain trail, hanging out by the water, or wandering through a cool urban area, the right location can make the entire experience feel less like a photo shoot and more like an adventure.

And here’s a little secret: Guys tend to relax a lot faster when they’re in an environment where they feel comfortable.

He Does Not Need to Know How to Pose

This is probably one of the biggest concerns I hear about senior pictures.

“My son is awkward in front of the camera.”

Welcome to the club.

Most people are. Believe it or not, I am too.

You do not need to arrive knowing what to do with your hands. You don’t need to practice your smile in the mirror. And you definitely don’t need a secret modeling career you forgot to mention.

I will tell you what to do. And it you don’t feel comfortable, we find something that does make you comfortable. I you don’t feel comfortable, you will look awkward in your photos.

Where to stand. Where to look. What to do with those hands. When to walk. When to laugh. When to give me the serious look that Mom will inevitably love.

My approach to senior photography is relaxed and natural. I’ll give you enough direction that you never feel like you’re standing there wondering what the heck you’re supposed to do, but I also don’t want every photo to look stiff and overly posed.

The goal is for you to look like you and feel like you.

Just, you know… on a really good day.

Wear Clothes You Actually Like

Senior pictures are probably not the time for Mom to introduce an entirely new fashion personality.

If your son lives in jeans and a T-shirt, putting him in an outfit he would never voluntarily wear isn’t necessarily going to make him feel confident in front of the camera.

Start with clothes that feel like him.

A nice pair of jeans or pants with a simple shirt, sweater, flannel, or jacket can photograph beautifully. Layers are especially great for Colorado senior pictures because they add texture and give us easy ways to change up a look without a complete outfit change.

And yes, Mom, you can encourage him to wear one nice outfit.

Consider it a compromise.

If your session allows for multiple outfits, we can start with something a little more polished and then switch to something casual that feels more like his everyday style.

Everybody wins.

Bring the Things That Tell His Story

Senior pictures should document more than what your son looked like during senior year.

They should capture a little bit of who he was.

Is he a football player? Bring the jersey.

Plays guitar? Bring it.

Obsessed with his truck or car? Let’s incorporate it.

Plays video games? I’ve photographed a senior with his game controller.

Heading off to a favorite college next year? Bring the shirt or hat.

Has a dog that’s been by his side since elementary school?

Please. Bring. The. Dog.

As the owner of an English Cream Golden Retriever who has basically appointed himself Chief Adventure Officer of Jodi Crawford Photography, I’m always on Team Bring the Dog.

Want to know more about Grizz? Read about him here on my About Page or follow him on my Instagram page. But I digress…

These personal details are what make senior photos meaningful years from now. They capture this weird, wonderful in-between season when your son is finishing high school and getting ready for whatever adventure comes next.

Moms, You Are Allowed to Get a Little Sentimental

I know this photo session may feel like another item on the senior-year checklist.

Senior pictures. ✔️

Yearbook photo. ✔️

Graduation announcements. ✔️

Try not to cry every time someone mentions graduation.

Still working on that one. But here’s the thing. Your son is about to change. Life is about to change. Maybe he’s heading to college. Maybe he’s starting a career. Maybe he’s joining the military, learning a trade, or figuring out what’s next.

Whatever his path looks like, this version of him—the high school senior standing on the edge of adulthood—is only here for a little while.

That’s why these photos matter.

Someday, the picture you love most might not be the perfectly posed one where he’s looking at the camera. It might be the one where he’s laughing. The one with his dog. The one where you can see that familiar expression you’ve watched a thousand times since he was little.

That’s the good stuff.

Want to Sneak in a Family Photo? I Support This Decision.

If everyone is already dressed and your senior is already in front of my camera, this can also be the perfect opportunity to grab a few family photos.

Because let’s face it: getting everyone dressed, looking presentable, and in the same place at the same time is practically an Olympic event.

Adding a short family session to the end of your senior’s session lets us document your family during this milestone without planning an entirely separate photo shoot. And when your senior leaves home someday, you might be especially glad you did.

If you are interested in adding on a family photo session at the end of a family session, that is right up my alley. Check out the add-ons at my website here.

Senior Pictures Don’t Have to Be a Big Production

If your son is already dreading senior pictures, here’s what I want him to know:

We’re going to keep this easy.

We’ll pick a great location.

I’ll tell you exactly what to do.

You can wear clothes you actually like.

You don’t have to fake some giant cheesy smile for an hour.

And I promise I won’t make you frolic through a meadow.

Unless you’re into that.

Then, by all means, frolic away.

Ready to Check Senior Pictures Off the List?

If you’re searching for Colorado senior pictures for guys and want a photographer who understands that your son might not be jumping up and down with excitement about senior pictures, you’ve come to the right place. My goal is to make the experience easy, relaxed, and completely personalized to him.

I photograph high school seniors throughout Castle Rock, Douglas County, Denver, Golden, Boulder, Colorado Springs and the surrounding Colorado areas, with session options ranging from quick and easy to full Colorado adventures.

We’ll find a location that feels like your senior, put on some music, keep things relaxed, and create photos that both Mom AND senior will be happy with.

Because senior pictures don’t have to be painful.

They just have to feel like him.

And Mom? You get the photos.

Everybody wins.

Ready to get senior pictures booked and officially check them off the senior-year to-do list? Let’s plan your senior’s Colorado adventure. Contact me here.

Jodi Crawford Photography
Photography for the Wild-Hearted 🌿📸

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