After recieving a Canon EOS Digital Rebel/EOS 300D for Christmas, my dear friend asked me if I would take her senior pictures for her.

Ouch.

I have been snapping pictures since i could get my fingers wrapped around the disposable ones, to my first real camera and all of the cameras in between.. but to take her senior pictures?

Oh boy.

I feel like i know nothing. We're in Ohio- the weather is cold and there's no snow.There's an Arboreatum down the road, but where do i put her? Are there any rules of thumb i should know? When i'm done- where should i go for professional printing? What should i set my camera on to make the most of the scenery and the smile?

I'm lost, willing -but scared.. and rather exited. I need all the advice that i can get.

Thanks
Sus

I can understand your anxiety for sure! I've never had to do portraits like what you're suggesting. But this past summer I brought my camera out to all the events my friends did and it was challenging to take meaningful pictures.

While searching for photography articles on the net I did find this on istockphoto.com about Composition and Impact. Perhaps this can be of some help.

As far as what to bring to your shoot. Try to bring a tripod (especially if it's cold out), this should help reduce camera shake. If you don't have a tripod or access to one be sure to bring a nice pair of cozy gloves (I've made the mistake of forgetting mine!).

For lighting, this article may be of interest. If you can do your photo shoot in the golden hour (ie either early in the morning just after the sun rise or just before the sun is setting) that will give you some great light. If these times won't work for you you could try making your own light reflector out of tinfoil and cardboard. Tape the tinfoil carefully to the cardboard with the shiny side out. Be careful not to wrinkle the tinfoil as this will make the light reflect unevenly.

As far as posing and that sort of thing, you may find this article of interest.

Hopefully that all made sense!

All the best with your photo shoot!

photoimagery (Michael) .. has been doing school portraits for YEARS .. on a professional\volunteer basis

that's how he got his name .. the, uh, photoimagery one, not the Michael one (he never told THAT story)

Send him a PM with a link to this thread .. (It's easier to format text in the forums)

I did some wedding photos for my brother in law. There was another professional photographer there so I just followed them around and took as many photos from as many different angles as I could, many of them turned out really well... so I guess my advice is to take lots of different photos in lots of different spots in the arboreatum. Maybe you could go there with a friend and have a practice session to try and find the best locations?

There is tons of advice about this at Pro Digital Talk Forum.