PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER | DECEMBER 2019 87
Yaaassss queen!
Use slang to your advantage
When you’re working with seniors, it helps to learn some of their
lingo. The trick is to stay up-to-date enough to relate without
sounding like you’re trying too hard.CRUISE TEEN FASHION BLOGS. They’ll expose you to the
phrases of the moment, and more important, how to use them.WATCH YOUTUBE. Ask teen clients for their favorite YouTubers
and watch a few videos. “Even if I don’t like the videos, it gives
me an idea of the content my seniors are consuming,” she says.
It also provides an opportunity for her to connect if she brings
them up during sessions.READ INSTAGRAM COMMENTS. You’ll pick up everything from
popular music to fashion and gaming trends to memes.MAKE IT A JOKE. Ellis likes to make fun of herself by deliberately
using slang terms wrong. This accomplishes two things: It
makes the teen laugh and it prevents her from feeling too far out
of her element by trying to talk like a 17-year-old.DON’T GO CRAZY. If teen slang makes you cringe or you’re
afraid you’ll go too far, back off. Dip into their world just enough
to sound like you’re tuned in. Going overboard will have the
opposite effect you’re looking for. And that’s not Gucci.