PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER | DECEMBER 2019 97
in to the experience and make the most of it.”
To help bring out the beauty in each senior,
the Hayneses hired a team stylist to work
with clients. All seniors talk to her first to start
crafting their vision for their session and
creating a plan for hair, makeup, and styling.
Seniors fill out a survey designed to help
Tash and Ike learn more about them, includ-
ing insights into their overall style, favorite
music, likes and dislikes, and tidbits of in-
formation that can serve as conversation
starters. This information is helpful from an
artistic planning standpoint, and it’s also a
trust-building exercise to create a comfort-
able environment for the seniors.
“When they come in, we’ve already done
the research, so it feels like we know them
already,” says Haynes. “It shows that we’ve
done our work ahead of time, that we care.Photography can be intimidating [for the
subject]. You want to trust the person behind
the camera and know she has your best in-
terests at heart. As a photographer, when
you can demonstrate that you’re worthy of
that trust, it opens up more options and im-
proves the experience.”Starting with the end in mind
Young people can size up an adult in a matter
of seconds, Haynes points out. You can’t get
much over on them, and it’s a lot of work to
build relationships the right way. It requires
energy and intent. “If you see your business
like a retail store with an attitude of If you
want to be here you have to pay the price,
that is going to feel different than a business
where you feel like you belong,” she says.
With that in mind, Haynes believes there are