Part of what I love about photographing high school seniors is capturing their individuality. It’s not the same pose in the same location (or gasp, backdrop). It’s getting to know them, their personality, their interests. Not everyone is a naturally smiley person. And so if you’re not a smiley person, it doesn’t make sense to force a canned smile for a picture. It won’t feel great doing it, and it won’t look like you. Which brings me to my session with Jake, a senior at Oakmont Regional High School. His mom said that we completely captured him. Not a forced-smile version of him, but him. Laid-back, a little stoic, and a genuinely great guy.