5 Easy Steps to Take Fun, Quirky, Memorable Prom Photos Simply

Whatever your occasion, you will capture great photos by following these simple steps.

My daughter Emma and I have a love infested relationship. We don't do much of the arguing, nit-picky stuff I hear from my friends and their daughters. We usually enjoy being together and since senior prom only happens once, I wanted to document it and document it I did.

Along the way, though, I learned how to get some priceless photos that go beyond the "here we are, standing in our front yard, getting ready to go to prom!" photos. Speaking of which, sorry, Beyunca, back in your day I didn't know any better.

Under each photo, I have a tip for you to try as you are chasing after your child (or friend) trying to get a great capture. These tips actually work for any occasion so use them whether its a birthday party or just being with friends.

If you are capturing an event like the prom, start before the event starts.

We learned from Katherine's shopping expedition five years earlier some stores won't allow photos inside, so be sure to take a photo outside the store. It may seem silly now, but years in the future you will be asking. "What was that store again?" and you can go back into your albums and remember.

Ruth is a freshman at BHS and she is a visual artist and does a great turn with a makeup brush. I paid her for her skills. We pushed past the "starving artist belief" right away for this sweet girl. And Emma enjoyed the outcome.

Document the steps along the way - and show appreciation and gratitude to those who get you there.

Set the stage for playful, again, before you even begin. The kids came out of the store and I was ready. Strike a pose!

People will give you what you ask for so if you want to capture something in particular, ask for it and then clickety click click. Sometimes the best stuff will come after they've tried to give you what you want and then relax into it.

Sometimes the conventional works really well. Don't shy away from being normal... well, sometimes.

Give yourself time for a "photo taking field trip." No matter where you live, there is a place with interesting backgrounds. Here in Bakersfield we have Hart Park. Our plan was to feed the ducks, which we did... but the light and the ducks didn't cooperate very well. This tower was included in our "Plan B" and along the way we found incredible spots for playful engagement. Be open and scan the horizon for surprising spots and yes, incredible light.

This is one of my favorites. Emma and her date are both performers (they were both in "Little Shop of Horrors" recently. I gave them the direction to "look away" and probably shouted out some other stuff, but they trust themselves enough to step into the emotional moment and I love the insecurity on their faces and in this pose. So true to teen years, yes?

Give simple directions as you shoot, but go deeper if you feel called. Trust your gut with the direction you give and the outcome may surprise you. I had a vague idea of what I was getting, but the real surprise came later. I like it when that happens.

Yes, one of the whitest girls you'll find proclaiming her kinship with the thug life. Love graffiti - this photo feels like quite a collaboration. I only just noticed the sweet "Sarah" lettering under the thug. Collaboration at its finest.

Collaborate with the surroundings you find yourself in. This graffiti proved to be magnetic.

Remember, it is about the journey. On our way to conventional, we laughed and laughed and laughed and these photos... are... fabulous.

Emma has a contagious laugh as does Markelle. I love that I got these laughing photos instead of getting frustrated because I wasn't getting "the shot I wanted."

We initially came to Hart Park to take photos deeding the ducks. Well, the ducks didn't cooperate... and we got some great photos, anyway

Be prepared with Plan B (and C and D) and also be prepared for Plan E and F to be best of all and trump your other ideas.

I could fill oodles of blog posts with more great shots I got on this short jaunt to the park, but instead I will leave you with a few last tips.

1. Relax. Start with some trial shots and encourage warm ups. Our photos got better as we went along and the kids felt more comfortable. This is the case no matter what we are doing: working out, singing, taking photos.

2. Encourage laughter and out-and-out playfulness. There are no wrongs with poses or facial expressions.

3. Clickety click click. Don't get frustrated with the shots that aren't happening, enjoy the shots that are happening. They may turn out better than anything you could have planned.

4. Affirm your models. Instead of offering don'ts, offer do's. Encourage rather than critique. Keep clicking.

5. Move locations if the one you are in isn't working. Some of my favorite spots didn't work. I needed to let go and let the perfect places find us.

I'm linking up with my friend Jen's Friday Photo Link up. Pop over there and check out the incredible photos and link up yourself. Jen has some fine shots of Mississippi Magnolia season.

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Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via her programs, playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world.  She is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed-media artist  whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people's creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming in Spring, 2015 and beyond.

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