Worst case scenario: you have a photo shoot scheduled for a certain day and it’s raining. That is what happened to me and my sweet friend who needed her senior portraits done. Thankfully, it wasn’t pouring. But it was wet and misty. And sometimes a little pouring. Here are the results.
Find outside shelter. Duh, right? But sometimes we can be quick to think if its raining, we’re forced to stay inside for photos. I wanted the photos to be outside, but didn’t want to ruin the camera. Or have a drenched student. So we went to a park with a gazebo.
Take advantage of the rainy background. Rain makes everything look more vibrant. Shoot with rain drenched nature behind your subject.
Use the umbrella. If the rain lets up a bit, venture out. Let her play, laugh, dance, and be silly. And capture it all.
And she could even use the umbrella to keep dry. I regret not taking a few with her holding the umbrella Mary Poppins style so her face would not be so lost in the dark background.
Go downtown and stick close to the store fronts. It began out of the need to stay dry, but I really liked the storefront background.
Look for color. Since the sky was gray and drab, it’s important to find other sources of color. These storefronts were perfect. Or you could always have her stand in the middle of the street.
Love those yellow lines and red brick. A lull in traffic became an obvious photographic moment. I saw the opportunity as we crossed the street. Quick! Pose!
Finally, bring along a friend to hold the umbrella. And to make the senior laugh. That always helps.
Related Photography Posts
Tips for the Lazy Photographer: A Series
Tips for the Lazy Photographer: Faces
My camera (for those curious)
Nikon D80 with a Sigma 18-200 mm lens and Nikor 50 mm lens
Way way cool! I love these pictures Emily, you did a fantastic job…looks like you both had a great time. I love that it just looks like a good time.
These are great! I love the one in the middle of the street! She looks like she is ready to conquer the world!!
They turned out beautiful! If you had not told us it was raining, I would have never guessed. And you are right about rain making nature more vibrant. The greens look amazing.
These are soooo great! You do fabulous work!
Can I hire you to do some pregnancy/baby pictures? I really would like to get some great ones of our family with the new baby when it comes! You have a little bit of time though. Baby’s not coming til October 24th.
Love the senior picutres. We will be thinking about those next year and I wish you lived closer-I so would hire you!
Cute photos! I bet she loves them!!! Very unique.
Beautiful job, Emily!
Beautiful!! Love the tips. How fun! Thank you for sharing. Blessings!
LOVE those! Oh, to go back in time 18 years (please tell me I’m not really this old) and have cool senior pictures with railroad tracks and storefronts. Mine are so cheesy and traditional.
Great photos. I’m going to find some rain!!
Great pictures! Gonna show my hubby–has a photography business and since we live far apart it won’t cut into your business but I’m gonna pass your tips along
Those turned out great. The element of rain gives them a different feel from most senior portraits.
Way to make lemonade.
Those are beautiful photos! Thank you for the tips! I even posted about your post today.
) I had to try the photo taking in the rain! I have never done that before. 
)
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne
The middle of the street one is my favorite!
My sister’s wedding photographer was glad that her wedding day was a misty day. Better photos!
Beautiful! I love the one of her holding the umbrella upside down with one foot. The green is gorgeous!
Hey, isn’t that the chick who likes my blog? And if these are senior pictures, isn’t she supposed to be punching herself in the chin or putting one foot up on a wagon wheel somewhere?
You are so getting a cranky call from Mr. Olan Mills if you keep up this kind of work, young lady.
LOVE the pictures, Emily!
You are so talented. Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing tips for us beginners!
i absolutly loove the pics efree! thank you so much for taking them! and my mom was super pleased as well. she loved them! you are wonderful! love you!
Love you too, jubilee! I’m so glad the mom was pleased. So important. *whew* sigh of relief!
What FUN! I love how you two made the best of the situation. A day filled with great memories and a good lesson learned, too
-Andrea
Beautiful work and great tips!! And hey, I recognize those nice legs on the train tracks from your last post!! I love how the two tie together!! She’s adorable.
Love them! Breathtaking!! You are so talented, Emily!
(p.s. thanks for the encouragement toward Ivoire–I love it!)
I love the pictures! They are simply beautiful. Of course it doesn’t hurt to have such a lovely subject. I always look forward to your picture posts.
pictures came out great!! i’m inspired!
Wow. Those are really good. I love it that you prove you don’t need sunshine. My favorite is the quick! pose! middle of the street one downtown. It’s all about seeing, isn’t it? But how come the chattingatthesky elf signed some of them and not others?
Oh wow your pictures look great. It helps to have a cute model. You sure did make the best of a bad situation..Missy
Emily, those are outstanding!! I love your photos…LOVE them!
My fave is definitely that umbrella shot! What a fun shoot! You have a great eye, you really do!
These are really, really great, Emily. She is just precious. Thanks for sharing these fun tips. Kelly
Hmm, that rain makes me strangely reminiscent of, oh yeah, my wedding day. Only they kept taking theumbrella away from me and there were arctic winds blowing out of the canyon. Isn’t it supposed to be warm the beginning of April? Clearly never in Utah.
I would have killed for such cool senior pictures. Something happened to my hair the day I did mine and it looked like I had a bush on my head.
If I ever talk my husband into driving out there to visit my aunt, I will beg and plead for you to take our family pictures. We need good ones.
Wow, so beautiful!!! These turned out great. Thanks so much for the tips!!
she looks beautiful. and i love the fun shots – as always!!
Yaay for the return of the photography series! Love it! Keep them coming!
Wow!! <3 Those pics are amazing! Even tho I don’t know Emily, I can tell that you captured her spirit in those. She should be very pleased with how they turned out.
I love your photos! It looks like fun was had by all. . .thanks for the photo tips, I’ll set those aside for a rainy day!
What beautiful photos! Man, senior pictures have come a long way since I had mine taken 10 years ago.
these are so great! I love the ones in the red doorway – I think you are right about shooting in the rain – the COLORS are really vibrant!
I only wish I lived nearby so you could photograph my husband and I – we desperately need a new photo..all we have are engagment and wedding photos!
great post!
ooooh! I LOVE that blue dress of hers! A classic!
Now–I have to tell you something completely unrelated but which I’ve been dying to tell you for forever because only you would appreciate it! SO,ya know my new “friend” that also happens to be a “boy” (also known as Haute Cakes)
—guess who some of his grew-up-playing-with-known-them-forever-best-kind of friends are? Benji Schwimmer and Heidi Groskreutz! (SYTYCD season 2….). I’ve met the Groskreutz’s (they go to his church) but missed my opportunity to meet Benji. Next time! How cool is that 
?!
oh, these are just stunning. stunning.
Great photos! It looks like she had so much fun!
You are SOOO talented Emily!!! These photos look fantastic, and I just LOVE how they turned out!!!! Your senior’s parents must be so pleased…you could make this a profession!!! Sure you don’t want to hop on a plane and travel the world taking photos of all your adoring fans??? Like me!!!
wonderful shots, i am learning
Jeez, can you show any more pictures of yourself…enough already, the blue dress was fine the first time, the fourth time is too much.
Uhhhh….Mary? Those are not photos of me. Clearly you didn’t read the post. She is a senior in high school. I took photos for her senior portraits.
She is too dang cute. The red background one? I took a picture of Hannah’s band standing right there. Small world, right? Super cute, Em.
Emily, these are gorgeous! I love the ones where the colors in the background pop out. I know she will be thrilled with these!