Engaging an apathetic teenager

[snowfalldesigns]

I have a senior session coming up in a few weeks with a male teen who I know to very much a bump-on-a-log...
The session will be at his parent's farm where he is comfortable and I'm going to limit the session to about an hour (they aren't needing a full session) so he doesn't get sick of it.
My plan is to try and engage him by getting him to do some crazy and fun stuff (I don't know specifically what yet...but I'll come up with it while I'm there) but do you have any other tips for engaging a teen who really doesn't want to be there...especially when it is all focused on him??

[Niresangwa]

Not sure if you have time to do this, but get him to provide shots from magazines/internet that he likes. Everyone has a hero, and it will give him a sense of input into it. Aside from that just expect to do a lot of straight-faced shots where he's looking all mysterious and sh!t...

...as far as fun goes, I"m guessing anything you come up with as fun to stimulate him, is going to be anything but in his eyes.

[snowfalldesigns]

Ha! Yeah, I was thinking the same about the pissed off looks....I had a session a long time ago with a guy that was really uncomfortable but we got a lot of the good sullen stuff....

I typically have the advantage of looking like a teenager so I don't come off as some uncool old lady. I figured I would let him take the lead and kind of "dare" him to try some "fun" stuff. I like the suggestion of the magazines. He at least knows he wants to have some with his guitar so that gives me a little start.

[Isiliel]

What would be more fun than teaching him a few things on photography?
What if you hand him a spare camera and engage him to take pictures of you or of something else.

If you teach him a few things about portraits, maybe he will act differently for his own portraits.

(Maybe dumb idea, but I thought I'd share nevertheless).

[oldwolf]

Find out what he likes to do.