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If you are a High School Senior or the parent of a Senior, you are probably a little overwhelmed at how fast the time has gone and all of the events, activities and things to do during that last year of high school and in preparation for college. Luckily, with just a little planning, your Senior photos don’t need to be a stressful part of that. Many Seniors (and/or their parents) don’t know where to start with this process though and have no idea how to figure out what they want their senior photos to even look like. Here are some tips to make everything run smoothly and not only create perfect senior portraits, but have a fun experience doing it!

Research

• Go on Pinterest, check out your friends’ senior photos, get an idea of what you like and don’t like.
• What Season do you want to do them in? Fall is a popular time because it is cooler and if you live in a a place where the colors change with the season you might have beautiful backdrops to choose from. But having a summer or spring session can offer some great backgrounds too.
• What “look” or “feeling” do you want? This will help you narrow down your location. Do you want a nature background or the urban feel of brick, steel, and graffiti? Maybe a manicured park with a rose garden for something in between or better yet…somewhere personal to you. A special family or personal location ads meaning to your photos whether it is a favorite ice cream shop, family farm, or a baseball field you played on for years. Obviously your high school is a great place to capture the “Senior You” too!
• Keep your locations in mind when planning your outfits and vice-versa. If you are going to shoot in a green place like a park or woods, consider a color that will contrast and stand out. If you want to use something busy like graffiti in the background, plan an outfit with solid colors instead of prints. Sometimes it’s fun to use outfits that are complete opposite of your location as far as style, like a prom dress in an urban alley.
• What props will you bring. Props aren’t absolutely necessary for your Senior Session, but can add a personal touch to your photos and help tell your story. They also often help with posing and figuring out “what to do with your hands”! Even if you are unsure about bringing props or how they would work in your session, bring anything that might represent you and who you are at this time in your life. I’ve had seniors bring sports equipment, uniforms, trophies and medals, class rings and letter jackets, poetry books, musical instruments, paint brushes and sketch books, cupcakes, a Bible, and even a HORSE!

What to Wear

I usually tell my clients to wear whatever feels like “them” and who they want to show off in their photos. Even if that version of them isn’t one they get to be often (dressed up, etc.). If your session allows time for outfit changes (which I recommend), a good rule of thumb is to bring 1 casual outfit, 1 dressy and 1 personal (uniform, prom dress, cap and gown, etc.).

Choosing a Photographer

Now that you have an idea of what you want your photos to look like, it’s time to find the right photographer to accomplish that. With more photographers in the industry than ever before to choose from, how do you decide? Here are some factors that I call “The Three P’s” to consider:

• Packages Available~ Look at what packages each photographer offers and if they will work with your vision. Are there multiple session lengths available? Can you choose multiple locations and outfit changes? What is included in the packages? Do you get digital images or can you purchase them separately? Can prints and other products be ordered directly through them? Will you get printing rights to print elsewhere?
• Price~ Obviously price is a consideration for most people. When comparing prices of photographers though, make sure you are also comparing packages and everything mentioned above. A one hour session with one photographer may be more expensive than another photographer, but you may get a lot more for that money and not have to spend as much on the back end when it comes times to order prints, etc.
• Portfolio ~ Check out the photographer’s work on their website and other social media platforms. Spend some time on this. Just because you see a few photos that you like doesn’t mean you should stop looking. Look at many examples of their work. Any photographer can have a good session or two but you want to make sure their work consistently meets your needs and desired style. How is the lighting? Do you love their “editing” style and is it consistent? You want to make sure you know that you can expect the same level of quality for your session. Have they worked with a lot of High School Seniors?

What will you do with your Images?

I saved what might be the best and most important tip for last, but you probably should start with this question when planning your High School Senior Session. What are you going to do with your images afterwards? Do you want wallets to hand out at your graduation party? Maybe a large print or canvas for the wall? Graduation Announcements and party invites? What about an album or small coffee table book to keep out or save for a keepsake. Maybe you want to order a variety of prints for yourself and other family members. Thinking about this question can help you decide everything above. Picture those portraits on the wall or those wallets you are handing out to friends. What are you wearing in them? What does the background look like? Does it match the decor in your home? Will you look back on them many years from now and remember everything you loved about your senior year and who you were then?

If you are in the Kansas City area I would LOVE to be a part of your High School Senior Photo Experience! www.heathernealphotography.com

Beautiful and affordable canvases to showcase your photos: