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For most parents, high school senior portraits are a distant memory for them personally. 

Senior portraits have changed a lot over the last two decades (I am dating myself for sure on this one), incorporating more creativity and individuality than ever before.

Seniors have a lot more options available to them, ranging from traditional sessions in a studio all the way to trendy urban shoots. 

This is the perfect opportunity for seniors to showcase their unique talents, passions, and personality, while also creating a lasting memory.

However, with all the available options, portrait sessions can quickly become overwhelming for both parents and seniors. 

Here are a few quick tips to help you prepare for your child’s upcoming senior photo session.

Make a Note of the Yearbook Deadline

Knowing the yearbook deadline encourages you to schedule a senior session instead of putting it off until the last minute. 

You will be surprised how quickly this deadline can crop in the new school year. For this very reason, I encourage parents to schedule their senior’s photoshoot during the summer before their senior school year starts. Family schedules are usually lighter and you will have your professionally edited images back in plenty of time for the yearbook senior picture deadline. 

There are many reasons you will need these images for the yearbook, but the two biggest are because:
1. Some schools will sometimes allow you to add you own picture(s) to the main senior page.
2. Because many parents want to create a Congratulations Ad to commemorate all that their kid has accomplished thus far. This ad typically appears at the end of the yearbook and includes images of the senior throughout their childhood, but mostly using present year photos. 

My senior photo sessions typically start with a complementary family portrait (because this is a milestone year for the whole crew), followed by traditional and classic portraits of your senior, and concluding with creative shots that are unique to your child. 

In most instances, I deliver over 60 images and it takes about 30 days to receive your professionally edited digital pictures, so plan accordingly.

Keep Your Senior’s Schedule in Mind

As a parent of a senior or rising senior, you already know how frantic their schedules can be, especially during this final high school year. 

Before you schedule a session, sit down with your senior to discuss a good time for their photo shoot. They should be just as involved in the planning as you are. 

Know that the specific time of day matters as well when scheduling a senior session. Ideally, you want to take photos during the Golden Hour, just after sunrise and just before sunset, as this is when the lighting’s the best. However, the right photographer can make any time of the day work. Midday should be a last resort though as the lighting is far too harsh. 

Compromise with Your Child

You may have a specific idea about the photos you would like to see, but this is about your child and what makes them feel confident and comfortable. Most senior sessions allow for several outfit changes, so use this as an opportunity to find a happy balance between what you want and what your senior wants. Be patient and hear them out before you brush off their ideas. Their portraits should represent who they are at this point in their lives and what they love. 

Encourage Sharing

Prior to a senior session, get your child to open up about their passions, hopes, and dreams. This information will help guide the shoot and ensure the most authentic photos. Knowing what your senior wants these photos to represent will also guide their outfit and location choices. 

Don’t forget to include your senior in the search for a photographer – a photographer’s style needs to fit in with the images you hope to create. Check out my work and begin your senior photo session journey. I have tons of know-how and can deliver a wonderful photo experience for you and kiddo. Just reach out to get started.