Your senior year deserves to be celebrated and commemorated, and there are so many fun ways to do this – a photo session is one of them.
If you’ve never scheduled a professional photo session before or simply want to know what to expect from a senior session, this guide covers the basics.
This is what you need to know…
The Before
- Yearbook deadlines. If your school is creating a yearbook, find out when they need your digital photo file. This will help you plan ahead.
- The location. The location of your senior session should fit in with your personality and the story you want to tell. Picture yourself doing what you love – where would that usually be? There are always lots of great location ideas to choose from.
- Sooner rather than later. Photographers get a lot of requests for senior photo sessions, so it’s best to schedule it a few months early to avoid missing out.
- The outfit. You can decide on an outfit once you’ve chosen your location, or you can do both at the same time. Your outfit should also represent who you are and fit in with the location you’ve chosen. Just make sure your outfit isn’t too distracting or it will end up being the focus of your photos.
- Hair and makeup arrangements. Don’t leave your hair and makeup arrangements for too late either. Decide on your final look and whether or not you want to do your own hair and makeup.
The During
- Set aside 2 hours. The average senior photo session takes 1 to 2 hours, so take a few hours out of your day. This should include time to get ready.
- Meeting up. On the day of your session, you will meet your photographer at your location at a specific time. There’s no need to be nervous. Your photographer is there to make sure you have a good time and get the photos you’ve envisioned.
- Prepare to change outfits. Some seniors prefer to bring along an extra outfit to change into during their shoot. This is because one outfit might look better in a certain location than another. You can discuss this with your photographer ahead of time.
- Bring some company. If having a friend or family member with you will make you feel more comfortable, bring someone along. Just don’t bring too many people or they could end up being a distraction more than anything else.
- Sign a model release. Your photographer will also require you to sign a model release form before you leave your photo session.
The After
- The wait. It takes several weeks for your photographer to complete your images, so you will need to be patient.
- Share and enjoy. Once you receive your photos, you can share and print them as you wish.
This is a basic idea of what you can expect from your senior photo session. Don’t be shy to ask your photographer more questions if you have any.
Your senior year is going to be one of the most memorable times in your life and what better way to keep those memories alive than with a senior photo session. However, your experience and photos are only as good as your photographer, so you need to choose wisely.
Luckily, it’s much easier than you might think. Here are 3 simple tips that will help.
1. Homework is a Must
Yes, it can take some time but finding the right senior photographer is well worth the effort. Along with using a trustworthy search engine, you can also do some searches on social media sites such as Instagram and Pinterest – this will give you a good idea of the photographer’s capabilities. Read through any reviews that are available as these are invaluable.
2. Stick to the Pros
It might be tempting to get a friend or amateur to take your senior photos, but it’s a huge risk. You could spend weeks planning everything from your location and outfit to the props you want to use only to be left with photos you don’t want to share. When you work with a pro, you can be sure they will understand how to translate your vision into photos you love!
3. Stick to a Senior Photographer
A photographer can have many different specialties, but it’s advisable to pick a photographer that actually photographs seniors. It’s fine if they also specialize in other forms of photography, but senior photography should be one of them. These photographers know what looks good for these types of photos, ensuring you will be happy. If you will be searching on social media, start by searching for hashtags related to seniors to help narrow down your search.
There you have it, you’re now ready to start your search.
Nobody knew the lasting effects coronavirus would have on our lives and many seniors have had to put their celebrations and plans on the backburner.
You deserve recognition and to celebrate this important milestone. So, until you can have the graduation party of your dreams, you can start planning out the specifics.
Here are the elements you need to focus on.
The Guest List
Deciding who you want to invite will help you determine whether you need a venue, entertainment, and a caterer. Do you just want it to be family or friends and family? How many people do you plan to invite? Will it be a grand party or something more intimate?
Set a Budget
Sit down with your parents and work out a budget for the party. Start by listing what is most important to you and allocating budget towards that first. Whatever is leftover can be used to pay for small extras.
Search for Venues
Many seniors choose to have their parties right at home. If you would prefer to hire a venue, start searching for something in your area that fits in with your theme and your budget. Once you have a shortlist, find out about venue hire fees and whether you have to purchase food and drinks directly from them. Being able to supply your own food and drinks always works out much cheaper.
Decide on the Food
Food that’s easy to make and eat is a popular choice for graduation parties, unless you prefer to have a more formal sit-down meal. If you are having a party at home, opt for food you can prepare the day before. The other option is to have a caterer take care of the food for you. In fact, many restaurants are catering parties now too. If you have some additional budget, you could even consider a food truck.
Plan Your Décor & Entertainment
This is one of the best parts of planning a graduation party. Once you decide on a theme, create a Pinterest board and start collecting ideas. There is so much you can create right at home without spending a fortune. Whatever theme you decide on, have fun with it and make it your own. In terms of entertainment, a good playlist is all you really need. However, if you want to go big, you could hire a local band or DJ, or set up a games area. Since you will be sharing this celebration with the people you love the most, ask your senior photographer about photo booth options too.
Remember, this is your graduation party, which means you don’t need to do what everyone else is doing. Celebrate in style, your way!
