Hi everyone! Well, 2021 is here…it’s a new year and that means that a lot of us are starting to think ahead to the plans that we have for the coming months. One of the biggest annual milestones that will be here before we know it is the celebration of our graduating High School seniors. Ahem…before I continue and we all please take one moment to give a HUGE shout out to all of our 2021 grads, their families, and their teachers?! To say that this graduating class is unlike any other is a huge understatement and I have SO.MUCH.RESPECT. for all they have and will continue to overcome. If you’re reading this and you are a grad, or the parent of a grad, or the teacher of a grad…THANK YOU! Thank you for leading the way through unprecedented times with such grace and courage. You are my hero.

As a photographer I have the privilege of partnering with families to capture and celebrate their grads. One of my favorite things about partnering with grads and their families is hearing about their dreams and plans for the future. It’s in getting to know a little about each client before our photo session together that really helps me to tailor their photos to them. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good pose and I love watching trends in photography. But at the end of the day I really don’t like (dare I say… I loathe) “cookie cutter” photos. I believe that each person is unique and thus their photos should be unique.

So, what does it take to capture your very best Senior portraits? Well, I’m so glad that you asked because I have some great tips that I’d love to offer…

1. Select a photographer who you (our grad and their parent(s)) are comfortable working with. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned over the past few months, it is that there are a lot of great photographers out there. Each with their own unique personality, style and business practices. Many photographers these days offer free consultations before you actually schedule (and submit a deposit for) your session and I think this is SUCH a great resource to you as a client. The goal of a consult isn’t to try and sell you something, but rather to give you a chance to actually meet the photographer (these days most often via Zoom or FaceTime) and share with them your goals/desires for the photo session as well as to ask any questions you may have. Now, before you give me that look and say “Glynnis…meeting people via Zoom and FaceTime is awkward…” let me just challenge you with one thing that I absolutely know to be true: if you don’t feel comfortable around your photographer that will absolutely be reflected in your photos leaving you less than fully satisfied with them. So pretty, pretty please do yourself the favor and embrace the first 1-2 minutes of awkwardness as you’re meeting your photographer over a video chat for a consultation. I would be willing to bet that within a few minutes you’ll be able to tell if they’re the right fit for you. Best case scenario: you’ve found your photographer and you can begin planning your Senior Session. Worst case scenario: you’ve invested a few moments of your time but now know that you need to go back to the drawing board of looking for someone to partner with.

2. Give yourself time to plan. I love a good impromptu photo shoot (believe me, my poor children fall victim to it all the time – ha ha) but when it comes to your Senior Portraits you definitely want to give yourself as much time as you can to plan ahead.  Many photographers have a limit on how many Senior Sessions they will schedule in a certain time period, allowing them to serve each client well, so if there’s someone who you really have your heart set on working with be sure to reach out with plenty of time to plan in both of your schedules. Generally speaking, I recommend scheduling your Senior Session 6-8 weeks in advance.

3. Consider elements worth investing in. Once you start the planning process for your Senior Session you will likely start to consider what items you’d like to invest in for your photos. For example, will you buy a new outfit (or two :)) to wear? Will you have your hair and make-up done professionally? Is there a certain location that you’d really like to use but requires a small fee for rental? All of these are details that can really enhance the look of your photos. I recommend creating a Pinterest board with Senior Portraits that you love and after you have a dozen or so pinned go back and look to see what the common threads are. For example, if you pin five photos of a girl wearing a hat…maybe you should consider investing in a super cute hat for your pictures (if you don’t have one already ;-)). Also, don’t be afraid to ask your photographer if they have any suggestions on how to incorporate the elements from your wish list into your photos without breaking the bank. For example, I’ve seen time and time again how much my clients love the results of having their hair and make-up professionally done for their photo session. So, I’ve recently started a partnership with local beauty experts who I know will take great care of my clients and (drum roll please) they have special rates that they offer exclusively for my clients (cue the happy dance)! So don’t be afraid to ask what referrals your photographer may be able to offer you…they’ve likely already spent a great deal of time researching those same resources themselves and would be happy to connect you.

4. Capture YOU. This probably goes without saying, but I also feel like it’s so important to say, that at the end of the day your photos should capture the essence of the one who we’re all celebrating: you. Going back to back to my first point about working with someone who you’re comfortable with, a good photographer (at least in my opinion) won’t be offended by your honestly and authenticity. It’s super important that you be able to be open and honest with them about what you’re looking for. I always tell my clients, both in our pre-session consult and before we begin on the day of their photo session, that they have full liberty to let me know if I’ve missed some photos that they really wanted to capture or if we’re starting to go down a road that just isn’t them. I love leading my clients well (I’m rarely at a loss for suggestions when it comes to photography), but I also love having their input. So don’t be afraid to speak up throughout the whole process to help your photographer better understand who you are and what you’re hoping to capture in your photos.

Well grads (and parents if you’re reading this), this is all for now. If no one has told you lately, we are proud of you – yes, even you mom (especially you, mom ;-)). You’re overcoming challenges that no other graduating class has and with a lot more grace than most people have these days. Keep your heads up and remember that your best days are ahead of you!

Sincerely,

Glynnis