I like to think of Senior Portraits as Image Insurance.
So you have been checking out Senior Portrait Photographers all over Social Media and you think you might have found “The ONE.” Whoa, Nellie. You want to make sure you choose the best Senior Portrait Photographer for YOU. It all comes down to several factors–variety, consistency and comfort level. Lets dive a little deeper into each.
Before you make that commitment to a particular Senior Portrait Photographer, ask to see a complete session from them. Why, you ask? Here’s why:
Anyone can post a few of their Greatest Hits to a Social Media account. But what if the image they are posting is the one image that came out great and the remainder are just–meh? Most of our Senior Portrait Clients have many uses for their photos beyond just a Yearbook photo. Often they are using them for Grad Announcements, Applications, Albums, etc. So you need a variety of amazing images to choose from. If you are taking the time and money to do Senior Portraits, you want to make sure you are getting your money’s worth.
So How To Choose The Best Senior Portrait Photographer?
What should you be looking for exactly? There are so many photographers out there, it can seem very overwhelming.
Does the Senior Portrait Session Feature Variety:
You don’t want every single picture to look basically the same. Several things make up variety in any Senior Portrait Session. They include clothing, location, expression, posing, and lighting. There should also be variety in the compositions–full length, three quarters, close ups, verticals and horizontals. Here at the Studio, we plan ahead for variety by having a Consultation where we discuss clothing and location options. We also want to know if there is anything special you have in mind–we love a creative challenge! In fact, I am such a stickler on variety, that I rarely photograph in the same places during the year–I want everyone to have a unique look for their Senior Pictures.
Is the Photographer Consistent?
What do I mean about Consistency? Consistency is easier to spot when you look at an entire session as opposed to the best images from every session. The images in a session should all be consistently well posed, well lit, and flattering to the subject. The images should all be in FOCUS–believe it or not, I have seen some pretty “interesting” things in my day.
Do You Feel Comfortable with the Photographer?
Every Photographer works differently and comports themselves differently. It is very important to talk to your Senior Portrait Photographer ahead of time and have a consultation to be sure you feel comfortable with them. After all, if you feel uncomfortable, it will definitely show in the final product.
To wrap it up, take some time investigating who you want to work with for your Senior Portraits.
Our Senior Portraits–Variety and Consistency Highlighted
Here are some of the Seniors we photographed last year:
And here is a complete “typical” session for us. We began at our indoor studio with a traditional “drape” shot, then went outdoors to a Nature Preserve. We used a variety of locations and clothing options to create unique images for Sophia. In addition to her yearbook photo, we created an album for her. You can see that in addition to variety, the images are consistently of high quality.
As you can see, there is more to Senior Portrait Photography than just posting a couple of cool images on Instagram. Think carefully about who you are hiring because your Senior Portraits are your Image Insurance.
If you are ready to book your Senior Session, please call us at (518) 584-4237 today or use our Contact Form.
You might also want to check out our FAQs for Senior Portraits.
