Getting your senior pictures taken

This is the time of year high school seniors are getting their senior pictures taken. Senior pictures aren’t what they used to be.

When I had my senior pictures taken way back when, the trend was moving to outdoor pictures. But way before that senior pictures were taken much as official business head shots are taken today. That essentially is standing in front of a neutral colored backdrop and the picture is taken.

I remember enjoying my own senior portrait session. I went to a photography studio with a couple changes of clothes. We went outside and got some great shots. Outside pictures are the norm today for most senior portraits, though some seniors have a blend of indoor and outdoor shots taken.

Fastforward to 2015. What are the trends today? Well for one, families are dropping some serious money for high school senior pictures. They are hiring expensive photographers who charge a few hundred for the session alone, then sell you prints for hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Some photographers do it up big, offering makeup sessions for the girls and elaborate settings and poses. I’ve even heard of destination senior picture sessions.

What’s the best thing to look for when you get your senior pictures? Essentially, seniors want to look good, so look for a photographer who can make them look good. This likely will require some facial retouching. While high school seniors may not have wrinkles to smooth, many have blemishes that should be removed from faces. No high school senior wants to look back on their senior pictures and see themselves with an obvious pimple on their forehead.

Find a photographer who will provide guidance on clothing and allow seniors to bring several options. Seniors should be permitted to bring props if they desire. For example, I recently took photos of a girl with her trombone. Her changes of clothing included her cheerleader uniform.

Seniors should be allowed to bring items that have some significance to them. For athletes, this could mean a ball or some other prop that they use in their sport.

Expect a senior picture session to take at least two hours. Photographers should allow for at least two locations. Possible options include park, a city landscape or even the senior’s own home. Something more out of the ordinary may be a sports stadium, a school gymnasium or even the school locker room.

Today’s seniors are bright, adventurous and innovative, and they want their senior portraits to reflect that. They definitely don’t want the business head shot look. Be creative when it comes to your senior pictures and look for a photographer who can bring that creativity out. When that happens, getting your senior pictures taken will be a wonderful experience.