There are a number of decisions you need to make when planning a senior photo session and choosing a location is one of them. You can’t choose just any location either – it needs to fit in with your personality and the style of your shoot.
Here are a few tips to help you narrow down your options a little quicker.
- Decide what you want your photos to say about you. Who are you? Do you love the outdoors, art, sports? Are you a bit of a flower child? By jotting down the things you love, a few location ideas should spring to mind. Your photos need to showcase your personal style, so choose your location accordingly.
- Look for locations with different features. To ensure your photographer can capture a variety of photos, look for a location with different spots and features. Examples of features include fences, trees, a swing, water or anything that could act as a backdrop.
- Find out about possible restrictions. If you’re considering using a commercial location, find out whether you need a permit to take photos. Keep in mind that permits can sometimes take several weeks to process.
- Consider timing. Some locations are busier than others and if you want to avoid crowds of people, you will need to time your shoot well. It’s better to have as little people in the background of your photos as possible.
- Lighting matters too. Natural light is a must for photos, including your senior portraits. You could have the best background, but if the lighting is bad, you won’t get the best results. It’s also important to remember that you might need to time your shoot around the best lighting.
- Decide what you want to wear. The outfit you choose for your senior photo session also matters when choosing a location. For example, wearing an evening dress to the park doesn’t exactly work very well. Your outfit should also match your personality, so decide on this before you start looking at locations.
- Get creative. There are no set rules when it comes to choosing a location for your photo session. Get creative, think outside the box, and choose a location that suits you. Ask around about interesting venues, take a drive through your city, or turn to Pinterest for some inspiration.
If all else fails, explain your vision to your photographer – they will have a number of location suggestions to offer.
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.
