Preparing for your Senior Portraits

The time has finally come. Your senior portraits will be due in the fall upon entering your final year of high school. We know there is a lot happening this year and we want to ensure your senior pictures are not something you have to worry about. Here are our top tips for creating amazing senior portraits this year.

Choosing the right photographer

You are here so we are hoping that you have chosen us for your senior pictures but if not, we are here to help make that precess easier for you.
Choosing the right photographer comes down to three main things: Style, Price and Personality.

Style: You must first like the style of photos your photographer provides. We recommend creating a mood board of inspiration. A mood board is a series of photos that match the style you want from your portraits. Once you have a mood board the process begins on finding a photographer that matches this style. Head to google or Facebook and begin searching local photographers in the area. Browsing the photographers website, Facebook or instagram should give you an indicator if their style of shooting and editing matches your mood board.

Price: Next comes price. Does this photographer match the price you are wanting to spend for senior portraits. Most photographers have a few packages available. This is because we know that not everyone can afford a top tier package but maybe you like the photographers style so much you are ok booking a shorter session with them. Typically senior portraits range from $250 - $800 in the Pueblo Colorado area. I say typically cause some can run higher and some can be far less. We strongly suggest doing research if you find a photographer offering you everything you can dream of for only $100. Not saying photographers don’t charge this but $100 for senior portraits tend to be of lesser quality, slower turnaround times or inconsistent editing. Luckily we have done the research for you and know that spending $250 - $800 is a sweet spot for paying. There are lots of great options to choose from, including us.

Personality: Finally, you must click with your photographer. You senior must click with photographer. A photographer that is older might not appeal to a super trendy senior. A photographer that is super loud and in your face might not be the right fit for a senior that is shy. You can get a great feel for your photographer based on their website, Facebook and instagram. You can see photos of them, hear how they speak and see reviews from other clients. Make sure you and your photographer vibe well.
From here, it is about the booking process. Get on their calendar as early as possible. Most parents don’t worry about senior portraits until school gets back in session. The problem with this is most of the major companies in the area are fully booked. This means you are left paying premium prices to get on their calendar or you are left with the photographers promising you the world and under delivering.

Style

Once your photographer is booked it is time to decide on outfits. Typically depending on the time you book your photographer for you can get in between 1-3 outfit changes. This could also depend on your senior and their personality. Let’s go through some tips.

Guys - More times than not, guys prefer only 1-2 outfit changes. Usually this consists of jeans, t-shirt and sneakers for one set of photos and the second outfit tends to be jeans, nicer shoes and a button up shirt. This is a quick change for guys and allows them to have two looks in no time. Some guys prefer a full suit and tie with a more casual look. The choice is yours. We recommend avoiding clothes with major brand names plaster on them or anything that can be identified as negative in society.

Gals - For our females we tend to go with 2-3 outfits on most occasions. Outfit one will tend to be a dress. If planning a dress we highly recommend wearing shorts under them for comfort and to avoid showing too much. The second outfit usually ends up being a more casual look of jeans and a nice top. After these two outfits it is up to your senior on the next outfits. If they are involved in a sport or extra curricular activity often times seniors will bring these outfits to get a few shots with.

Accessories: Accessories are a great addition to style. Hats, instruments, sports equipment, a pet, a car/truck all make great accessories and really showcase your seniors personality. Think about a few unique items that are special to your senior and have them bring them.

Location

Finally, you and your senior should be deciding on location. Location plays a vital role in the outcome of senior portraits. Do they like a city or nature vibe are the two main questions. Once this has been decided it comes down to personal preference. Does a particular spot mean something to them? Do they have a spot they picnic at and want to go here. We have a ton of great recommendations HERE. Choose a location that your senior is comfortable with. If you and your senior are ready to go all out you can always book a 2 hour package and get two amazing locations.

Wrap up

Alright, you have concurred everything up to this point. The only thing left to do is book your senior portraits. Hopefully we have made this an easy process for you. We would love to connect more with you and book your senior. Our calendar is open and we are now accepting senior bookings. Reach out to create something truly EPIC for you and your senior.