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Health & Fitness

What exactly are senior portraits, and why are they such a big deal?

Professional portrait photographer Maris Ehlers shares how to go about choosing the senior porrtait photographer that is right for you.

If you are any where near my age, you remember your senior portraits (barely). They weren't a big deal, and the whole process wasn't very exciting. 

Your mom schlepped you to the local studio and guys wore a suit for one and maybe a dress shirt and pants for the other (if you wanted to be outside the box, maybe you wore a sweater over your shirt).  Girls wore a dress for one and if the photog was REALLY upscale, they had you put on one of those traingular "collar" things (I obviously can't remember what they are called), that was almost off the shoulders but not quite, but that ensured you looked all "graduation and adult-like".  

Today, it's an entirely different deal, and the idea of it all can be very overwhelming for both parents and kids, especially with the barrage of flyers and cards sent to your mailbox.  

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Why Do We Need Senior Portraits and What is the Big Deal? 

Senior portraits are about celebrating a life stage - for many teens, their entire senior year is filled with milestones, and it is definitely one worth noting and celebrating in many ways, including portraiture. It's their last year of high school, but so much more.  It is also typically their last year with the friends they grew up with, their last year at home (it will never be the same, even if they are twenty seven and living in your basement), and their last year of truly being under their parents wings.  Their senior year is about being on the cusp of something great - their futures, and they will never see the world the way they do right now. Documenting that with professional photography is one way of ensuring that you never forget who they are, RIGHT now.  

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How Do You Choose the Photographer Who is Right for You? 

You should choose a senior portrait photographer the same way you would choose a photographer for any other type of life event, i.e. newborn, family, or for a wedding.  It's important that the style of the photographer, their personality AND what they offer be a fit for you, otherwise it won't feel right and there can be friction throughout the process.  One of the biggest mistakes people make is simply comparing photographer's prices on paper.  There are a lot of things that determine what a photographer charges, and so simply comparing pricing doesn't help you understand that.  Here is a list to guide you: 

1.  Style - view their portfolios, either online or in person to get a feel for the style of photography you want, and then narrow in on a few that seem like they would be a good fit.  

2.  Read their bio's - learn a little bit about them and why they do what they do, and what their approach to their business is like. 

3. Understand their experience - a photographer with years of experience is often more expensive than someone just starting out.  That makes sense, right?  It should show in their work as well.  While many people think that because they have a great camera they can take great pictures, there is so much more to professional photography than that, and your photographer should have credentials they can share with you as well. 

4.  Word of mouth - word of mouth is a great way to find potential photographers in your area.  Happy clients like to share their experiences, and unhappy ones even moreso.  

5.  Products - look at what is offered by the photographer / studio, and make a list of what is most important to you.  

6.  Set a budget - like anything else, know what you can and are willing to spend, and then look at what their pricing is and see if you feel that what you will get (including the things like style, experience, quality and products) feels like a fit with what you would pay. 

7.  Availability - this isn't as important for senior portraits as it is say for weddings, but it can still be something to consider, especially as the school year quickly approaches and families are once again busier than ever. 

The Final Selection

Once you've narrowed it down to two or three potential photographers, if you still don't have enough to go on to make a decision, you can do one of two things: 

1.  Set up a time to talk to the photographer by phone or in person to ask any additional questions, or 

2.  Trust your gut and pick the one you think is right for you. 

In our follow up posts in this series, we'll talk about top trends in senior portraiture, what to wear, and what to expect during your senior portrait session and beyond. 

Seniors today (especially girls) really expect to participate with the photographer in deciding how their images will look, so if that is important to your daughter or you, make sure the photographer is open to your ideas as well.  After all, they are your pictures!  

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