From my own senior photoshoot (almost 8 years ago), I remember having fun, I remember having an incredibly tired face, and I remember being really excited to see the pictures afterwords. My parents took care of booking the photographer and paying her. But I also remember not knowing what to expect.

To my future Senior Photo clients (both parents and seniors), this blog post is for you!

Before Your Shoot

When you contact me for a session, you can expect me to offer you a half-hour consultation with you and your soon-to-be graduate. I usually like to meet up at a coffee shop, because coffee is life, am I right? This allows me to get to know you and your soon-to-be graduate, but it also allows you to get to know me. Getting in front of a camera can be intimidating on its own, but having a stranger behind the camera can add even more pressure. Knowing who’s behind the camera can make the experience a little easier.

During the consultation, I’ll ask questions such as, “How/where do you plan on displaying these photos?“ “What colors do you have in your home?” “What school activities is your graduate involved in?” “Do you have any specific locations in which you would like to shoot?” “What is your graduate’s personality?”

These questions can help you figure out what colors would look best in your home and gives me an idea of how I want to portray the person I am photographing. I want to be able to capture who they are.

We will also discuss any questions you may have, such as cost, how many photos you may getting, how I will get your photos to you and other options and products I offer.

After your consultation, we will discuss scheduling a time that works best for both of us. I set aside between one and a half to two hours of shooting to allow for walking around, traveling to a different location, or outfit changes.

During Your Shoot

When we meet at our agreed-upon location, I will give you a run down of any ideas I have already come up with. We will then discuss outfit changes, so we have a clear-cut plan to streamline the process.

After we get coordinated, we start shooting! I like to have fun and I do my best to keep the experience low-key and relaxed. The last thing we need are photos that come out looking forced and stressful. I like to walk around with the client and let my creativity come to me, but I am always up for outside ideas. So if you have any ideas, don’t be afraid to stop me!

I have a list of my go-to poses, but as an artist, I always work with the location and the individual to achieve something completely unique to each client.

Once we are done shooting, I will give you the run down of what you can expect in the next couple weeks, and I will answer any questions you may have. I will provide you with a printing release and a business card if you hadn’t already received one. I will also collect payment at this time.

After Your Shoot

I will upload the photos to my computer right away. As time allows, I will edit a few and post them online so you can have something to look forward to! I usually allow two to three weeks to get all the photos processed.

After the photos are complete, I will send them to you on an online portfolio or I will send a flash drive in the mail (or both depending on our agreement). It will be at this time that we discuss professional prints and mounting options, if that is something in which you are interested.

I want my clients to have as much fun as I do. It is my job as a photographer to make sure you have a seamless and enjoyable experience in front of the camera.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s schedule your shoot!

Δ Abbi