How to Select A Photographer For Your Child's Senior Portraits

Is your oldest child about to become a senior in high school? It's time to start thinking about those important senior portraits! But all of the "stuff" you get in the mail can be overwhelming and intimidating. Where do you even begin? A professional senior portrait photographer makes the process a little easier.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Senior portrait submission guidelines from your child's school
• Telephone book
• Postcards or other mailings received from photographers
• Paper and pen for taking notes
• Samples of senior portraits you or your child admire (optional)

1. Most high school senior portraits are taken during the summer between the completion of the 11th grade and the beginning of the 12th grade. Senior portraits serve several purposes: They will go in the senior portrait section of the high school yearbook. You will probably share portraits with family and friends. And you want portraits to remember this important time in your child's life.

2. Before you can select the perfect senior portrait photographer for you, first determine exactly what kind of portraits you need. Pull out the senior portrait submission guidelines from your child's high school to review the yearbook's list of requirements. While some schools are very flexible and will include any photograph submitted, others are VERY specific and want a photo of a particular size that meets very particular criteria. For instance, some schools do not allow black or white backgrounds, outdoor portraits, hands in the picture, or props in the picture, just to name a few.

3. Once you know what the school requires for senior portraits, determine what you and your child need and/or want for senior portraits. Do you want something simple and casual, artistic, sporty, indoors or outdoors, formal or informal? You will want to match the STYLE of portraits you desire with the STYLE of photography a particular photographer specializes in.

4. Make a list of how many portraits you need and in what sizes. For instance, perhaps you want to give the grandparents an 8x10", siblings a 5x7", and send wallet-sized photos to all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

5. Talk to your child about what senior portraits mean to him/her. Some teenagers spend a lot of time and energy on getting the "perfect" portraits, while others simply don't care about getting senior pictures taken at all. Will your child want wallet-sized photos to exchange with friends? Does your child want something specific they've seen out there, such as a collage, a portfolio, or graduation announcements personalized with his or her picture? Discuss your budget and expectations with your child at this time, as well.

6. Review all of the ads, flyers, and mailings you or your child received from area photographers advertising their services. Take notes and create a chart to compare what each photographer is offering. For instance, how much is the sitting fee? How long is the appointment time? Will this be for indoor or outdoor portraits or both? Does the photographer travel to specific locations? Does the photographer charge extra to include props in the portrait? Does the photographer charge extra for multiple settings, backgrounds, or clothing changes? Do you need to buy a package (and if so, what is in the package) or can you purchase portraits individually to get exactly what you want? Does the photographer charge a service fee for blemish touch ups, re-orders at a later date, or other services you may desire?

7. Look in the yellow pages of your telephone book (or you could do a search online, as well) for portrait photographers. Make note of any photographers in your area (or within the area you are willing to travel for photography) that shoot portraits of high school seniors. Call each photography studio to inquire about the services they provide and the cost of those services. Add that information to your chart.

8. If you have friends whose children recently graduated from high school, call them to inquire who did their son or daughter's senior portraits. You may find some excellent resources you might otherwise overlook. In addition, a personal referral from someone you trust is far more valuable than a yellow page ad or a catchy flyer. Ask questions about the cost, service, and overall experience. Add this information to your notes. Then call the photographers mentioned to inquire about current pricing, offerings, and availability.

9. Review the information on the comparison chart you prepared AND your list of needs. Look for a good match based on portrait style, the kind of portraits desired, cost, special offerings, packages offered, etc. Narrow the field down to one or two best matches.

10. Call the photography studio and ask if you and your child can come in for a pre-portrait consultation to see the photographer's work, the studio, and to get a feel for the photographer's personality. You may wish to bring in samples of photos you or your child like to show the photographer to see if that is something he can do. And you want your child to be comfortable with the photographer who will capture these very special moments in his or her life.

11. You may wish to visit several photography studios before you find a fit that feels write--meeting the needs of your school's yearbook, your family, your budget, and your child. There are many options for senior portrait photography--ranging from quick discount photo studios to very expensive, elite studios with big names. The important thing is to find a photographer that meets YOUR needs and desires and is willing to work with you to get the portraits you desire.

Tips & Warnings

• Check with your school's yearbook advisor to inquire about good senior portrait photographers that may not advertise their services widely.
• Look at other family's senior portraits and find out who took them. A personal reference--i.e., word of mouth--is usually the BEST way to find a good photographer.
• Whenever someone recommends a photographer, ask them WHY they recommend them.
• Be sure to ask your photographer if he or she will submit the photograph to the yearbook or if you need to do that on your own. There is usually a deadline for photos to be received by the yearbook staff. Don't miss it or your child may not be included in his or her senior yearbook!

[dreamnfree4us]

on 8/25/2008 opps I typed too much it skipped some of my thoughts here. Take all costs into consideration. Such as, will I be charged later on if I want to buy a collage as a special gift for a family member at another time. Like grandparents day. Does it cost more to have a picture taken with sibblings for that special gift later on. Ot possibly a friend or tow that may want to tag along on picture day.
Thanks for these great tips.

[dreamnfree4us]

on 8/25/2008 This is an awesome article and it brings up really good ideas. Things I may not have thought about when considering the choice in senior photographers. Like matching the photographers speciality to the style of pictures we want in the end.
Personally, I didn't put that much thought into it when I had my own done. I just assumed each photographer knows how to take pictures.
But Senior pictures are costly. It is sometimes one of the last portrait type pictures one has until their wedding. So you want your childs senior picture to represent them in a big way. It would be best to consider some of these topics. And find out what it is my daughter expects to have and what I can afford. When the day arrives we are on the same page. The experience should be fun and exciting whatever the budget happens to be.
Another good tip from Tina, is that you should think into the future. Take all cos