Fall is Senior Portraits Times

​Class of 2025-It’s Picture Time!

Senior year! Wow ~ that went fast, didn’t it? Now is a great time to book your high school senior portrait session. Not sure where to start? Keep reading!

How to Find a Photographer

You may not be sure how to start the process of finding a photographer or how to choose a photographer in your area. My top three tips are:

1. Referrals from friends or family members
2. Google search (keywords: portrait photographer, senior photographer, city you are in, etc.), read the reviews
3. Facebook city groups - folks often ask for recommendations in these groups 

​I recommend selecting two or three photographers and then look at their websites and social media feeds. Review to see if you like their style of photography, determine if they shoot at a location you want (like the coast, on a hiking trail, urban setting, etc.). Then look at their pricing packages. 

Once you have narrowed it down to a couple of photographers, schedule a quick call to make sure you like the photographer. It is important to have a good rapport with the photographer so the student feels comfortable with the process.

Pricing questions are the most common and yet each photographer has a different way of packaging their work. Some offer digitals only with optional prints and some offer prints with optional digitals. The number of digital images can vary as well. Keep this in mind as you are looking for a photographer and the pricing to see if it works with the budget you have in mind. 

What to Bring / Showcase You!

photographer will have different packages. Some will have a “client closet” where you can borrow some of their fun clothing options. If that interests you, be sure to make that one of your questions.

Many schools have “senior” shirts or letterman jackets. Or perhaps they are in ROTC and want to wear their uniform. These pieces can be included in the photo session to help “stamp” this time of your life. 

When I work with seniors, I encourage them to bring personal items like a skateboard, musical instrument, etc. something that is meaningful for them and portrays this time of their life. 

Also, I ask them to bring their favorite shirt or hat to change into to get a couple of different pictures. Let’s get the photos they will love and images their parents will love, even if they aren’t the same photo.

For the parents, I invite them to join in for a special photo with their senior. It’s an opportunity for all to remember the special time. Capturing the moment in time for them and their child. These also make great gifts for grandparents and for the seniors.

Finding the Location

We have some beautiful areas in the PNW from Vancouver to the Oregon Coast. Below are just a few ideas of areas that I enjoy using as a backdrop:

1. Studio - I have a studio location which is handy for rainy days
   
2. Downtown Vancouver (Esther Short Park, murals)
   
3. Vancouver Waterfront / Grants Street Pier (west side)
   
4. Vancouver Waterfront / under I5 bridge and to the East to McMenamins
   
5. Officer’s Row
   
6. Fort Vancouver / Fort / Gardens / Land Bridge
   
7. Lacamas Lake
   
8. Salmon Creek Greenway
   
9. Moulton or Lucia Falls
   
10. Seaside, Oregon (Yup ~ happy to do a session here without any travel fees!)
    

A few places to avoid: 1) railroads (private property and potentially deadly) and parks or buildings that require permits (without obtaining one) or that do not allow photography (for example, Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, Chinese Gardens, Japanese Gardens, etc.).

The photographer will be able to really help with ideas. During a consultation call or questionnaire, you may be asked for information about preferences (like country, urban, etc.) to help with the selection process. Many photographers have spots they are familiar with and like to work in because they know the lighting, parking situation, etc. So they are great resources. You are not alone with coming up on a location.

Schedule a Call to Learn More and Book A Session

Interested in scheduling a consultation to discuss your photo session? I would love to hear from you.


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