You’ve worked hard for four years and now it’s time to celebrate your SENIOR YEAR! At the top of the list of things you have to do is book your senior photographer! But how do you know who to choose? Before you book your high school senior photographer, here are a few things to consider:
The photographer’s level of experience
How long has the photographer been in business and what type of photography do they specialize in? Do they offer many different kinds of photography or do they only work with seniors? Someone who specializes in seniors will have a lot of experience with posing, lighting and styling seniors. They will have a variety of locations to suggest for your session and know the right time of day to take you there.
The photographer’s online client reviews
It’s always a good idea to check out all the online reviews to get a feel for what real life clients think about the photographer’s work. Were they happy with the results and how do they describe the session experience? Did the photographer deliver the images on time? Did the clients feel confident and have fun?
The photographer’s website
A well designed and professional looking website is a great sign that the photographer is committed to customer service and helping their clients at every step of the process, from booking to gallery delivery. It should be easy to navigate and give you an idea of the photographer’s portfolio, editing style and packages offered. The site should provide a great first impression of the photographer’s brand and their business mission.
How the photographer captures YOUR personality
It’s super important for your photographer to capture YOUR unique style and personality. You don’t want a cookie cutter session where images look the same for all clients. In my business, this means I get to know my clients before our session day. It’s helpful for me to understand their personality and what their goals are. I love to help clients with location and outfit selections. The more comfortable you are with your photographer, the better your images will be!
The length of sessions offered
Does the photographer offer only mini sessions or do they offer longer sessions that allow for multiple outfit changes? I find that longer sessions allow for more creativity because we are not rushing through poses or outfits. It often takes clients a little while to warm up during a session and feel comfortable. With a longer session, we get into a rhythm and can get very creative with our shots.
The photographer’s editing style and portfolio of images
In my opinion, this is one of the most important things to consider. If you have looked at the work of many different senior photographers, you notice we all have different styles. We pose clients differently and edit our images differently. Some images are very light and bright, some are dark and others have color filters applied. Others are somewhere in the middle. I describe my edit style as true to life. I enjoy realistic colors and while I will remove your blemishes and fix flyaway hairs, I don’t want my clients to look plastic or unreal. I keep your skin tones natural and not over exposed or orange in any way. It’s very important for you to like the edit style since it not only affects your final images, it also affect how they look when they are printed.
The type of packages they offer & pricing
Does the photographer offer digital images only, prints or products only or a mixture of both in their packages. A full service photographer will typically offer professionally printed products with a professional lab. It is quite common these days for photographers to offer a combination of digital images and printed products in their packages. You will want to review the packages and pricing and see if they fit your budget. **One big note about pricing…I would recommend that you NOT choose a photographer based solely on pricing. Like many things in life, low price often means low quality. More expensive photographers typically have more experience and offer a fully custom product for their clients. They run a legal business and have secured all necessary licenses. They invest a lot of money in professional cameras, lenses and computer equipment and programs. Most are offering professional editing and professionally produced print products. Most importantly, they have years of experience with posing and lighting which helps you get the best results possible! If you’d like to learn more about booking a custom senior session with me click here!
(Photos in this post are from 2026 CLP Senior Rep Luella’s recent session. We were very fortunate to have access to this gorgeous private property!)