Congratulations on making it to your senior year! Your senior year is your last real year as a teenager.
After this you have to be a grown-up.
Senior pictures should capture your look and personality so you can remember this time forever.
The problem is, senior pictures too often look like they were designed by grownups.
Choosing the right photographer is obviously critical if you are going to like your pictures.
Here are some tips on what to look for in a great photographer.
1.
Obviously you need to review your photographer's past work.
Here's what to look for: Senior portraits aren't that difficult compared to other types of photography.
If your photographer has done great work in the past, it is likely that he/she will be able to repeat that in the future.
Your job is to make sure that they have done great work in the past.
When looking through portfolios, pay attention to how many photos you see of a particular person.
Is there only one of each person, or a dozen? If your photographer can't show you a variety of impressive images of each person, you should assume that there was only one successful shot from each session.
Whether or not one good picture is enough is strictly up to you.
2.
Does your photographer's style match your own? Would you feel comfortable putting your face on the poses in your photographer's portfolio? Would you be proud to distribute pictures like that of yourself? If your photographer does only studio shots with chiffon drapes and muslin backdrops, you need to decide if those backdrops can represent who you are and what you like to do.
If your photographer only does on-location shots in city parks, ask yourself how much time you would normally spend in public parks.
If your photographer has a lot of examples of dramatic poses and exotic lighting, consider whether that is the type of photograph you want as a reflection of yourself.
If your photographer's poses are stiff or casual, keep in mind that this is how your own photos will look.
3.
What is your budget? The cost of senior pictures ranges from free (from your friend's mom with a camera) to limitlessly expensive.
If your photographer quotes you a "sitting fee" or "session fee", be sure to ask about the package rates.
Most photographers will require you to purchase enlargements and copies from them at much higher rates than you are used to at Costco or Walgreens.
The print quality may or may not be better than you are used to.
Ask about costs to purchase printing rights if you are interested in purchasing prints from a common photo counter.
Some photographers will sell you high-resolution digital copies of touched-up photos for an additional fee.
If this is unavailable or too high a cost to justify, ask about availability of low-resolution images for distribution on Facebook or MySpace.
4.
Is conversation awkward with your photographer? Unless you have the poise and natural expressions of a professional model, your photographer plays the important role of directing your poses during your photo session.
If you find it difficult to talk to him/her on the phone or in the lounge of the studio, things are only going to be worse when there is a camera pointed at you.
(The photographer that took my senior portraits had a knack for cracking unfunny jokes right when I was on the verge of producing a sincere smile.
It didn't help.
) Photographers that are rushed, arrogant, pretentious, corny, or rude will be difficult to work with.
A photographer with a personality that puts you at ease is invaluable.
Once you've picked the right photographer, the most important thing is to get plenty of rest before your portrait session and then relax and have fun.
I'll offer more suggestions on preparing for the big shoot in a future article.