It's finally that summer. The summer you've anticipated and dreaded for close to 18 years; your child's senior year. I remember when my oldest reached that year, quickly followed by his brother the next year. It's such a whirlwind year! It starts with senior portraits then the school year starts, and there's all the "lasts": last sporting event, last band practice, last exam, last day of high school. You have graduation to prepare for and an open house to plan. There might be college entrance essays to oversee. It's easy to be overwhelmed. I think, for me, it was easier to take it day by day and one activity at a time.

Right now is the perfect time to plan your senior's photography session. I want to be very flexible and accommodate all the needs a parent might have at this time.

Some families only want the yearbook photo. I have a beautiful studio in REO Town that I take all my senior yearbook shots at. If this is what you select, we schedule your senior's session and set them in front of the backdrop and create that image. I do all the editing per requirements of the schools and email it directly to your senior's high school. I have worked with most of the schools in the area. If you have a copy of the requirements, I can use that information. If not, I can usually find the information on the school's website. I do the work so you don't have to stress about it!

Let's say you want the yearbook pose but maybe want to have a few more relaxed images "just in case"?

I actually get this request a lot. Your senior doesn't like to have their photo taken or isn't really excited about it. I understand! For this we schedule an hour shoot (or even a 30 minute shoot with less options) that includes the yearbook pose. We start off at the backdrop for the head shot then do a few shots inside with different looks and styles. You can even bring in a few outfit changes for your senior (time allowing). Just outside of my studio is an ever changing graffiti wall. It creates an urban styled shot instantly. There's also various brick walls as well as other areas within walking distance of my studio. We can fit in quite a few different looks within that hour (half hour). I price a la carte, which means I charge a basic session fee which covers my time preparing for the session, the session, editing, and then creating a gallery for you to choose from. For each half hour of shooting there will be available roughly 10-15 images to select from. This means you get to pick what you want, no more. no less.

For those that really want more in their session I offer on location sessions too. During our consultation calls or emails we will come up with a plan of action. We discuss your senior's style, preferred look, location, clothing options, color coordination and any other ideas you and your senior might have. I often use a style board on Pinterest to share ideas. From all this we create a session. Again, you can choose how long you wish the session to be with each 30 minutes creating about 10-15 final images to choose from. Sometimes having in mind what you want for an end goal helps structure the sessions. By this I mean, what products are you hoping to get at the end? Some like the idea of a photo book. This can be a hard copy book or soft with as many as 100 different photos in it. You may want a variety of photos that you can put into a photo album. You may want some for prints to hang at your home. And some may want a combination of all the above. It's all up to you! If you need guidance in making these decisions I am more than happy to talk it through with you.

I really hope all senior parents enjoy this last year. I know how special, exciting, and important it was for me. I would love to be a part, on a small way, as your senior portrait photographer, of this amazing year in your lives!

Here's more samples from some of my clients who've given me permission to use their senior photos.