Why Get Professional Senior Photos Done (and When)?

I can't believe it, but school is starting again any minute. For my kiddo, it's as early as next week! Where did the summer go?

Starting school can be stressful for kids and parents alike. My son starts middle school in the Fall, but he has three older siblings that I have seen through high school graduation; the oldest graduating during 2020 when COVID was still very much a factor.

In a time when nearly everyone has a cell phone that can take incredible images that seem comparable to a professional camera, coupled with a time when finances are a factor for everyone, you might be asking yourself, why would I pay someone to take my child's photos when I can just do them myself?

I'm never one to discourage a DIY moment, even with photography. I am not here to tell you that you need to have your senior's photos taken by a professional. But I am here to tell you that it is a worthwhile investment.

Professional photography goes beyond a selfie, or photos taken at school with a generic background. With a professional, you can choose the perfect background, props and season for you. In the above photo, my son wanted to showcase his car for his senior photos. Try getting a car into a photo studio! Instead, we made our way down to Washington Park in Denver where the leaves were luscious and the lighting was perfect.

Likewise, the above young man loves Into the Wind off of Pearl Street. So, we stopped by to get some shots there. Sure, you could do this with a cell phone, but you won't have the expert there to get the right angle, lighting and perfect the image further with editing.

With a professional photographer, you can bring along props that showcase your senior year or high school career. Take the above cheerleader. She brought and changed into her uniform and used her pompoms as a prop. Varsity jackets, basketballs, jerseys, chess boards, flags, pins, awards, certificates -- the possibilities are endless.

When you get your photos done is completely up to you, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Most importantly, does your school have a deadline to submit senior photos for the yearbook? Most do and I have found this is usually between November and January, depending on the school. Make sure that you check on this.

   
   

2. What season do you prefer your photos to take place in? Do you love the bright colored flowers in Spring/Summer, or do you prefer the rich autumnal colors of Fall?

   
   

3. Obviously, you need to keep in mind that you are working with at least three calendars and schedules that can be quite complex -- the senior, the parent(s) and the photographer. The sooner that you get booked, the sooner you make sure that you meet any necessary deadlines.

Getting your senior's photos done professionally gives you as the parent a keepsake of your child's last schoolyear photo, but your senior also has a plethora of photos for their use in yearbooks, social media, and professional photos for job applications. You get print-ready photos that come out with better quality than a cell phone camera. Best of all, you both have something to look back on and remember when your child was still a child -- it goes by so fast!