5 Smart Things Parents Can Do Now for Their 2025 Grad

5 Smart Things Parents Can Do Now for Their 2025 Grad

Senior yearbook deadlines are coming like a freight train. Don't allow the hectic pace of life to steal the special opportunity from you and your grad. There's no two ways about it; we are at the end of the season and the the smartest things a parent can do when it comes to portraits are...

1. Book Now: Time is Running Out

Daylight Saving Time ends soon. The rainy season will start any week now. Time is of the essence for senior portraits. Don't delay any longer in securing a grad session with your photographer.

2. Be Transparent About Your Timeline

Communicate your timeline upfront, especially if the yearbook submission deadline is a factor. This will help your photographer prioritize you accordingly. When this late in the game, phrases like, "I'm only price shopping" communicate to a photographer "This is not urgent, I'm not ready to make a decision." That's great if you have time, but photographers cannot plan for what you don't tell them.

3. Invest in a Professional Photographer

While beginner photographers offer lower rates, their lack of experience can compromise the quality of your senior portraits. A professional photographer with years of experience will provide full-service solutions and capture lasting memories you can count on. Remember, any photographer can get you a few good memories, but professionals deliver great portrait memories on luxury products that grow in value through the years. They won't waste your time with redos.

4. Include the Family

Your senior's graduation marks a significant milestone for your entire family. Consider scheduling a family portrait session alongside their senior photos. This is your last stage together with everyone under the same roof. It is always easier to kill two birds with one stone.

5. Embrace the Seasonality

If you missed the summer look you desperately wanted, that's okay! Rather than asking your photographer to seek out locations and ways to recreate it, embrace the beauty of the fall season and cooler temperatures. School starts in the fall. They are approaching the end of their K-12 experience. It fits, just go with it while there is still time.

Five slots remain in October. Contact us while there is still time to claim yours and we will do everything we can to help make this stress-free!

Top 10 Questions Parents of Senior Grads Ask

1. How far in advance should we book a session for our grad?

   • About 2+ months in advance during the busy summer season.

2. What should we consider when selecting a senior grad photographer?

   • Does your grad like and connect with the photographer? Would the style represent them? If these things click, you will have much better success with the final portraits. The only way to find out is through an in-person meeting.

3. How much?

   • How much for what? No, seriously. Everyone's goals for the end results are as different as their grad student is unique. Some parents invest around $1000 and some invest $7000 or more. Know your end goals. Know what these memories are worth to you. With further conversation and understanding, your photographer can guide you to an idea of what to expect cost-wise.

4. Can we request a specific location for the senior grad photo shoot and are there travel costs?

   • Yes, we love to work with you whenever we can! Travel to nearby locations is included. There will be normal expenses for places a little further out. Travel inside the US is included with our Epic Destination options.

5. How many outfit changes are typically allowed during the session?

   • It is not about "what is allowed" as much as it is about how much time you want in front of the camera versus time changing. We generally recommend 2-3 outfits for a 2-hour session.

6. Can we include family members or friends in some of the senior grad photos?

   • Yes! We now allow parents to designate a portion of their grad sitting for family or friends if they like. Typically that looks like 90 minutes dedicated to the grad and 30 minutes to the family or friend.

7. Can we customize our package with prints or albums from the photographer?

   • Yes, we abandoned traditional "set packages" a long time ago. We are a full-service provider, meaning prints, albums, and framed artwork, and are all available to you. It is all about complete solutions for our clients. We also provide other amazing products you may not have seen yet and cannot get access to anywhere else! Our goal is that you purchase the images you love on the products you truly want in your home.

8. Are digital copies of the photos included, or do we need to purchase them separately?

   • We are very proud of the fact that we are among the few "Full Service" portrait providers in our region, meaning people choose us for the amazing art pieces we create for their walls or as keepsakes. We do appreciate our client's desire to show how proud they are of their senior grad online so we always provide complimentary social media-sized files of every image you order. You can also purchase full-resolution, fully-edited digital images, however, if you are looking for all the digital images for free, that is not what we do here.

9. What happens if the weather is bad on the scheduled day of the senior grad photo shoot?

   • If the weather looks bad, we will reach out to you in advance with some backup options at no charge.

10. Do you provide hair and makeup services?

    • Absolutely! And we have access to TWO of the best makeup artist pros in the area!! They are highly sought-after among photographers for their knowledge of how makeup must integrate with lighting and camera. Makeup makes a difference!

Did we miss something you want to know more about? Ask us! We are happy to help answer any questions you have. One of our deepest desires is that you understand the process with us before making any decisions.

Call us at 206.659.7468