10 things to talk about now with your 2025 grad!

1. When is the yearbook image due at your school?

   • Don't count on the schools to get that information out to you in time! They are busy and overwhelmed and most fall short!

   • We track the yearbook deadlines for you here: YEARBOOK DEADLINES

   • Planning example: If yearbook submissions are due October 1st at your students school, you should have the grad's shoot completed by August 1st. (That is weeks away right now!)

2. Which photographer do you feel comfortable with?

   • Does your grad like and connect with the photographer?

   • Would their artistic style represent your grad and their personality? SEE OUR STYLE HERE

   • If these things click, you will have much better success with the final portraits. The only way to truly know is through an in-person meeting.

3. What is the budget?

   • Some parents choose to invest as much as $7000 and some invest less than $2000. Which is right for you?

   • When it comes to these memories, carefully weigh "the value" vs. "the cost."

   • Knowing your goals ahead of time can save you some frustration later. Not all photographers are created equal.

4. Where will the portraits take place?

   • Do you have access to any exclusive locations? If so, it might make the portraits extra unique!

   • Not sure where to start? Don't worry, we have countless ideas and can make some suggestions you will love once we get to know your grad!

5. How many outfit changes will you want?

   • There is no right or wrong answer. You need only consider that the more time spent changing clothes will result in less time photographing...or that more time will need to be added to cover the additional outfit changes.

   • We generally recommend 2-3 outfits in a 2-hour sitting.

6. Are we going to include family portraits at the same time?

   • Some senior grads want to make the portrait session all about them. I get it and they deserve it!

   • If your grad is open to family portraits, we'd love to accommodate that too! We would then recommend splitting the session 1.5 hours for the grad and 30 minutes for the family.

7. Will the photographer allow us to have custom control over the products we want?

   • I can't speak for all photographers, but our desire is for you to have full control. We have abandoned packages because we never want you to feel locked into something you don't like or want.

   • When it comes to our way of doing things, you only have to pay for the images you truly love on the products you want for your home.

8. What is our backup plan if the weather goes bad? (And sometimes it does!)

   • With us, we've already got your backup plan! Our business model is not to shoot on volume, cramming people into every possible time slot, which allows us lots of flexibility in a weather event!

9. But what about hair and makeup services?

   • If you have a hair and makeup artist, that's great!

   • If you don't have one, we can get you access to our hair and makeup artist! She is one of the best around and only works with professional photographers.

10. Is the photographer dependable?

    • If you have a photographer in mind, check out their reviews on Google. Read the good review. Read the bad reviews too and note how the photographer responded to the complaints to try and make things right. A little advanced research can save you from a costly pitfall!

    • Talk to them on the phone or meet with them in person. So much can be learned through a little relationship.

    • When it comes to our work, we guarantee it! (Who else does that these days?) It means, if you don't love the final portraits, you don't have to pay for them!

Does this feel like a lot to worry about? It is a lot. We know how much planning and preparation it takes to get your kid through the biggest year of their life, we do this all the time. If we can lift this one burden for you and make it easy, we are eager to help! Let's connect!!

Get the ball rolling early and ride the momentum across the finish line later!

Or call us on the phone

206.659.7468

(Remember to leave us a message, we might be out photographing!)

Oh no, my senior grad and I do not agree on portraits....

Does this story sound a little familiar to you? Sasha, a junior in high school, is looking forward to the big 2023-2024 graduation year. A huge part of the year will be the grad portrait session and she is really excited about it! Her mom really is excited too but finds her ideas are shut down or met with opposition. Sasha believes her mom only wants a bunch of "the boring stuff." Mom thinks Sasha's ideas are "a bit much" and miss the point a little. Sasha only wants to post the images to social media for Senior Sunday, but Mom is thinking a little more long-term and wants something beautiful for the home. The discussions are going nowhere. 

 CONGRATULATIONS, you are officially the parent of a senior grad!!

 Although both are seeking to commemorate the upcoming milestone, the goals are distinctly separate. Let's compare...

MOM'S GOALS

• Capture the life milestone

• Look like the competent and capable young adult they are becoming

• Create a cohesive look that would fit in the home 

• Proud to represent them at their best

• A reminder of their belonging to this family

• Feel affirmed for all that went into raising them (fist-bump from me)

SENIOR GRAD'S GOALS

• Showcase individuality

• Look cool and different

• Highlight personal talents and interests

• Emphasize personal style

• Use props and outfits to reflect their personal brand

• Feel seen

Despite these differences, both the senior grad student and parent CAN achieve their own results with the help of a professional photographer who understands their unique needs. With 13 years of experience, and clients with diverse interests and from varying backgrounds, we know how to provide customized solutions to meet opposing desires.

We believe everyone deserves to have a portrait that represents them in the best possible way. We also know what it feels like to be a parent. We will work with you both to create the perfect portraits. With a professional, you can achieve the goals for each and have lasting memories everyone will cherish for years to come!

Here are the secret 1-2-3 steps to success...

1. Talk to your senior grad and affirm their desires for the portraits

2. See what they think of our grad guide with tons of tips, style, location, and clothing ideas (Get a PDF you can send to their phone)

3. Meet with us before you commit to anything, but let your grad drive the discussion (Remember, we know what you want too!)

Booking with an experienced photographer also means you avoid getting stuck for life with portraits that met only one person's goals, or worse, no one's goals.

Let's do this!

So, why not book a consultation with us today and let us help you capture this life milestone the right way? We guarantee we will create beautiful portraits that you will both be proud to show off. If you have doubts, ask us about our brand promise!