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!

Which is the best month for senior grad photos?

We often get the question “Which month is the best month for senior grad photos?” and we have some considerations here below to help you decide. The truth is that each senior grad has different goals for the location or season of their photo session. The key thing to know is summer is short. You need to talk about these goals with your senior grad in advance so you can book your portrait photographer at the correct time. The best senior grad portrait photographers always book up earlier than you might think, like weeks and months in advance.

We've been photographing since 2010 and this is the cycle we see year after year...

• April (Junior year) - Some 11th-grade students begin researching and booking their photographer in anticipation of the coming senior year in order to ensure they get the choice weather and locations. This is also the only time of year to feature the spring blooms.

• May (Junior year) - Many junior students will have their senior grad sessions before the end of their 11th year while sprig weather is at its best. May is usually cooler with fluffy clouds.

• June - School is ending and summer grad portraits are getting busier. Last year's parents who were late booking a photographer are trying to get any dates still available before the school year ends. Though June has beautiful moments, it is generally a rainy month and many senior photo sessions will get bumped to July or opt for indoor portraits.

• July - After the 4th of July, we begin receiving a steady stream of parents who are on top of their student’s portraits for summer. The weather is at its absolute best and things are really picking up with each passing day.

• August - The parents who had a late start on the summer season are now trying to get any remaining session times. The days are hotter and the grass has the golden dry look that many grads desire. It is now a matter of weeks until school starts again.

• September - Many parents of senior grads were not aware of the early yearbook deadline. and they just found out. They are now frantically calling to get any date they can. Dates are booked solid through the rest of the season.

• October - Students who wanted to feature fall color already booked their dates back in July/August. Any remaining availability is extremely limited to last-minute cancellations if at all.

• November - The yearbook deadlines have passed for all but a few remaining high schools. The first half of the month can still have the occasional nice weather day, but November generally is one of the rainiest months of the year.

• December / January / February - The weather is generally too rainy or too cold for outdoor portraits and these sessions are usually bumped out for months before there is good enough weather again.

  March - The weather starts getting nicer again, but the greenery has not yet returned to many plants. Students who missed the yearbook deadline are starting to book up spring dates.

• April - Parents are now trying to book late-season portraits before the big grad year comes to a close.

• May (End of senior year) - This is generally a stable weather month for outdoor portraits. Some parents missed the other milestones, but they still want images to remember the senior year. They are now frantic to book a portrait date before graduation. Also, next year’s seniors are already booking up those same dates.

• June (After the senior year) - Grads who were too late to book earlier in the year are now trying to get whatever dates they can before they leave for college.

We’d love to help you and your senior grad with the most important photography of their life. Contact us ASAP for availability. It never hurts to be ahead of the game!

Not waiting until the last minute to secure your photographer is key!

The single comment I hear most often from parents of senior grads is, "I had no idea yearbook portraits were due so early!" Yes, it is true!! The deadline for most area high schools falls somewhere between September 15th to October 15th.