Seven Best Tips to Finding the Right Senior Photographer
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA SENIOR PICTURES
There is something important you need to know: you are anything but basic!
You are dynamic, you are unique, and you have something special to offer this world that no one else has. So when it comes to senior portraits why just settle for basic?
Decades ago when it came to senior portraits we were stuck with basic. Your high school told you what studio to go to, you picked either feathers or a drape for your official yearbook photo, and then you could add on some fun and slightly more personalized options like a directors chair, some giant foam numbers for your graduation year, and silk flowers. Fancy ;)! At the time of my senior photos sunflowers and foam numbers that looked as if they were made out of granite were all the rage. My oh my how things have changed! I can unequivocally say they have changed for the better and basic can now be a thing of the past. You deserve so much better than foam letters and silk flowers after years of hard work and dedication!
STEP 1: FIND THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOUR SENIOR
This step begs the question how does one go about doing that? It can be especially daunting because there are so many photographers out there due to a saturated market here in the East Bay where talent, professionalism, and offerings vary as wildly as the stock market. Oftentimes a lot of people will do one of two things: ask their friends who they used or do a web search. Word of mouth is great because your friends can give you a first hand experience and details of what their session was like. You also have the opportunity to see the senior photos from their session rather than just a couple good ones that may be featured on the photographer's social media pages.
Doing a web search is going to give you a long list of potential photographers. This allows you to go to their website and check out some of your their work. The caveat with this option is that you truly only get to see a highlight reel of their work. So let’s get to the nitty-gritty on how to find the right photographer for you and your high school senior in the following steps.
STEP 2: FIND A PHOTOGRAPHER WITH A STYLE YOU LIKE
The most important step in finding a senior photographer is finding one whose style you like. If all their images are dark and moody but you gravitate to something more light and airy they are not the photographer for you. Most photographers have a very specific editing style. Examples of these are light and airy, vibrant and fun, dark and moody, or clean and classic. Make sure you choose someone whose style matches your taste.
I will give you one tip regarding photographer style: keep in mind that trends in photography and editing are like fashion, they come and go. If you opt for a trendy editing style your photos can look dated in five years. The dark and moody with green-ish or ultra orange skin tones are very popular right now. So as you invest in your senior portraits this is something to consider. My kids love to laugh at my senior photos with all the feathers, the faux sunflowers, and those foam numbers, meanwhile I cringe at how dated they look.
STEP 3: WORK WITH A REPUTABLE AND PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
This means they will have a website and not just an Instagram or Facebook page. Google or Facebook reviews are another good way to vet your photographer because these allow you to see what actual clients have had to say about their experience. This is important because you don’t want to make an investment in a photographer who fails to deliver. You want to have confidence that your photographer will work with you and your senior, invest time in planning for your session, show up to your session, produce well-posed and properly lit images in a timely and professional manner, and ultimately deliver quality work. In this day and age not having your website can be a huge red flag when shopping for a reputable photographer.
STEP 4: DO THEY CONSISTENTLY SHOW GOOD WORK?
Not only should the photos align with your taste, but they should have all the components of a good photo. This means that there are a variety of poses, their clients are well posed and are not awkwardly standing there not knowing what to do with their hands, there’s nothing distracting in the background like a pole or a tree coming out of the client’s head, and their skin tones look natural. All these things will come from an educated and seasoned photographer. If you ask, are they willing to show you some complete galleries from a session? Galleries allow you to see the totality of their work rather than just a few good photos. You want to see consistent quality work because anyone can take a couple good photos when shooting 700 or more images.
STEP 5: PRICING
There’s that age old saying, “You get what you pay for.” This is very true with photography. We all have to start out somewhere and I too was there too many years ago. My prices were cheap and the quality of my work and my business were a direct reflection of that. As I have financially invested in my education and equipment my skill set has grown, my work has vastly improved, and as a result my prices have gone up. I also learned how much it costs to operate a “real” business. Running a business is not cheap. My pricing is a reflection of the level of customer service, time, preparation, and quality of work you can expect from working with me. This is a milestone moment in your senior's life. They have worked very hard for years to get to this point and just like a wedding, it is not something you want to spend a minimal amount of money on. These photos are a moment in time that you can’t get back and it’s important to invest in them. Not only do I pour my heart and soul into my seniors, but I also limit the number of sessions I do to make sure they receive top notch service.
STEP 6: DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER?
After your initial consultation/meeting ask yourself and your senior: are they someone that you and your senior feel comfortable with? This is so important! Your personalities should mesh and your senior should feel comfortable and confident chatting with their photographer. I'm an introvert so it’s I know that it can take a while to get to know someone and warm up, but that initial reaction is important. Although a photographer is running a business, you shouldn’t feel like your are just a transaction to them. You want someone who is going to take the time to invest in you, your relationship with them, and intimately getting to know your child so that their truest selves will come out in their photos. As a mom, I know how important it is to have that smile you love in your teen’s photos. When that happens it’s magic. Those authentic smiles and relaxed demeanor in front of the camera are what vital when it comes to creating real photos of your sweet child. They may be on the cusp of adulthood, but they will always be your baby!
In addition to comfort, creating a safe space for your child should be an important component of your photographer’s relationship with your senior. I firmly believe that the photographer-client relationship is a collaborative one and that seniors should feel comfortable advocating for themselves with their photographer. For an example of what that can look like click HERE and HERE.
These steps will help you have senior portraits that are not only an authentic reflection of you, but are also anything but basic. You only have one senior year and your professional portraits are an important part of that.
Looking for a senior photographer in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Santa Clara County, or the San Francisco Bay Area? I would love the opportunity to get to know you and work with you to capture this once in a lifetime moment for your child! My clients come from all over the Northern California and the Bay Area - Pleasanton, Fremont, Danville, Dublin, Walnut Creek, Castro Valley, San Ramon, Livermore, Lafayette. Book a consult with the button below so we can get to know one another and start planning your senior's bespoke portrait experience.
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