If you aren’t sure how to choose the best senior photographer, this is a great place to start. After specializing for years as a Seattle area senior photographer, I know that matching up with the right professional is vital to your photoshoot and gallery experience. Looking for the right photographer for your senior portraits can take a little time, but it’s well worth the effort. A senior photographer can help you express your personality, interests, and style in a beautiful way. And they are skilled at creating images that truly reflect who you are at this important stage of your life – while providing you with a fun experience and the kind of stunning images that you will be excited to share.

Tip #1: Look for a photographer who specializes in seniors!

This may not sound like a big deal, but it’s really important! High school seniors want more than just a pretty picture to put in the yearbook. Senior portraits are about capturing the unique personality, style and essence of you during this special time. And you want to have a fun experience at the same time! Senior photographers will:

• Truly enjoy their job.
• Know how to boost confidence and foster a positive environment.
• Show you how to pose naturally.
• Help with choosing ideal locations for your vision.
• Assist in style choices.
• Highlight flattering angles and natural expressions.
• Creat a fun experience overall.
• Invest in high quality equipment ideal for individual portraits.

Tip #2: Ask around.

Word of mouth is priceless when it comes to selecting a senior photographer! For such an important occasion you want your entire experience to be amazing. That includes the preparation for your photo shoot, the day of, follow up, and gallery delivery. It should all be of the highest quality, positive, fun, and as stress free as possible. So ask around! See who your friends and family have used or heard of, what their experiences were like, what they would do the same, or what they might choose differently. Your friends and family also know your style preferences and what you may or may not like. Don’t always rely on advertising or marketing for this selection. Insight beyond an online portfolio is invaluable.

Tip #3: Stalk their Instagram!

Instagram is a fantastic way to find amazing photographers with the style you are looking for.

• It’s a highly visual platform so it can give you a real-time view of what’s in their most current portfolio.
• You can quickly see their style, creativity, and quality of images.
• A brief scroll through some different Instagram accounts will show you a wide range of styles.
• It’s a great way to see if you like more dark and moody, creative, bright and bold, artistic, light and airy, and other styles.
• Look for senior photographers in your area.
• See what your friends and family are posting on their social media! Like what you see? Take a look at which photographer they tag on their account to gather more information.

Tip #4: Choose a style you love.

Always choose a senior photographer with a style that you love! I can’t stress this one enough. Photography is an art and photographers are creative individuals. Every professional photographer has their own style. After the day of your photo shoot, many hours will go into editing your images. First decide what look you are dreaming of seeing in your final gallery. Then search for a senior photographer who delivers those types of images to their clients. Will your style preferences match? If you want more dark and moody images you will not want to choose a photographer specializing in light and airy. Or maybe you like bright, bold color. Most senior photographers are happy to answer any questions about editing, so be sure to ask before your session. And don’t forget that you will want these photos to stand the test of time. A great senior photographer knows how to incorporate some trends while still delivering a timeless gallery you will treasure in the future.

Tip #5: Select a professional who offers the experience you want.

It’s a great idea to take a little time to think over what you are looking for in your senior photo shoot experience. While senior photographers offer different packages, they also offer different types of overall experiences. Are you a senior guy who just wants a quick and easy photo shoot for a yearbook picture? Or are you a senior girl who is dreaming of multiple outfit changes, different locations, and a more personal connection with your photographer? And there are a whole lot of options in between! So ask yourself first what you really want, take a look at some senior photographer websites, and get in touch with a couple of them. Go ahead and ask questions to see if they are a good fit for you. This is a once in a lifetime experience and it should be exactly what you are hoping for. A great senior photographer is all about making photo shoots fun and positive for their seniors. And they will be happy to answer your questions, let you know what your options are, help you decide on the perfect package, and tailor the photo shoot to your needs.

Want to know what it’s like to work with me? Get in touch! I am always happy to answer questions and help seniors decide if we are a great fit. More than anything, I want you to have a fun and memorable experience and receive photos you will cherish.

Thanks for reading!

XO, Janelle