Senior Portrait FAQs
This is a work in progress. As I think of questions I get, I'll include them here. Feel free to email me any questions you may have. This isn't your normal picture day and I'm happy to help you figure things out.
WHAT DO I WEAR?
If you're having formal portraits taken, I have everything you need...but a tank top with spaghetti straps or even a bikini top can be worn under the drape. I have some banditos if you don't have anything.
For the cap and gown portraits, traditionally you'd wear a white dress, but any white top will work. It's not usually seen above the gown, but something dark or a print could show through.
For the boys, I have a variety of tuxedo shirts and jackets to fit just about anyone unless they could be an offensive lineman for Virginia Tech. Just wear a white tshirt underneath. For the cap and gown, a white dress shirt and tie is needed. I have some white shirts and have a couple school colored ties (orange and blue, green and gold, and working on ordering some more).
For outdoor sessions, I usually suggest three outfits- one very casual outfit, one a little dressy, and one that's in-between. Feel free to bring a few more and if time allows, we'll try to get to all of them but we'll go over the options and see what will work best.
If you're having formal portraits taken, I have everything you need...but a tank top with spaghetti straps or even a bikini top can be worn under the drape. I have some banditos if you don't have anything.
For the cap and gown portraits, traditionally you'd wear a white dress, but any white top will work. It's not usually seen above the gown, but something dark or a print could show through.
For the boys, I have a variety of tuxedo shirts and jackets to fit just about anyone unless they could be an offensive lineman for Virginia Tech. Just wear a white tshirt underneath. For the cap and gown, a white dress shirt and tie is needed. I have some white shirts and have a couple school colored ties (orange and blue, green and gold, and working on ordering some more).
For outdoor sessions, I usually suggest three outfits- one very casual outfit, one a little dressy, and one that's in-between. Feel free to bring a few more and if time allows, we'll try to get to all of them but we'll go over the options and see what will work best.
IMPORTANT: Keep all clothes wrinkle-free. I can't emphasize this enough, wrinkles look sloppy and can't be Photoshopped out. Think about this, do you see wrinkled clothes in magazines? I suggest that clients don't even wear their outfits in the car because the seat belt will wrinkle delicate fabrics. Hang the clothes up in the car or lay them flat. Don't worry, I have a pop up cabana that clients can use to change in the parking lot, on the beach, or wherever.
GLASSES or NO?
Of course, if you wear glasses, you should wear them in your portraits. BUT...there are a few considerations. TRANSITION LENSES are difficult to work with. If you can get a pair of glasses that don't have transition lenses, even if they're just non-prescription lenses, DO IT. Same for glasses that have thick lenses that distort your face when looking at you. Glasses are not the problem, it's the lenses that create the issues. But I don't like just removing lenses as that looks too fake.
HOW SHOULD I DO MY HAIR AND MAKEUP?
This is, of course, a personal decision, but I do suggest having your hair and makeup professionally done. You don't have to go to the level of prom and you don't need to overdo it, but using professionals does put a finishing touch on things. Tell them what you want. If you don't normally wear makeup, let them know to keep things looking natural. You want your senior portraits to capture YOU...not someone you're trying to be.
Speaking of hair...if you normally shave an area, shave it before the session so there's no stubble.
HOW SHOULD I DO MY HAIR AND MAKEUP?
This is, of course, a personal decision, but I do suggest having your hair and makeup professionally done. You don't have to go to the level of prom and you don't need to overdo it, but using professionals does put a finishing touch on things. Tell them what you want. If you don't normally wear makeup, let them know to keep things looking natural. You want your senior portraits to capture YOU...not someone you're trying to be.
Speaking of hair...if you normally shave an area, shave it before the session so there's no stubble.
GUYS, shave that face so there's no scraggly hair. Trust me, you don't want to look back in ten years and wonder what you were thinking. Girls, clean shaven legs photograph best. And you might not think about it, but the armpit area does get exposed in some portraits so make sure you take care of them.
WHERE SHOULD WE GO?
Obviously, the beach is a popular location because most people love the beach in this area. I love the beach and I love shooting there! But that's not the only option- the school athletic field, auditorium, band room, a farm, a junkyard, downtown Salisbury or Berlin, historical area, woods, bayside, on a boat, with a plane, horse barn, or whatever the client chooses.
I WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT
OK,that's not a question, but something I hear all the time. I'm happy to go anywhere the client wants as long as it's legal. I'm not going to trespass or go into a field of sunflowers without getting the property owner's permission myself.
If you want different, what inspires you? What are you interested in? I've done senior portraits in Washington D.C., Annapolis, Longwood Gardens, downtown Philly, and anywhere my clients want to do (I have a passport!).
WHAT ABOUT SPORTS?
Athletes are great to work with! I do something called sportraits in my studio- dramatic lighting of an athlete in their uniform with an edgy look or we can do portraits on the athletic field or gym. I've also incorporated athletic gear into different locations like the beach or a farm field.
HOW LONG BEFORE I SEE THE PHOTOS?
I try to have a sneak peek on Instagram and Facebook that night or the next day! The full gallery could take a week or two depending on how busy I am.
ARE THE PHOTOGRAPHS RETOUCHED?
All the images are "edited" before they go online and that includes things like adjusting the exposure, cropping, straightening, color correcting, and that sort of thing. They are NOT fully retouched, that would include removing blemishes, whitening teeth, tidying up flyaway hairs, etc. I always try to keep the image as natural looking as possible. I'm not going to make your skin look plastic, turn your teeth blindingly white, or make your eyes glow. I'm going to enhance your natural looks.
Images are retouched for print orders 5x7 and larger and digital file purchases. I also retouch your yearbook selection if you have formal portraits taken.
ARE DIGITAL FILES INCLUDED?The session fee is just for the session itself and the online gallery. Digital files are available for individual purchase or as part of a digital package. Please see my website for details.
Images are retouched for print orders 5x7 and larger and digital file purchases. I also retouch your yearbook selection if you have formal portraits taken.
ARE DIGITAL FILES INCLUDED?The session fee is just for the session itself and the online gallery. Digital files are available for individual purchase or as part of a digital package. Please see my website for details.
HOW MUCH ARE PRINTS?The best thing to do is go to any gallery on my site and click on the buy button for a photo. You'll see everything I offer and the pricing. To give you an idea, a 5x7 is $10, an 8x10 is $20, and an individual digital file is $50.
I offer everything from wallets to 40"x60" canvases, gift items, keepsakes, and more.
There are also packages that combine common print sizes like what they offer for school pictures.
NOTE: There is no minimum print order. You don't have to buy a package of a bunch of things you don't want just to be able to get what you need. You just want a 4x6 of a photo for grandma? Not a problem.
DO YOU PHOTOGRAPH SENIOR BOYS?
YES! While my client list is mostly girls, that's only because girls are definitely more interested in portraits than boys are.
I offer everything from wallets to 40"x60" canvases, gift items, keepsakes, and more.
There are also packages that combine common print sizes like what they offer for school pictures.
NOTE: There is no minimum print order. You don't have to buy a package of a bunch of things you don't want just to be able to get what you need. You just want a 4x6 of a photo for grandma? Not a problem.
DO YOU PHOTOGRAPH SENIOR BOYS?
YES! While my client list is mostly girls, that's only because girls are definitely more interested in portraits than boys are.
