why senior portraits?
While equine photos might be a specialty of mine, you need to know that I work with all forms of portrait photography and senior portraits are a favorite. I thoroughly enjoy senior sessions because I know that I am capturing special moments. The senior year is a period of life that shouldn't be forgotten and I feel honored when someone asks me to capture not only their personality, but their spirit in my photos. Seniors want photos that are stylish and make a statement about who they are. Parents want images that are timeless to be displayed in a special place in their home for years to come. Our images will please everyone.... This is your time!
your vision
When you book your session with me, I want to learn about you and who you are. What are your interests? What's your vision for your senior portraits? We are telling your story so we have some planning to do... Think about where you want your photos taken that will help us do that. Also consider how we will let everyone see your identity and your attitude. Knowing what you (and Mom) want in your portraits allows me to create the photos that will 'wow' your friends and family. Once you decide to book a session, we can decide on a location that helps us bring that vision to life. I have done sessions on athletic fields, in mountain streams, on beaches and no location is beyond my consideration. I also love when someone brings props and I encourage everyone to do so. Including items (guitars, athletic equipment, pets, etc) that say something about who you are make for unique images that your friends won't have. Of course, if you have a horse, I certainly won't mind including them in the session!
booking
The booking process starts when you contact me. Please use the contact link at the end to send me an inquiry message. Take a look at your calendar. Senior sessions are usually done the summer prior to graduation or in the fall. I usually book sessions from one to three months out on evenings and weekends. The earlier you book, the better, since sessions fill up quickly, especially during foliage season. I usually will shoot for early mornings or late afternoons on the weekend because this gives us the best light. I am an environmental portrait photographer which means that i am concerned that the beautiful spot we choose is included in the portraits. I will then send you a contract that explains all of the benefits included in your session and covers model releases and copyright.
preparing for the shoot
- First, try to get plenty of rest the night before your shoot. Even though our sessions usually last between 1.5 to 2 hours, it can be tiring to be a model!
- Drink plenty of water the day before the shoot. It will help your skin look the best
- When it comes to make-up and hair, having a professional do yours will always be better since they know what will look best for the camera. Obviously, this is your choice and if you're confident in doing your own or you'd like a more natural look with just a little make-up, that's fine also.
- For the guys, make sure you are clean shaven (or at least well trimmed) the day of the shoot. Don't wear a hat to the shoot to avoid 'hat hair' but bring it if you plan to have pictures with it.
- As far as wardrobe, I don't make any restrictions on how many outfit changes you make, however, remember that the session is 2 hours (not a hard deadline) so we have to make sure we use the time for shooting! Choose outfts that compliment your personality but be careful of clothing that's too loose since that can make you appear larger and also busy prints that can distract the viewer. The key is variety. Bring more than you think you'll use so we have lots of good choices.
- Finally, don't tan for three days prior to the shoot. This will make sure there are no tan lines that are very difficult to remove later during post processing.
after the shoot
After your shoot, I will contact you via email with a link to view your proofs. I usually deliver between 40-50 edited images that are the best from the day. These are unretouched images in your own gallery where you can select your favorites (no more than ten) that you want to have printed. You can select your favorites from this gallery and place your product order right from the site. The products and digitals you receive will be retouched and I promise you will look great! I do my own retouching and I am very experienced in the use of Photoshop for skin softening, blemish removal, minor body adjustments and eye enhancements.
investment
The portrait session fee is $300 and this is due at the time of booking. (I accept credit cards as well) This includes the initial consultation and actual shoot and ten retouched digital images. Digital images that sit on a computer for no one to see are wasted, so $200 of that fee will be credited towards your order of products after the shoot. You can choose to purchase prints, canvas wraps, albums, announcements, and more. There are several packages available or you can choose a la carte. Along with your order, you'll receive low resolution digital files of all the retouched images you selected as favorites via a custom smartphone app. In the app, you can download the files so you can post them to Facebook, Instagram, etc. Finally, all clients who purchase more than $400 in print products will receive full resolution files suitable for printing.
print products
I offer a wide variety of products that will display your images with a 'wow factor'. From traditional prints ranging from wallet size to 20x30", to metal prints, canvas and books, there's a way to display that will fit your home and needs. Check out the packages where we bundle items to make ordering more convenient and cost effective. There's also a variety of 'create your own' graduation announcements available to send to family and friends. We can discuss ordering options before placing your order and a complete catalog is available on my website.