Senior pictures are big for a teenager. These are the last photos they’re going to exchange with their high school friends. They’re going to show up in the yearbook and any other class related display the school has, and they’re going to be the last real images of them before they go off to college and live the rest of their adult lives.
While it seems like an easy venture, senior pictures can bring on stress for both the teens getting them taken and the parents who are paying for them. To make the process easier for everyone involved, here are some helpful tips for getting some quality senior pictures taken of your teen.
1. Shop around beyond the big studios – In a large city, several studios will probably offer competitive deals for senior pictures, but there’s a good chance the packages will still be expensive. Look around for someone in the area just breaking into the business. Photography enthusiasts are all around, many with computer programs that allow them to produce pictures at just as high a quality as the pricy ones from a company. Listen to word of mouth referrals and look in the local classifieds for such photographers. If you’re teen is upset at not being able to go the route that their friends are going, explain that with a more inexpensive option, you’ll be able to afford more poses for them and more pictures for them to give their friends.
2. Mix a few new outfits with some old favorites – For this important photo session, your teen will probably want some new clothes. Agree to buy a couple new outfits but encourage them to use some articles they already have. Make new outfits nice but casual enough for them to be worn on a regular basis after the pictures. If your son your daughter has something they wore for a recent semi-formal occasion, have them wear it for a couple of poses to get some more use out of it. You don’t have to break the bank, but letting them pick out some new clothes for the occasion will definitely make the process a little less stressful for everyone.
3. Encourage minimal makeup – Senior pictures are not glamour shots. Make sure your teenage daughter goes for a more natural look when applying makeup before her photo session. Though he won’t want anyone to know, a teenage son may want to use cover-up for any blemishes that pop up unexpectedly. If your daughter wants to spruce up for one or two shots, go ahead and let her, but senior pictures should take on a natural look. Remember too that airbrushing goes a long way in taking out imperfections, so warn against caking on foundation and concealer. It’s not healthy for the skin and may show up in a picture even more than a slight blemish would.
4. Make sure your teen eats well in the days before their session – Teens looking to slim down for their senior pictures may take an unhealthy route towards losing a few pounds, such as fasting or taking diet pills. Make sure they’re eating well and focusing on feeling good over looking good. Not getting enough nutrients can cause skin problems and sickness during the shoot. Eating fruits and veggies and drinking plenty of water will actually help the complexion. If your teen is worried about their size, help them choose slimming outfits and remind them that there are many poses that will show off their best look, no matter what size they are.
5. Take as many poses as are allowed – The key to taking good senior pictures is to take a bunch of them and then weed out the ones that didn’t come out so well. A studio will allow you a good number of poses and an amateur photographer may offer you even more. Take advantage of this and let your teen work with the photographer to pick poses he or she is comfortable doing. This is the parent’s turn to sit back and watch while the teen has fun playing model for their senior pictures.
6. Compromise with your teen on the final choices – When the proofs come in, there’s undoubtedly going to be some senior pictures you really like and some that your teen really likes. There’s also a good chance they won’t be the same ones. Depending on how many your budget will allow you to choose, work out a compromise with your son or daughter to get some they like and some you like as well. Keep in mind that these are reflections of them, and that image is extremely important for most high schoolers. Let them take an active part in the choosing process and respect their decisions for which photos they want to give their friends.
Taking steps to make the whole senior picture process easier on your teenager will undoubtedly make things less stressful for you as well. Give them room to express themselves while setting certain limits (e.g. financial boundaries, type of dress) and things will go smoothly, giving you both a good collection of photos to celebrate your teen’s last year in high school.
