How to Prepare Before Your Camp Hill PA Senior Photo Shoot

01.22.25

There are so many exciting events and milestones in your senior year of high school. You’ll have your last prom and homecoming, you might have senior night for whatever sports or activities you’re involved in, and your school probably has some fun senior-exclusive events too. Your Camp Hill PA senior photo shoot is one of those milestones, and here are some prep tips to make sure you get spectacular senior portraits.

High School senior poses with his mom and family dog during his senior portrait session

Invest Time in Skin Care

One of the best things you can do to make sure you look your best for the big day is to spend some time on your skin care. Yes, modern editing puts a lot of power in my hands to tidy things up in your photos, but still, no one wants to worry about pimples during their senior photo shoot. Plus, if you’re wearing makeup, a smoother complexion makes your makeup look better too. You don’t have to get too fancy and it’s not ideal to try out any new products too close to your photo shoot. But for a few weeks, be diligent about the basics like cleansing your skin twice a day, using any acne products you use, and applying non-acne-causing moisturizer.

Trinity high school senior pictures by Karissa Zimmer Photography High School Senior photoshoot with Trinity High school senior boy

Think About How You Want to Represent Yourself for Your Camp Hill PA Senior Photo Shoot

Senior photography is an amazing milestone that you’ll only get once, so even though you probably have plenty of other things keeping you busy, spend a little bit of time thinking on it. Think about how you want to represent yourself at this exciting juncture in your life. What interests and passions do you want to highlight? What’s most important to you at this time in your life? What do you want the general feel and look to be?

Senior photos next to graffiti wall downtown Harrisburg Senior Photos in downtown Harrisburg PA

Get a Fresh Haircut…But Not Too Fresh

One of the most common mistakes for photo sessions is getting a haircut a day or two before the photo shoot. You want it to be fresh, sure, but haircuts often need some time to settle in before they really look natural. Plus, if it doesn’t look the way you wanted, you need time to get it fixed. I recommend getting your haircut a week or two before the session.

High School senior boy photos near Harrisburg PA with Karissa Zimmer Photography

Plan Ahead for Props

In a senior photo session, props are a great way to create snapshots of what your life is like at this age. But you don’t want to be scrambling to get your props together at the last minute so plan ahead to decide what you want to bring and to make sure they’re ready. For example, make sure your athletic jersey will be clean and wrinkle-free, have your musical instrument polished, and so on.

Best High School Senior Photographer in Harrisburg PA captures black and white image of senior boy with his violin Trinity High School senior Boy poses with his violin at his senior photo session in Harrisburg PA

Preparing for Your Camp Hill PA Senior Photo Shoot

These tips will get you started, but part of the benefit of hiring a professional photographer is the guidance we can give. You don’t have to worry about a thing! At Karissa Zimmer Photography, I’ll guide you through a checklist and help you plan the perfect Camp Hill PA senior photo shoot.

Mom poses for a shot with her son during his Harrisburg Senior Photo session with Karissa Zimmer Photography

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How to Choose Locations for Your Mechanicsburg PA Senior Photos

09.12.24

Your senior portraits are an exciting milestone in your life and they’ll serve as a lifelong link to this moment in life before you embark on the adventure of adulthood. As a local photographer I can’t wait to help you create the Mechanicsburg senior photos of your dreams, and a big part of the planning is choosing the locations for your photo shoot. Here are my top tips for finding the perfect photo locations for your session.

High school senior poses in wildflower field during her photoshoot with Karissa Zimmer Photography. — High School Senior Photography near Mechanicsburg PA

Best high school senior photographer near Mechanicsburg PA photographs senior girl photos in flower field.

The #1 Tip: Use Your Photographer’s Expertise

When you hire a professional photographer, you’re not just getting someone to wield a camera - you’re also getting all the photographer’s expertise too. I’ve been photographing seniors and other photo sessions throughout the area for years, so I know all the best spots! During your pre-session consultation we’ll talk about the types of looks you want for your portraits and I’ll be able to recommend locations based on your vision.

High school senior girl twirls on bridge during her senior photo session near Mechanicsburg PA — Best Mechanicsburg Senior Pictures

Consider the Mood or Tone of Your Mechanicsburg PA Senior Photos

One of the aspects of senior photography I love most is that they can have so many different ideas from one person to the next because they’re all about celebrating who you are at this time in your life. Where you take photos can immediately set the tone for your portraits, so we’ll choose your locations together based on the looks you want.

For example, if you want an edgy or industrial vibe there are plenty of locations with that look, or if you want something that has more of a girly and lighthearted tone we can choose a field of flowers or something with that type of atmosphere. These are just two examples but there are countless looks we can create and I can always find a location that matches the vibe.

Flower field senior pictures with Karissa Zimmer Photography

High Senior girl laughs and poses at her photoshoot near Mechanicsburg PA

Think About Meaningful Locations

For some seniors, there are certain locations that mean a lot to them or are a big part of their lives, and these can make fantastic backdrops for your senior portraits. For example, if you’re a baseball player, we could take photos at a local baseball field. You don’t have to incorporate meaningful locations but it’s an idea to consider.

Creek senior photoshoot with high school senior girl

Keep an Eye on Convenience

Of course you want to have the perfect locations for your photo shoot, but particularly when we’re going to several locations, convenience does need to play a part. It would take a lot of time out of your session if we have to drive 20 minutes or so between locations, so ideally, we want to choose locations that are within a few minutes’ drive.

High School girl poses in flowers during her senior photo session in Mechanicsburg

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Planning Your Mechanicsburg PA Senior Photos

Ready to get started planning the senior photo session of your dreams? Let’s jump in! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s start dreaming.

Mechanicsburg PA High School Senior Photographer wildflower photoshoot

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Harrisburg Senior Photos: What to Wear

11.06.23

Senior photos are a rite of passage that so many emerging young adults look forward to, and you want your photos to be as beautiful as you are! One important factor to plan for is your wardrobe. What should you wear for your Harrisburg senior photos? I’ll chat with you about specifics during your pre-consultation, but in the meantime, check out these tips.

Best Harrisburg Senior Photographer — Downtown Harrisburg High School Senior Photos

Bring Variety

All my senior photo sessions include multiple outfit changes, and you want your outfits to be different enough to capture all the looks you want. Consider bringing one casual outfit, one outfit that’s more formal, and one that reflects your personality or hobbies like your jersey for a sport you play, an outfit with a rocker aesthetic, or your culture’s traditional dress. It’s a good idea to have a few extra outfits too in case you change your mind or have a last-minute stain or broken zipper.

Boxing Senior Pictures in Harrisburg — Boxing Senior Pictures

Boxing Senior Photos near Harrisburg PA — Senior Boy Boxing Photos

Don’t Forget the Details

When planning your outfits, the clothes are just the starting point. Plan which accessories, shoes, and jewelry you plan to wear with each outfit too and try it all on together. This way, you can make sure it looks the way you want and that you have everything you need.

Senior Boy Photos by Karissa Zimmer Photography — Harrisburg Pa High School Senior Photography

Have Layering Options for Your Harrisburg Senior Photos

Layers are magic in a photo session! They give you more visual variety without a full outfit change and they add some depth and texture to your photos. Bring a denim jacket to go over your dress or a flannel shirt to layer onto a t-shirt and jeans.

Senior Pictures in Downtown Harrisburg PA by Karissa Zimmer

Avoid Going Overboard with Patterns

A good rule of thumb for photo shoots is to choose solid colors rather than complex patterns. Avoid anything with words or with a prominent logo too. The exceptions may be outfits that signify a particular hobby or interest you have.

Senior Boy Photo Session on City Island Walking Bridge — City Island Walking Bridge Senior Portraits

City Island Senior Boy Photos — City Island Walking Bridge Senior Portraits

Planning Your Harrisburg Senior Photos

Ready to start planning your once-in-a-lifetime senior photo session? Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography today!

Parking Garage Black and White Senior Photo Session

Best high school senior photographer in Central PA

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Preparing for Your Downtown Harrisburg High School Senior Portraits: Top Tips

03.31.23

So many of the photo sessions I perform are centered on a specific moment in my clients’ lives, and creating lasting mementos of this moment that they can cherish in the decades to come. That’s certainly the case with downtown Harrisburg high school senior portraits. Your child (or young adult) is about to launch a new life for themselves, and I’m here to make sure these portraits are the exciting milestone celebration they should be.

Want to make sure your teen’s senior portraits go as well as possible? Follow these tips as you’re planning and preparing.

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Be Strategic with Outfits for Your Downtown Harrisburg High School Senior Portraits

Clearly, the outfits your teen chooses will make a great difference in the final look of their portraits, so it’s important to choose outfits wisely. It can be difficult to know what will and won’t photograph well. While planning your session, I’ll chat with you about my recommendations based on your teen and the look we’re aiming for, but here are a few other tips to keep in mind:

Choose solid colors or simple patterns over busy distracting patterns - we don’t want a shirt to steal the spotlight from your teen! The same goes for your jewelry: simpler is better.
Select outfits that are comfortable so your teen feels confident for their photo shoot.
Make sure the wardrobe feels authentic to your teen and their style.

When in doubt about an outfit, bring it! I can check out the outfits you’ve brought and give you my expertise on which ones will photograph best.

Leave Some Safety Time for New Looks

You don’t want to do anything *too* new on the photo shoot day. A fresh haircut is great, but make sure you schedule it for at least a week before your teen’s photo session. That gives it time to even out a bit if necessary and time for them to get used to styling it (or to fix it if they don’t like it). If your teen wants to try a new hairstyle or makeup look for their portraits, practice a few times at home first.

Work with Your Photographer on Props for Your Downtown Harrisburg High School Senior Portraits

During your teen’s high school senior portraits, props are a fantastic way to highlight who they are at this fun stage in their life. I’m always up for incorporating props like their sports jerseys, musical instruments they play, and props that align with their other hobbies and interests. We may even be able to take portraits with your teen’s beloved car or bike!

With props, though, you don’t want to bring any surprises to the photo shoot. Chat with me in advance about what props you want to bring so I can strategize the best ways to incorporate them.

Make Skincare a Priority

It’s so easy to fall out of your skincare routine, but your teen should make it a priority to maintain theirs in the weeks before their senior portraits. If your teen wants a facial, talk to your aesthetician in advance about when to schedule it based on their photo session, because some facials can cause irritation for a day or two.

With that said, don’t worry if your teen has some pimples during their photo shoot. Editing software is our friend!

The Ultimate Advice for Your Downtown Harrisburg High School Senior Portraits: Use Your Photographer’s Expertise

All the tips above are helpful but here’s the end-all-be-all: take advantage of your photographer’s expertise. I’ve been taking senior photos for many years and have first-hand experience with what works well and what doesn’t. When you hire me, you’re not just paying for my camera and my photography skills, you’re paying for my expertise. So, if you have a question, just ask!

Ready to start planning the outstanding downtown Harrisburg high school senior portraits your teen deserves? Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography today.

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Camp Hill High School Senior Portraits: Questions to Ask Your Photographer

01.13.23

Senior photography is a hallowed tradition that creates a lifelong memento of this incredibly unique milestone in your teen’s life. Every photographer works a bit differently, though, so it’s important to ask the right questions to know what to expect from the experience. As you prepare to book your Camp Hill high school senior portraits, make sure you’re asking these important questions.

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How Will You Customize My Teen’s Camp Hill High School Senior Photo Session?

Senior portraits shouldn’t be cookie-cutter copies with the same poses and styles from person to person. These portraits are all about representing your young adult and who they are at this time in their life, so make sure your photographer will customize their session accordingly. For each of my clients, I customize their session based on their interests, activities, and personal aesthetic.

What Should I Bring to My Teen’s Photo Session?

Be sure to make a list of items your photographer recommends that you bring to your senior’s portrait session. That will include all the obvious items, like outfits and accessories as well as anything you might need to touch up their hair or makeup. Along with all this, though, I ask my seniors to bring any props that will help their portraits suit them. That can include anything that represents their interests – musical instruments, sports jerseys, and so on.

What Finished Products Will I Receive?

Before you book your senior portrait session, make sure you know what you’ll have in hand when all is said and done. Does your photographer work with you to design and order quality products like prints, framed portraits, albums, and so on? Or will you only receive digital files? As a full-service photographer, I guide my clients through every part of the process including ordering, sourcing, and delivering printed products so you know that you’ll have prints you can treasure and enjoy.

Booking Your Camp Hill High School Senior Portraits

Ready to get the ball rolling for your teen’s Camp Hill high school senior portraits? Book a senior photo session with Karissa Zimmer Photography today.

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How To Support Your Photographer During COVID-19 | Camp Hill PA Photographer

04.17.20

If you have a favorite photographer or photographer friend in your life…check on us. We are not ok! It is a very scary time for all of us small business owners. But, there are ways you can help support us in this time of crisis. If you’re not able to shop and spend with us, keep us in your thoughts and prayers! In addition, please, please share our social media posts, leave a glowing Google review, or tag us in your favorite photo that we took. These little things all help so much more than you can imagine!

Like many photographers, my slow season is usually ending as soon as the first blooms start to break the dead of winter. It’s the time for fresh new life and outdoor maternity photos, family portrait sessions, pictures of children happily playing outside. I am usually on bloom “look out” and casing out my favorite locations for those beautiful tree blossoms that make for the perfect maternity, senior or family photography session. This is a time I look forward to every year as do many of my clients. This year is so very different. And so very scary too.

Small Businesses Need Your Support

I am blessed in so many ways. I thank God everyday that I am able to do what I love as my job! However, I don’t think anything could have prepared me for this COVID crisis. Many of you know that I am a solo mom of an awesome 12 year old daughter and that my photography business is my (typically-MORE than) full time job. It’s my livelihood – my bread and butter. Not being able to make a living for (at this point) over a month is tough. And to kick, most little businesses like mine have not yet seen a penny of our government’s promised help. I know there are many, many people walking in my shoes right now. Certainly, I am not alone! I want to be here to see you again when dust settles. And I want to connect and capture the moments that mean the most to you. Not only do I miss my clients and doing what I love so much, I miss being able to make a living to provide for my daughter and I. The good news is, there are lots of ways you can help support the photographer in your life! Some of them costing $0!

How You Can Support Your Photographer during this crisis:

1. Buy Products

Remember that extra piece of wall art or album that you loved so much and wanted to add later? This is a perfect time to invest in an additional product/s from your previous session! It’s also a fantastic way for you show your support monetarily…and to purchase something beautiful that you and your children will have forever. Need to see your album layouts or images on your walls again? No problem. Let me know and I will create new wall mock-ups for you or provide you with the ones you saw during your ordering session. I would be happy to Skype screen share and walk you through the ordering process again to help you make the perfect selections!

2. Purchase a gift certificate to use at a future session

Do you already have a session booked with me or know that have your memories captured every year by “yours truly”? You can purchase a gift certificate in any amount to use toward portrait products at your future ordering session! It never expires and gets you a jump start on your order…and helps support your favorite photographer during these crazy times!

3. Leave a Great Review

Google reviews are literally worth their weight in gold! For every positive review I receive, not only does it help attract potential amazing clients (like you!), but Google thinks I’m the bees knees and puts me higher up in search results. Lets be real, when is the last time you ventured past the first page of search results?!

4. Engage on/share social media posts

Let’s be honest, no one has a lot on their daily calendar right now anyways, and there is a pretty good chance you’re on your phone scrolling through Instagram and Facebook. Likes, comments and shares are are all super helpful and show that you care about your photographer! Commenting and spreading the love helps our posts stay relevant and could introduce us to potential clients that you’re connected with on social media.

5. Refer me to your friends

A referral of friends and family is the greatest compliment you can give your photographer! If you’re not in the position to spend on a portrait product from a previous session or towards your future session, maybe you know someone who is looking to update their family pictures or add some art to their walls. Referring your friend or loved one to hire me as their photographer is showing me that you trust me and my work so much that you want someone you care about to experience working with me. That means the world.

Thank you to all of my amazing clients for your love and continued support. Not only now, but all the times you’ve trusted me to capture your memories and supported my little business in the past.

Love,

Karissa

Camp Hill Pa photographer asks for small business support during COVID crisis

To contact me about purchasing a product or gift certificate to use toward future products you can reach out to me via phone or text at 717-991-7414 or send me a message HERE.

I would love for you to follow me on HERE on Instagram!

Karissa Zimmer Photography is a Camp Hill PA photographer specializing in Newborn, Maternity, Family and High school senior portraits. She services all of Central PA including Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Hershey, Carlisle, and surrounding areas.

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High School Senior Pictures near Hummelstown Pa | Emma’s Senior Photo Session

03.06.20

High School Senior Pictures near Hummelstown Pa | Emma’s Senior Photo Session – Part TWO

High School Senior Pictures near Hummelstown Pa | Emma’s Senior Photo Session – Part TWO. Emma’s senior pictures were EPIC. Emma has one very ambitious dad. Because, how many parents do you know that would haul their child’s piano to a field for a photo session? He was determined to have his daughter’s number one passion captured exactly how she envisioned it. Together, we came up with a plan to carry out this vision to showcase Emma as the musician she is! AND yes, this took some very careful planning. Summer evening thunder stroms were our biggest obstacle and enemy during this part of Emma’s session. And it sure did involve some scheduling, re-scheduling and sitting in our cars to wait out the storms. BUT determination and persistence won and Emma has some of the most gorgeous senior picture memories – I must say so myself!

high senior girl photographed in field with piano in hummelstown pa

high school girl plays the piano in her harrisburg pa senior photos

Not only is Emma a pianist, but she also sings! Again, we were total obstacle dodgers and improvisors. We had a plan to capture her love for singing in her church choir, but our plan didn’t go as planned. And I couldn’t be happier because we ended up with some of my favorite shots from my backup plan! How awesome are these shots?

high senior girl photographed with sheet music in hummelstown pa

It’s my passion to capture your passions. It’s makes my heart so full and happy to be able to connect with my senior portrait clients and to showcase their individual personalities. I believe you should feel beautiful inside and out and your senior pictures should reflect that.

senior photos of girl in a field near harrisburg pa

senior girl photographed in flowers near harrisburg pa

2021 Seniors – Start planning your session now.

Are you going to be a 2021 senior next year? Now is the time to start thinking about your senior pictures! I’d love to connect with you. I want to learn all about you and your passions so that I can capture images that will mean something to you forever. We’ll carefully plan to capture your vision and i’ll share my own thought and ideas with you! Let’s chat about making some magic with your senior photos and reserve a date just for you. To get started, send me a quick message HERE.

Connect with me on INSTAGRAM to catch more senior picture peeks and other fun images!

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Senior Photos near Harrisburg PA | Emma’s Senior Pictures

02.07.20

Senior Photos near Harrisburg PA | Emma’s Senior Pictures – Part One

Senior Photos near Harrisburg PA | Emma’s Senior Pictures – Part One! Hey high school juniors! It’s that time of year to start thinking about booking your senior pictures! I believe your senior photos should make YOU FEEL beautiful inside and out. And that is my goal and I am confident that we can achieve that together. Just take a look at this beautiful 2020 high school senior, Emma!

This girl is absolutely gorgeous on the inside and out. And she’s talented, incredibly smart and so sweet. I felt like Emma and I connected right away. Instantly I knew her session was going to be one of a kind and her senior pictures were going to be seriously AWESOME.

high school senior girl photographed in field of flowers near hershey pa

I’m pretty sure Emma, her parents and I got to know each other pretty well through her senior portrait process. We very carefully planned out her session together, so that Emma’s personality would shine through her images. We dodged a lot of summer thunder stroms, had to postpone a few times because of unpredictable weather, but we finally made magic happen!

lower dauphin high school senior pictures in Hummelstown square

Emma and I spent an afternoon and evening together. We had lots of laughs and picked all the greatest spots we could find for her senior pictures in Harrisburg, Hershey and Hummelstown. But this is only part ONE! Just wait till you see Emma’s senior pictures part TWO! This girl has got some musical talents and passions and there was no way we could leave that out. That is who she is! I genuinely believe your senior pictures should illustrate exactly who you are at this time in your life. Life offers so much growth and change, but the memories of who you are right now are something you will want to remember forever.

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high school senior photographed by karissa zimmer photography near harrisburg pa

Let’s plan your 2021 high school senior session!

Emm’a senior pictures are beautiful in all the ways. Yours should be too! I will help you with that, I promise! It may seem early to start planning, but it’s not! I want to get to know you, all about your passions and interests. What makes you light up and get excited. And that’s what we’ll plan your senior session around! I am starting to book summer senior sessions for 2021 high school seniors now! Let’s chat. Send me a quick message HERE to talk about planning and reserve a date for your senior portraits!

Want to see more senior images and other fun sessions? – connect with me on INSTAGRAM

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Newborn-Maternity-Family and High School Senior Photographer in Mechanicsburg PA

12.31.19

Newborn-Maternity-Family and High School Senior Photographer in Mechanicsburg PA | 2019 year in review!

As a Newborn-Maternity-Family and High School Senior Photographer in Mechanicsburg PA 2019 was awesome! I’ve captured some of my most favorite images this year. I’ve snuggled, loved and photographed some of the most adorable babies in all of Central PA! I am totally sure of it! I’ve giggled with kiddos, ran around like a nut with toddlers, channeled my youthful soul while capturing high school senior pictures and watched my repeat client families grow up a little more this year. I mean, it will be hard for me to write this post without a few tears. Guys – this is not just my job. This is a genuine labor of love here. Some will say “you shouldn’t be emotionally connected to your job,” but I disagree. I do this with my whole heart. I look back on a year and feel so blessed to have crossed paths with each and every one of my clients. Some it was for the very first time and others who feel like they’ve become old friends. You guys are all gold to me. Every one of you holds a special place in this photographer’s heart of memories.

Now, for a moment of transparency…because, let’s be real-2019 wasn’t all sunshine, unicorns and glitter. It included some unexpected hurdles to jump at times- I guess you could say. This 2019 year required some serious faith to get through the things that are out of my control and the drive to conquer all that is within it. With those two things, the most amazing family, a few very close friends and a whole handful of the greatest clients any photographer could have – Here I am! Happy, healthy, and ready to take on 2020 and all it’s new adventures!

family newborn maternity high school senior photographer in harrisburg pa

harrisburg pa family newborn maternity high school senior photography

All of these moments that we turned into tangible, keepsake memories mean everything.

Not only to you, but to me. I have a genuine value for family and the people we love most. I know how much it will mean to you forever to have these memories of the babies,children, spouses and EVEN PUPPIES you love. Time will change us all. We’ll grow older as will our children. These moments you allowed me to capture for you are frozen forever. That is priceless. Thank you for trusting me to capture these memories for you this year. Thank you for allowing me to guide you through this process and allow me to help you choose tangible, heirloom artwork for your home so that your children’s children will have these special family memories. They’ll be just as important to you decades from now as they are today!

Let’s talk about 2020!

As we say goodbye to 2019 it’s important to plan for the future! Silly resolution time, I know! But, I’m excited! I’ve got big plans for the new year and I’m looking forward to connecting with all of you who will be a part of it! I will, however, be scheduling limited sessions each month. This keeps me on my A game so that I can give each of you a personal and custom portrait experience. Most important, I’m a mom myself, so being present for my daughter is my biggest priority. I’m all about “being the best version of ourselves” and a good start for me is by not overfilling my plate. I want to give everyone I care about the best version of me! So, with that being said…plan, plan, plan ahead! Yep, I know…lots of us a procrastinators, but it’s best to book your session several months in advance! If you’re expecting a baby this year – it is best to schedule your newborn session before your 3rd trimester. That way, all is set when baby arrives! Newborn session openings fill FAST! If you’re thinking ahead to spring and summer – now is a great time to get the planning started! It is MY MOST FAVORITE time of the year for family photography! Absolutely, positively the most beautiful time of the year! And Fall…welll….i’m still recovering from the past few months. We’ll revisit the idea of fall again soon! Hahaha!

Let’s chat about your family!

I’d love to chat about what makes your family special and how we can capture that for you. I’ll sit down with you and carefully plan all the details to how we will photograph your special people. I’ll walk you through my entire portrait process. Send me a quick message HERE to get in touch with me!

Do you follow me on INSTAGRAM? Catch all the sneak peeks and fun updates there!

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Essential Questions to Ask a Potential Senior Photographer

10.31.19

Chances are your senior portrait session may be your first time working with a photographer, so you want to make sure you choose someone who can create the images you want to mark this milestone in your life. The right photographer can make all the difference when it comes to getting photos you’ll want to share with everyone you love.

Not sure how to choose the right photographer for you? You’re in luck! We’ve compiled some questions you should ask of any potential senior photographer become committing to a photo session.

What packages do you offer?
Pricing is often the number one concern when it comes to choosing a photographer. If your parents are paying, be sure to talk to them about a budget for your session, as well as what products they would like before speaking to any photographer. When you speak with a photographer, ask about pricing, different package options, and what’s included with each package. Many photographers offer a certain number of prints or products with your session, while some simply include digital files and rights to all edited images. Know what your options are before you book your photo shoot.
Will we have a consultation?
You don’t want to meet your photographer for the first time at your session. It’s important to have a face-to-face consultation ahead of time so you can both get a better idea of each other’s personalities and whether you would work well together. If a photographer is unwilling to schedule a consultation, they’re probably not as professional as they seem and not a good fit.
How would you describe your photography style?
Every photographer is different. Some may specialize in artistic, posed images, while others prefer a more candid, journalistic style. A photographer may do only studio images, only natural light sessions, or a combination of both. Know ahead of time what style of photos you like best and choose a photographer whose style matches your vision.
How many outfits can I have in my session?
Most photographers have a limit on the number of outfits you can bring to a session, just to ensure that things keep moving and you don’t waste valuable photo time changing clothes. If you have several outfits in mind, but your photographer only allows two, you either need to compromise on your wardrobe choices, pay for additional time, or find a different photographer. It’s important to know ahead of time how many outfits you can wear so you can plan your outfits in advance.
When will I receive my images?
This is especially important if you need your images for graduation announcements or a party. Find out how long it will take to get your images, even if it’s just a general idea. Understand that editing images takes times, and you are not the photographer’s only client, but you also don’t want to wait months to get your images.
What are your cancellation and rescheduling policies?
Life happens, and you may have to reschedule your session or cancel it altogether. It’s important to know ahead of time if you can get a partial or full refund in the event of a cancellation, as well as the policy for rescheduling your session, should the issue arise.
Will I have the rights to print my images?
This is a very important question. If you want to print graduation announcements or even use your senior photo in your yearbook, you need to clear it with the photographer. Many photographers provide rights to all digital images, allowing you to print as many copies as you’d like, but it’s important to be sure before you do so.
By asking questions and getting answers from any potential senior photographer, you can ensure that you find the right professional who is a perfect match for your personality and can help you get the images you want to mark your high school graduation!

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Senior