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

Central PA best high school senior photography

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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Ask a Mechanicsburg PA Photographer: What Is Custom Photography?

08.25.22

For as many different family photographers as there are in the world, there are just as many different types of family photography experiences. Many of us, whether in our childhoods or as parents, have had one of those stressful photos shoots in a sketchy studio when we just stood in one spot and smiled over and over, feeling awkward the entire time. That’s why, from the first day I started performing photo shoots as a Mechanicsburg PA photographer, I wanted to create a different experience – an opportunity for priceless memories that brighten your home for generations.

That’s why I choose to provide custom portrait photography. Allow me to shed light on custom photography and walk you through the journey you can expect.

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From a Mechanicsburg PA Photographer: What Is Custom Photography?

Custom portrait photography is a full-service photography experience. It’s all about taking your investment beyond just snapping pictures you’ll post on Instagram once and then forget about. Custom photography focuses on giving you a tangible way to treasure your portraits and ensuring that those finished products are of the highest quality.

Many types of photography merely give you the first half – digital files of your family photos. Custom portrait photography finishes the entire journey with you so by the time we’re finished, you have a gorgeous display in your home, ready for you to enjoy.

What to Expect from a Custom Photography Process with Your Mechanicsburg PA Photographer

Each photographer will provide a different experience. When you book your custom portraits with me, though, whether it’s newborn, maternity, family, baby, or senior photos, here’s a peek into what you can expect from the process.

Step 1: Getting in Touch

It all starts with a message or phone call from you! When you reach out to me, we’ll chat for a few minutes about what you’re looking for in a Mechanicsburg PA photographer and we’ll schedule your consultation.

Step 2: The Consultation

A magical photo session always starts with careful planning and, most importantly for me, listening. I want to hear all about your vision for your portraits, how you want to display your photos, what styles and poses you love, and more. We’ll chat about the details and I’ll plan all the essentials for your dream photo session based on your intended purpose and placement for your portraits.

Step 3: The Session

The day has arrived! By the time it’s your session date, you’ll know all about where to go and what to expect because we’ll talk about it all during your consultation. Your photo shoot isn’t just a means to an end, though. I want it to be a memory-making experience too. As a Mechanicsburg PA photographer, I’ll be able to guide you through each pose and set so you can just relax and enjoy.

Step 4: The Reveal and Ordering Appointment

After your session, I’ll get to work combing through each shot, picking out the best of the best, and doing an initial edit. Two or three weeks later after your family photo shoot, you’ll come to my studio for one of the most exciting moments of the process: the big reveal!

I’ll unveil a display of all your amazing portraits and at first, you can just take it all in and enjoy them. Then, we’ll sit down and chat so you can choose your favorites for your finished products. This is also when you’ll decide on the details like the specific products you want and we’ll place the order for your custom pieces. We source a variety of products from top artisans around the world, including:

Farmhouse-style framed portraits
Heirloom photo albums
Folio display cases
Canvas or acrylic Italian wall art
Amalfi panels

Step 5: The Delivery

When your items arrive at my studio, I’ll give them a close exam to make sure they’re of the highest quality. Then, I’ll give you a call right away to arrange a time for me to deliver your new artwork. I’ll bring your custom pieces to your home and even help you install them if you wish.

Booking Your Custom Photography Experience with a Mechanicsburg PA Photographer

Custom portrait photography is all about giving you a smoother, more guided process so you don’t have to navigate unfamiliar waters – your photographer will take care of it all and provide you with incredible one-of-a-kind artwork that’s ready for you to enjoy and cherish. To kick it all off, contact my photo studio today.

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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.

lower dauphin high school senior photos in downtown hummelstown

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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Olivia {Central PA High School Senior Photography}

09.01.16

I love spending summer evenings with high school seniors! This beautiful girl is a high school senior at Cumberland Valley High School this year. She's totally on top of things and already has her college plans all set and in place. It was a pleasure to work with you, Olivia! :)

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Taylor is a SENIOR! :) {Mechanicsburg PA High School Senior Photographer}

06.21.16

This beautiful (senior!) girl is Taylor. I first met Taylor when I photographed her for the cover of Central Penn Parent magazine when she was in middle school. I've been blessed to work with her and her super fun family every year since her cover shoot! It's hard for me to believe she's going to be a senior already. Taylor is truly a one-of-a-kind girl who is beautiful on the inside and out! She's one of the sweetest teens I've ever met and had the pleasure of working with!