3 Simple Ways to Choose a Senior Photographer You'll Want to Recommend to Others
 

Your senior year is going to be one of the most memorable times in your life and what better way to keep those memories alive than with a senior photo session. However, your experience and photos are only as good as your photographer, so you need to choose wisely. 

Luckily, it’s much easier than you might think. Here are 3 simple tips that will help. 

1. Homework is a Must 

Yes, it can take some time but finding the right senior photographer is well worth the effort. Along with using a trustworthy search engine, you can also do some searches on social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook – this will give you a good idea of the photographer’s capabilities. 

Also, you need to make sure the photographer’s overall style matches your preferences. Do you want images that are slightly moody and artistic, or would you prefer bright and playful photos? Browse through your photographer’s portfolio to find out more about their style.

It’s important to look for consistency. Does your photographer have a consistent style, or does it differ across their website and social media profiles?

2. Stick to the Pros 

It might be tempting to get a friend or amateur to take your senior photos, but it’s a huge risk. You could spend weeks planning everything from your location and outfit to the props you want to use only to be left with photos you don’t want to share. When you work with a pro, you can be sure they will understand how to translate your vision into photos you love! 

3. Stick to a Senior Photographer 

A photographer can have many different specialties, but it’s advisable to pick a photographer that actually photographs seniors. It’s fine if they also specialize in other forms of photography, but senior photography should be one of them. These photographers know what looks good for these types of photos, ensuring you will be happy.

It’s also essential to read through any customer testimonials to get a better idea of what you can expect when working with a particular photographer. Any mentions of industry awards are also a good sign.

There you have it, you’re now ready to start your search. If you have any questions about what ABL Photography by Dawn can give your senior, please send us an inquiry below.

Do I Really Need a Professional Photographer for My Senior Portraits? 

When it’s so easy to take out your phone and take a good photo, you might be wondering whether it’s really necessary to hire a professional photographer for your senior photo session. 

Most smartphones have some impressive cameras and they’re great for capturing your everyday moments with friends and family. However, your phone won’t quite hit the mark for your senior portraits – here’s why. 

- Your Photographer Has Experience. There are a number of elements that make for a good photo and a photographer knows how to bring them together. What’s more, they can help guide you during your senior shoot, which can be helpful if you’ve never posed for important photos before.
- They Know How to Use a Location to Their Advantage. The location of your senior shoot matters, as does the lighting. When you work with a professional photographer, you benefit from someone who knows how to use their surroundings to create beautiful images. Over and above that, your photographer can provide you with the best location options based on your vision for your shoot.
- They Have the Equipment. Your smartphone’s camera might be impressive, but it will never match up to professional cameras, lenses, and accessories. When you hire a professional senior photographer, you are also hiring their equipment. Plus, professional equipment is necessary for different scenarios, including bad weather, indoor shots and those super cool dramatic images that are popular right now.
- Editing is a Part of the Package. It’s one thing to add a filter to a photo and another to edit it in a way that highlights all your best features at once. A professional photographer can edit your images in ways that are natural but eye-catching.
- They Bring an Artistic Eye. When you work with a professional senior photographer, their job is to bring your vision to life. However, you can also benefit from their artistic eye – you might end up using ideas you never even thought of. 

In the end, this is a big milestone, one that deserves professional photos. Your senior photo session is an investment and an experience you won’t soon forget. 

Give us a call today to get your senior photos scheduled today.  Summer fills up fast and most schools have a yearbook image submission deadline in mid-October.  

It’s almost time for the big day and you deserve to celebrate this important milestone!  As you start to think about your graduation celebration, here are the things you will want to think about. 

Who are you going to invite? 

Deciding who you want to invite will help you determine whether you need a venue, entertainment, and a caterer. Do you just want it to be family or friends and family? How many people do you plan to invite? Will it be a grand party or something more intimate?

How much do you want to spend?

Sit down and work out a budget for the party. Start by listing what is most important things to you and allocating budget towards that first.  Whatever is leftover can be used to pay for small extras. Do you wan to have food or just drinks?  Are you going to have decorations? Do you want mementos and photos on display?

Where should we have the party? 

Many seniors choose to have their parties right at home. If you would prefer to rent a space, start searching for something in your area that fits in with your theme and your budget. Once you have a shortlist, find out about venue rental fees and whether you have to purchase food and drinks directly from them or a preferred food vendor. Being able to supply your own food and drinks always works out much cheaper. If you can’t supply your own, you’re helping out a local business in town. 

What are going go serve our guests?

Food that’s easy to make and eat is a popular choice for graduation parties, unless you prefer to have a more formal sit-down meal. If you are having a party at home, opt for food you can prepare the day before. The other option is to have a caterer take care of the food for you. In fact, many local restaurants are catering parties now too. I have used Subway, Silver Mine and Qdoba before.  There’s a great BBQ place in Eaton that has catered an event I attended.  Talk to your favorite restaurant and see how they can help you!  If you have some additional budget, you could even consider a food truck. I just attended a workshop in St. Louis. Everyday for lunch they had multiple food trucks and they were delicious! I’ve seen more and more food truck around Greeley, stop and talk to them. I bet they can help you out! Maybe you just want to do snacks. What about small bags of favored popcorn from Mom’s Popcorn store in downtown Greeley. She has helped me out in the past and she’s great! You have lots of options no matter how big or small you need!

Plan Your Décor & Entertainment 

This is one of the best parts of planning a graduation party. Once you decide on a theme, create a Pinterest board and start collecting ideas. There is so much you can create right at home without spending a fortune. Whatever theme you decide on, have fun with it and make it your own. In terms of entertainment, a good playlist is all you really need. However, if you want to go big, you could hire a local band or DJ, or set up a games area. Since you will be sharing this celebration with the people you love the most.  Maybe even setup a photo booth for you and your guests to take some fun photos of each other! 

Remember, this is your graduation party, which means you don’t need to do what everyone else is doing. Celebrate in style, YOUR WAY! 

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you with invitations and photos for decorating. I am happy to help you out! We still have time to get things ordered but not for long!