Thank you for booking a session with me!
Now here's everything you need to know...
Senior photos are the ones that are passed around as people reminisce on their high school days. They are the photos seen in yearbooks and hung on gallery walls for decades. They are representations of who we are for such a short period of time. I truly feel honored knowing how many of my photographs are displayed in people’s homes, shared with relatives, and will be cherished many years from now.
For many seniors, this is the first time they will be photographed by a professional camera. With phones, we are often used to seeing ourselves in photos, but there is just something extra magical about a professional photo. The lens captures you how you really look, and this can seriously instill extra confidence. This is especially important during an age where teens are constantly comparing themselves to others and feeling a lack of confidence.
My goal is to not only create family heirlooms, but to create a wonderful experience for my clients that they will remember forever. My goal is to empower my clients to feel confident about themselves and feel ready to embark on this next chapter in their lives.
The best way to have a succesful senior photoshoot is by feeling prepared and comfortable with the photographer. I am somebody that likes to know as much as humanly possible before I attend an event or have an appointment, so this post is for all the clients out there that feel similar to me.
What to wear and location...
These are probably the two most important aspects of your senior session, which is why they actually have their very own posts. When you book your session with me, I will be emailing you my favorite locations in the Madison, WI area, as well as tips on what to wear.
In addition, you will be receive more prep materials before your session. This includes: how to prep for your photoshoot and a packing list.
What should you bring with you?
Many seniors come to their photoshoots just as themselves, with nothing extra. That's fine! It doesn't have to be a crazy event where you're lugging giant bags around with you during the session. If you want to feel a little extra prepared, however, here's some items you might consider bringing with you.
First, let's talk about items that will help with maintaining your hair and makeup during the session. Some seniors like to reapply lipbalm or gloss throughout the session. If you choose, you can bring more makeup items with you for any retouching throughout. Similarly, you may want to bring a small comb to flatten any stray hairs. During the humid summer months, this can be particularly useful.
Speaking of humid summer months... many photoshoot locations can be quite buggy during the summer. I generally have a can of bug spray on me, but it doesn't hurt to bring one with you too! A small, portable fan can be handy to keep your face sweat free as we walk between spots as well.
If your session is on a particularly cold day, however, you'll want to consider items to keep you warm. Don't forget to bring your coat and warm shoes! Between locations, you can bundle up so you don't freeze.
If you're going to be showcasing any of your sports, hobbies, or interests, don't forget to bring your props! This could be a football, baseball glove, poms, musical instrument, paint brushes, books, etc. I personally love when seniors include their interests in their photoshoots. I think it's a really fun way to showcase who they are during this moment in time.
You will also want to bring your outfit changes. Don't forget to pack the entire outfit, from head to toe.
Don't worry too much about remembering all of this. I will be sending a packing list before your photoshoot including all of these items!
What if it's going to rain during your photoshoot?
I am often asked what we will do if it is going to rain during the session. As an outdoor photographer, I am constantly opening my weather app. As your photoshoot date approaches, I will be closely paying attention to the forecast and will reach out to you if we need to reschedule. Sometimes we are able to play it by ear all the way up until the session begins, but sometimes it’s obvious we’re going to need to reschedule by the day before. It will be an open discussion between the two of us. I am pretty flexible!
Should parents or someone else come with to the session?
This is up to you! I have had a complete mix of sessions where both parents come, one parent comes, or no parents at all. Sometimes the parents stay close the whole time, and sometimes they wander around the area giving us room. This will be a personal preference. Some seniors are comfortable being on their own during the session, and some like knowing their parents are near. Sometimes parents are helpful in getting genuine smiles out of a senior or watching out for small details like flyaway hairs.
I have also had sessions where a best friend or partner comes with. This is another way that seniors can feel supported during the session. Just make sure that if you're bringing someone with, they are somebody that will HYPE YOU UP and not bring you down.
*If a parent comes with... I just might ask if they want to sneak in for a photo or two!*
What should you expect on photoshoot day?
Before your session, I will make sure you know exactly where to meet me. I often will include a description of what I’ll be wearing. This can be helpful to know that you’ve found the right photographer, especially if we're in a busy area.
I generally arrive to locations early so that I can walk around and make a plan. I like to make sure that nothing unexpected is going on at the location and find the best spots that day. Please arrive to your session on time, as we have scheduled it for the best lighting possible. If you are quite early and I am there already, I still generally wait to start your session at our scheduled time as I am likely preparing. When we meet up, I will give you a brief rundown of my plan. I'll also ask for final details on your outfits and see what you're expectations for the session are. For example, did you have a particular outfit that you wanted with a particular backdrop? Once we're all on the same page, we’ll get started!
You can expect me to guide you into doing a lot of different poses and prompts. I am a big fan of getting both candid and posed photos. I may ask you to jog, skip, or twirl to create some movement. I also like to leave room for you to show me some of your favorite poses in front of the camera. Each person is different. I’ve worked with clients that clearly feel at ease in front of the camera, and I’ve worked with ones that are just doing this to appease their parents. I will feel out the situation, and help you pose in a way that feels comfortable and natural to you.
One of the most common feedbacks I receive is that the session was fun, easy, and that they felt comfortable. That is my goal. If you are feeling uncomfortable during the session, that will show through in your expression and body language. If you’re having a good time, however, your happiness will radiate in the photographs. Plus, you will look back at the pictures more fondly.
At each location, we will get a variety of backdrops. I will make sure we have close up photographs and full body ones. We will change up the poses and we will change up the props (if applicable). Depending on the distance between locations, we will either walk together or we may need to drive separately. I will keep you informed along the way.
I will being paying close attention to the time throughout the session to make sure we are getting through all the locations and outfits in a timely matter. When I feel like it's time to switch outfits, I'll make sure you're ready and that we haven't missed any shots you wanted. Depending on the location, I may lead you to the bathroom, your car, or we can utilize my pop up changing tent, so that you can change into your next outfit.
Before we end the session, I always make sure we have taken all the photos you had in mind. If you had a particular pose you wanted, please let me know! These photos belong to you, so I want to make sure that you have received everything you wanted.
What should you expect after the session?
At the end of the session, my job has really just begun. When I get home I will go through all the photos we took, usually around 600-1,000. I will choose all the ones that are the very best. I generally take out any where your eyes are closed, your expression wasn’t great, blurry images, or duplicates. This will leave us with the photos you will receive in your final gallery.
Within 24-48 hours of the session, I will email you several high quality and fully edited sneak peeks. I know you will be super excited to see your images! You are welcome to post these and tag @littledraganphotography at this time.
The rest of the gallery will be delivered by three weeks after the photoshoot date. I generally try to deliver galleries sooner, but quality can take time. You will receive an email with a link to your photo gallery. In the email you will also receive instructions on how to download your images. It is important that you download them to a safe device. I advise you to save them on multiple devices and back up your images. There is no limit to how many times you can download them or how many devices.
I will also help with your yearbook photo submission, if desired. Please make sure I know the deadline for your particular school, so that I have your photos edited in time. If it's one of the big schools in Madison, the deadline is likely in October or November. A lot of seniors like doing fall sessions, so it can get quite close to the deadline. When I send sneak peeks, I always make sure I include one or two that are good yearbook options. This can be helpful in the case that I am not done with the rest of the gallery by the time yearbook submissions are due. I am happy to submit the photo directly to your school, as long as I am given the information I need. This can be helpful, as a lot of school's will have particular requirements on sizing and image quality.
Another thing to pay attention to with your yearbook photo is any requirements the school has on posing or outfits. Many schools will require seniors to have enough coverage on their body or to not include props, animals, etc. Most schools also require that the photo is a headshot, only showing the waste up. During your session, I will be ensuring that we have photos that fit this requirement. Sometimes schools have very particular rules, so please make sure to let me know these.
Will you receive prints?
All my packages receive full printing rights of their photos. This means that you can purchase print products wherever you choose. I extremely recommend not using Walgreens, Walmart, Target, or another drugstore for your prints. The colors can be inaccurate and your prints will not look as beautiful as they do on your screen. Instead, I recommend utilizing a professional print store. My favorite local store is The Camera Company, located on the west side of Madison.
Additionally, if you want to support my small business further, you can purchase prints directly through your gallery. Simply click on the print store button on your gallery. Everything in the shop is high quality and professional grade.
If you chose an Elite or Premium package when you booked, you will also receive a print credit code with your gallery. This code can be used like a gift card to purchase prints in my print shop. If you chose Elite, you will receive a print credit worth $200. If you chose Premium, you will receive a print credit worth $100. These links will expire 6 months from the time they are made, so please make sure to use them before then.
All packages are granted a virtual print ordering appointment with me. In this call, we will talk over Zoom about your images and any print products you would like to order. I will make sure you understand how to use your print credit, if applicable. We will discuss how you want to use your images, and I will show you examples of what the products will look like. This includes albums designed by me, wall art, gifts, and more. The point of this meeting is so that I can help you streamline the print ordering process, so you won't have to make so many decisions later, and so that you know you'll be receiving high quality products.
How can you help my business grow?
When you share your photos with others, I would love to see it! I am always happy to be tagged in your posts by my handle @littledraganphotography. Tagging me is a great way to show your appreciation and help my business grow!
Lastly, I may ask you to leave a review of your experience on my Google business profile, Facebook, and/or Yelp page. Reviews are one of the best ways for future clients to see what it’s like working with me and to help my business grow. I truly appreciate everyone that is willing to take time out of their day to leave me some kind words on my page!
I can't wait to meet all you Class of 2027 seniors! Thank you for choosing me as your photographer. I promise it will be a great time!
