As school is start to set, some parents may have been notified that High School Senior Photos are due in a few weeks. Perfect time for some tips for anyone with a senior session coming up or anyone who is curious about professional photography sessions.
1. Book Early
- As some of you may be finding out, a lot of photogs are booking up very quickly right now. It also takes time, probably the most time as a photographer, editing your photos. In other words, you may book a session for a week before photos are due, but many photographers can take upwards of a month to get you your images.
- So tip #1, book those sessions early for when the photos will be due. Even if you don't have a senior, Christmas cards are more time consuming to get printed, enveloped, and sent.
2. Plan ahead
- Tip #2 is similar to the first tip, but make sure your senior, family, or otherwise are prepared for the session. Haircuts, clothing choices, and more should be prepared before your session.
- Clothing could have a full tip-list by itself but: keep it simple, comfortable, make sure colors don't clash, and most importantly, keep it you.
- Have a snack bribe ready for the little ones if possible.
- And not to state the obvious, but do your absolute best to show up early/on time. Your photographer probably booked your session at a certain time because of lighting conditions and may have other appointments after yours.
3. Pick your photographer wisely
- Every photographer is different. Pricing, experience, personality are all important to having a great session and great photos. Just because someone is cheaper than someone else, does that mean that they are not of the same quality and vice versa.
- Make sure you do you research and check out the photographer's work. A photographer usually has a style and will keep their style when they take and edit your images. Styles that are common include: dark and moody, light and airy, natural, and more. When you book a photog, their portfolio will most likely have a consistent style, so make sure you love that style!
- In the same vein, know whether you like more posed shots or candid shots. Make sure your photographer is comfortable doing what you prefer.
- Finally, make sure they have consistent quality with their portfolios!
4. Privacy
- Make sure you understand your rights to the images you are purchasing and the photographer's rights.
- A photographer usually owns the rights to any photo they take. Photographers usually license their photos to their clients for a specific use (personal, commercial, etc.). Many people will think, "but I paid for them and they are of me!" Unless you have a written contract that says the photographer is giving up those rights, assume that you, the client, don't own the photos. That sounds rough, but it is the norm.
- The main thing to realize about this is that the photographer usually retains the right to use the images for marketing purposes and to sell the images. They also usually retain the right to share images of you/your family on social media.
- I always ask my client's if they are comfortable with sharing of their images on social media and then respect their choice, but that doesn't mean every photographer will.
- Now I am sharing this, not to scare you or to get you to argue with your photographer lol. Remember that photographer's can only book client's if they have photographs to show them their styles, quality, etc. They need your photos, so if you can, let them use your photos.
5. Value
- Know what you are paying for and what you will receive after the session.
- Is the fee just for the session?
- Do you get to download images for personal use? How many images do you get to pick? How many images will you choose from in the gallery?
- Do you get physical prints, wall art, or other? Or do you have to purchase separately?
- These are all examples of questions that you should have answered by your photographer.
As a professional photographer, Jason Goldstein Photography, I will do my best not use this publisher position for advertising my own business. That being said, it is part of the reason I am doing this. Plus, you parent's also get some inside tips!
I am also actively looking for local businesses to spotlight, so I would love to help your business with articles and/or advertisements. Feel free to email me, jasong@macaronikid.com.
I hope you enjoyed my 5 tips, and I hope you book a photography session soon! (even if it is not me )
Jason
