Senior Photos Prep Guide

I have one in high school and two in junior high, and I’m already overwhelmed by the chaos of having a teen. Practices, homework, jobs, friends…and somehow teaching them how to live alone and be a responsible adult?? There literally aren’t enough hours in the day.

Which is why I want to make the process of having senior photos as painless as possible – for both of you. This guide includes some quick tips on how to book a session, locations, what to wear, and what to bring.

Scheduling your senior session

First step: get your session scheduled! Pricing and session packages can be found at this link. I offer online scheduling, but I do occasionally have dates not shown, so feel free to send me a message if you don’t see any dates that work for you.

When to schedule your photos

Yearbook deadlines come up REALLY fast, depending on which high school you attend, and can be as early as November 1st of your senior year.

If you are planning on winter or spring photos, they will need to happen during December to May of your junior year. Summer and fall photos can be scheduled for June through October of your senior year (or the summer immediately after your junior year).

My summer and fall fill up quickly, so it’s not out of line to get in touch the winter of your junior year to schedule photos. Most weekend dates are booked by April (if not earlier).

If it’s completely slipped your mind, and suddenly it’s October and you’re realizing you need photos, you may still be able to get on the schedule. But due to my workload of fall seniors and families, I may need to apply a rush fee to ensure your photos are ready by the yearbook deadline.

What time of day will the session start?

All senior sessions are scheduled for evenings, starting 2-3 hours before sunset. Start time depends on location, number of outfits, and number of locations, so I usually estimate a start time when booking your session, and narrow it down as we get closer.

How long are senior sessions?

The length of the session depends on your type of session, the number of locations, the number of outfits, and whether or not we need to travel during the session. Plan on 2-3 hours for a Classic or Deluxe Senior Session, but know that I will also gauge how your senior is feeling during the session – if we need to be done in 90 minutes, we will be!

Choosing a location

With all the fantastic options we have for locations in Cheyenne, picking out a session location can be overwhelming! To help, I’ve put together a blog post with the Best Locations for Senior Photos in Cheyenne. This post covers the best times of year for each location, and gives examples from each location.

Overwhelmed? I’m here to help! Shoot me a message with some of your preferences (fall color, they want to bring their car, fishing) or screenshots from Pinterest, and I’m more than happy to make suggestions.

Multiple Locations

Sometimes it can be hard to find a location that works for both parents and senior clients. The senior wants something a bit edgier, with the car they’ve spent the last four years (and allll their hard-earned money) on. And while you’re more than happy to support your kid, you’d love to have one nice one to send to Grandma.

That’s why in-town locations can be perfect! With both the Classic and Deluxe Senior Session, I offer the option of two in-town locations:

• Lions Park
• Cheyenne Botanic Gardens
• Downtown (including parking garages!)
• State Capitol
• Central/South/East High School
• Cheyenne Greenway
• Hereford Ranch (reservation needed)

Keep in mind that multiple locations does make for a longer session, so if you have a photo-resistant senior, you may want to keep the props (and locations) to a minimum. Also be aware that Classic Sessions include three outfits total (not 3 outfits/location).

Deluxe Sessions include the option of two locations within 50 miles of Cheyenne, for seniors who can’t choose between the mountains and city. Locations included in this offer are:

• Downtown Cheyenne, WY State Capitol, Lions Park/Botanic Gardens, at home location in/near Cheyenne, Central/East/South (choose one)
• Curt Gowdy, Vedauwoo (choose one)

Locations must be photographed on the same night. If you think you might need two locations over two nights, let me know – I’m happy to offer a discount on a second session night.

Custom Locations

While the Deluxe Session covers locations within 100 miles, I do still get requests for locations outside that mileage range. I’m more than happy to accommodate location requests, especially when they’re locations that are important to your family.

If you have a request for a location, let me know when booking your session. Depending on the location and travel time, I may need to charge an additional travel fee.

Adding a family session

You’ve finally organized your life enough to get senior photos on the calendar, which means this is a perfect time to also get family photos done – right??

Not always. Senior photos are exhausting, even for the most photogenic and photo-loving senior. Choosing three (or more!) outfits, changing into said outfits, doing hair/shaving, smiling, posing…it can be a lot for someone who is still a kid.

When planning for family photos in addition to a senior session, I recommend scheduling them for different nights. I’m happy to offer a discount on family sessions when scheduled for the same year as a senior session – get in touch for more info!

What to bring to your session

In addition to clothing, you may want to bring:

• Lint roller
• Hair stuff (brush, gel, etc)
• Chapstick/lip gloss
• Makeup for touch ups
• Waterbottle
• Snacks
• Shoes for walking between locations

Make sure to bring any props you want to include (cars, dogs, instruments, sports equipment). Let me know ahead of time if you want to include any props, as some locations will work better than others for things like dogs and cars.

Looking for a what to wear guide? Here are my tips for what to wear for a senior photo session.

After the session

Your session is over! Now what??

When will your gallery be ready?

Deluxe Session clients will have their full gallery in their inbox within one week of the session (or one week of the final balance being paid).

For Basic and Classic Sessions, I do my best to have sessions edited in 3 weeks, but during the fall busy time, it can occasionally approach 4 weeks.

If you’ve scheduled a Basic or a Classic Session, but realize that you need your gallery in less than 3 weeks, I do have the option of a rush fee. A rush fee means your photos will be done within 48 hours, depending on availability. For more information, get in touch!

How many images can we download?

Deluxe and Classic Sessions include all the images, in an online gallery. They include unlimited downloads, which means not only can you and your family download all the photos, you’re welcome to share the link with family and friends who may want to view and download (hey, grandma!).

I guarantee to keep your gallery online for at least one year, but I recommend backing up all your photos, as I cannot promise availability forever.

Basic Sessions include up to 5 images for download. The full gallery can be purchased for $400.

How do we design an album?

If you’ve chosen to purchase an album, or your session includes an album, I will send you an email asking you to choose 25-30 of your favorite images from your session. Once that’s completed, I will send back a set of album proofs, outlining your album design (typically one image/page). You are welcome to make one round of changes, after which I will send off your design to my printer.

You will also be given the choice of cover type and color, along with an embossed title.

Albums typically take about one week from the time I order to the time it will be delivered.

Where do we purchase prints?

Your gallery will have a shop attached to it. You are welcome to order prints through your gallery shop and have them professionally printed, or you are welcome to print on your own. If you don’t see a product or size you want, but would still like to order prints through me, send me an email and I’ll get you a price list.

If you would like to print on your own, I recommend using Mpix for prints, and Minted for graduation announcements.

More Information

If you have questions about your session, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! That’s what I’m here for. 🙂

If you’re looking to book a senior session, or need more information on my senior sessions, head to this link. I also have more information about my session types here.