Senior portraits are a rite of passage for most high school seniors. Some really look forward to the experience and spend months or even years contemplating, planning and pinning looks to social media sites that they hope one day to emulate. Some dread the experience and are dragged, kicking and screaming by their parents, into it – and rightly so. Throughout their school years they have been subjected to the annual school picture day that has recorded and preserved their awkward passage through puberty in a very public way. That has typically involved them wearing clothes they didn’t want to wear, sitting still, forcing a smile and holding a pose that made them feel awkward or embarrassed. As a result, professional photography has likely not been the most amazing experience for them up to this point.

I believe the senior portrait experience should be an opportunity for your teen to have a voice, be in control of how they want to be perceived and to express their personality in a professional photograph for the very first time. Why not let them be a part of the process so that they can create something they are really excited about?

YOUR SENIOR PORTRAIT LOOK

Senior portrait looks have changed radically over the years. I know when I was seventeen I wanted to feel glamorous and grown up but ended up with the same look that all of my classmates had – and that look was CHEESY! We all had the wicker chair, the overdone lighting and the horrifying chin-in-hand pose. I cringe at the memory of how awkward I felt. At that time though, the options were pretty limited.

At Lauhala Photography I provide several options for creating the perfect senior portrait look for your teen. All options include a pre-session consultation, unlimited outfit changes, two hours of shoot time, all final, fully edited high resolution digital files and a photographer’s release form. A hair and makeup artist and/or stylist can be added for an additional fee as well. Regardless of the shoot style you choose, the goal will be collaboration. I really want your teen to be a part of the planning process and to have input in their session every step of the way.

Senior portrait sessions with me are all about expression. They are about allowing the senior to show-off their own unique personality and style and sometimes to re-invent themselves through images. I want the senior to be the creative director of the shoot which is why I work closely with them from the very beginning to help them create the photo session of their dreams. I will consult with you and your teen beforehand to get a feel for your overall vision and to make sure that we create something that your teen will love.

In that consultation I will offer suggestions for location, style and the overall mood of the session. From there we will work together to collect inspiration images, plan clothing, hair and makeup and to co-create the photoshoot that will make your teen feel confident and amazing!