Senior Portraits: What to Expect

28 Mar Senior Portraits: What to Expect

The end of yet another school year is creeping up, which means all those juniors are about to officially become seniors; how exciting! Senior year is full of the most fun moments of high school, notably prom, senior nights, and, of course, graduation! But before that (and it’ll come faster than you think), you have your senior pictures taken.

Luckily for you, you’re in the right place! C3 has been taking senior portraits for years. We offer indoor and outdoor sessions right here at our studio in Salem, NH. From the years spent photographing seniors, our photographers know that not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera. But no worries! I’m going to break down exactly what to expect when you book a shoot with us.

Before you book:

Pick Your Location
We offer both indoor and outdoor sessions at the studio, with the most popular being half and half. We have a formal studio set up inside along with a huge green spot outdoors with flowers and trees. With us, you get the best of both worlds. And if that’s not what you’re looking for then C3 also offers on-sight shoots. We’ve been to beaches, forests, parks, lakes, and even a construction site to get pictures that really feel like you.

Pick a Date
When you call to book, it’s a good idea to already have a general day or time in mind. Typically we book 2-3 weeks out so have a few in mind and don’t wait until the last minute. The benefit to booking early allows you to have back up dates. If you’re expecting an outdoor session and it’s raining, we have time to schedule a make-up day. Also, the earlier you book, the less you’ll have to pay. We run specials all throughout the summer. Students who come in to have their picture taken in June have no sitting fee, and students who come in July have a half off sitting fee. The sooner you come in, the more you save!

When booking:

Making the Call
Booking is super easy! All you have to do is call the office at 603-212-9090 and somebody will put you on the schedule. Make sure to have both your contact information and a parent’s contact information ready for us to write down. When you call, please don’t be afraid to ask questions. We want to help you and alleviate as much stress as we possibly can. I always recommend students bring 2-3 outfits; one being more formal for indoors, one that is more casual for outdoors, and a 3rd option that can be worn both in and outside. I also like to remind students that this session is about you. You want pictures that you’ll love forever and one way to assure that outcome is to bring props. Some seniors bring in instruments or sports equipment to pose with and showcase their personalities. The studio is pet friendly, so please, bring your dogs, cats, turtles, and anything else to pose with. Or, bring friends! Last year we had a group of friends schedule their senior sessions in a way that overlapped so that they could get group photos together, and it turned out great. Nobody in the world makes you feel as comfortable as your friends.

The Day of Your Session:

Wear Something You Love
I tend to recommend two to three outfits for a typical, 30 minute session. Choose one outfit that’s casual and one that’s formal. This will give you options to help add variety to your pictures. No matter what, make sure they are outfits that you love wearing and make you feel comfortable and confident. It will show in your pictures. Have four outfits? That’s fine, we’ll take two indoor and two outdoor. Our studio has a bathroom that you can change in.

At the Studio
When you walk into the studio, someone will come out to greet you. We’ll hand you some paperwork to fill out and then your photographer will come out to introduce themself. We have plenty of water, coffee, tea, and candy for you to help yourself to while the camera room and lights are being set up. We encourage students to check over themselves in the bathroom one more time before getting the pictures done. We have everything you could ever need in our bathroom: mascara, tweezers, nail clippers, hair brushes, clips, bobby pins. When you’re finished making sure you look great, it’s time for the pictures to start. Our staff will chat with you and get to know you while taking your pictures, and in no time, you’ll feel like a natural model.

Before You Leave
Once you’re done and we have plenty of gorgeous pictures, we’ll get you checked out. We hang on to the images in order to color correct them and narrow it down to the absolute best. We then compile all the images into a proof book for you to take home and look over. After that, all you have to do is pick your favorites and place an order, which can be done either over the phone or in person.

We try our best to make this easy and stress-free. All of our work is 100% guaranteed, so if you’re in any way unhappy with your pictures, we’ll schedule a retake session for free to ensure that you get a product you love. If there’s any questions I haven’t answered here, check out our FAQ page!

Senior year is fun and exciting. Remember it all with photos that show you looking your best. Book with us and you’ll know exactly what to expect!