A Guide to Senior Portraits for Parents in Alaska.

Senior portraits aren't just a tradition anymore; they've evolved significantly in the past twenty years, embracing more creativity and personal expression than ever.

Nowadays, seniors can choose from a variety of styles. It's an ideal chance for them to highlight their individuality, interests, and spirit, all while capturing memories that will stand the test of time.

Yet, the sheer number of choices can make selecting the perfect portrait session daunting for seniors and their parents.

Here are a few quick tips to help you prepare for your child’s upcoming senior session.

1. Make a Note of the Yearbook Deadline

Knowing the yearbook deadline is a great motivator for booking a senior photo session early rather than delaying it. My sessions offer a diverse portfolio of images. I take pride in capturing the stunning Alaskan scenery alongside your graduating senior, crafting photos tailored to your child. Typically, the turnaround time for the final images is at least two weeks, so it's wise to schedule with that in mind. Also, please keep the weather in mind! It might be fun to get a couple of photos in the snow, but my hands can’t take the cold anymore. So most of my senior sessions happen in the spring, summer, and fall.

2. Keep Your Senior’s Schedule in Mind

As a parent of a senior, you already know how frantic their schedules can be. Before you go ahead and schedule a session, sit down with your senior to discuss a good time. They should be just as involved in the planning as you are—even the time of day matters when scheduling a senior session. Ideally, you want to take photos just after sunrise and before sunset, as this is when the lighting’s the best. However, the right photographer can make any time of the day work. Midday should be a last resort, though, as the lighting is far too harsh.

3. Compromise with Your Child

You may have a specific idea about the photos you want to see, but this is about your child and what makes them feel confident and comfortable. Most senior sessions allow for several outfit changes, so use this as an opportunity to find a happy balance between what you want and what your senior wants. Be patient and hear them out before you brush off their ideas. Their portraits should represent who they are and what they love.

4. Encourage Sharing

Before a senior session, get your child to open up about their ideas for the session. This information will help guide the shoot and ensure the most authentic photos. Knowing what your senior wants these photos to represent will also guide their outfit and location choices.

Don’t forget to include your senior in the search for a photographer – a photographer’s style needs to fit in with the images you hope to create.