Consultation with high school seniors and their parents is always interesting. Some have absolutely no ideas and could care less. Others have so many ideas we have to narrow the focus. And then, there are times when the senior’s desires are quite different than their parents. No worries. It always works terrifically for everyone. Here are a few points we will address during your consultation.
What defines or describes you? For many, this question is answered by the activities they do such as sports, dance, music, etc. I jump on those ideas, but I also challenge us to expand on them. You see, I don’t want to just photograph you shooting hoops. We will go a bit further by finding a really cool wall which will allow for the perfect merge. Golf? How about the idea of ‘golf anywhere’? Photographing on the golf course is just too ordinary. Dance? Definitely gotta get out of the studio.
Perhaps you don’t really have a hobby or you are just not enthusiastic about including it in your shoot. That is totally ok, too. We can pick a location that will allow us to focus on you, your mood, your expressions, your heart. Your attire and the artistic way I photograph you will make your photographs just as interesting. Do you have a random piece of furniture you’d like to include? Bring that. Above all else, I want you to have a blast! Your photo-session should be as important a memory as prom or graduation. This is true for your parents as well. Parents have been at every senior session I’ve done and I would not have it any other way.
What to wear? To be cool, this actually needs to be calculated. If you are going for drama, make it obvious and make the colors click. High contrast is very effective and the colors of your clothing should stand out in your environment. For example, a red dress and red vintage bench wouldn’t stand out too well on a red brick wall. So, we will want to either change the clothes or change the wall. Think beyond shirt and pants. Consider adding accessories such as scarves, vests, sweaters, hip jackets, hats, and definitely don’t forget your feet.
How many changes? I encourage you to start with two complete outfits. If you add a cap n’ gown, that is your third. Stop there because you may also have certain activities or props you want photographed. We have to keep the focus in order to encourage naturally occurring, creative opportunities. I don’t want you to spend half of your time changing clothes. The clothing is important but it is only a small part of who you are.
Is cap n’ gown a must? No. No. No. In fact, I skip it every chance I get. After all, you are going to be in your cap n’ gown for the graduation ceremony. The graduation ceremony is the time you should wear it, but otherwise the cap n’ gown has no influence on who you are and what you love. It says nothing about you other than you’ve graduated.
Can you design a custom graduation announcement with envelopes? Yes indeed! This is way more impressive than the traditional announcements. And it is a gift for your friends and family. They will have a beautifully designed photo and on the flip side, get all the details about when and where you will walk.
Do I get to share my photographs on Facebook? Will you send a copy of my favorite photo to the yearbook? I will post a few images from your photo-session on my site and on my Facebook wall, which will also give you the opportunity to share those images with your friends. There are also opportunities for you to purchase the rights to share or reprint an image. Make no mistake, sharing isn’t free. In the age of digital, photographers like musicians, have been challenged by sharing. While you may think it’s all great advertising for me, and often it is, sometimes sharing eliminates the need for a purchase. No purchases means no business and no jannelle Reed photography. Let’s keep jannelle Reed photography in the business of illustrating your story!
I am so busy. Can I wait until closer to graduation? If you are looking at this, chances are you need to schedule a.s.a.p. I encourage you to start planning for this as early as the summer before your Senior year begins. If you wait until spring, you will only be busier and so will I. The consultation and photo-session is only part of the process. We will schedule your proofing session approximately two weeks later. If ordered at the proofing session, you will have your prints in approximately 1 more week. Thus, waiting until weeks before graduation is too close for comfort. You deserve the opportunity to celebrate this great milestone. Let’s start planning now.
Think about your purpose. When planning to decorate a wall or room of your home, you may want to choose a location and clothing which are suitable for the space or design. If you already have a desire for a custom product such as a storybook, wall gallery, or graduation announcement, let me know. We don’t want to stage every aspect of the photo-session, but often, I can photograph in a manner best illustrating your ideas.
Let us always consider each other. I am passionate about photography and I am passionate about serving you well. I will treat you with respect. Please extend the same courtesy to me. If you are unable to attend your session, please let me know immediately. I have set aside that special time for you. Because of my personal approach, I schedule sessions keeping in mind the amount of time necessary to present you with a terrific product. Please talk with me about all your concerns and ideas.
Your thoughts and ideas will be the first draft of your story! Together, we will illustrate it for you!
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