salem senior photographer
Aidan is the third kid in this family that I’ve done senior portraits for. Yes, I realize he looks like a 30 yr old man, but I promise this is the face of a high school senior.
One thing I like about Aidan is that he keeps it simple. He wore school colors, chose a simple location, followed directions like a champ, and we were done in record time.
I was about Anna’s age in the 90s, so these outfits are giving me the warm fuzzies! Side note: How cool isis her eye color?!
It may not be obvious, but these two are TWINS! Daniel (cowboy hat) and John (baseball hat) made up half of the mutli-senior session I did with two other guys (You can see ETHAN’S session HERE and you can see KIERNAN’S session HERE). It was chaos, but the best kind!
One of the things I encourage seniors to do is dress in something that is comfortable and makes them feel like themselves, BUT to also bring something a little nicer than what you’d wear on a day-to-day basis. Ethan did just that! Want to wear a hat for your session? Fine by me! I’ll just insist that we do ONE without it, so we can meet the yearbook guidelines, but other than that wear what you want!
In case you missed my earlier blog post, featuring some of my favorite color images from Noah’s senior session, CLICK HERE to view it. Anyway, here are some of my favorite B&W images from his shoot, including a THEN vs. NOW comparison (first photo). I have older photos of Noah, but I loved his long hair era, so I chose one of those shots.
I thought it would be nice to have my senior portrait information in one convenient location. So, below are the answers to some of my most frequently asked questions! Please let me know if there’s something I didn’t cover!
Q: WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY SENIOR PORTRAIT SESSION?
A: Ideally, you will schedule your senior portrait session 2-3 months in advance, to ensure I can get you on my calendar. The best time to shoot your senior portraits is July through September, as that gives me enough time to edit and deliver your photos before your yearbook deadline. It is also when the weather is most predictable. Having said that, I do shoot senior portraits all year, as some schools have later yearbook deadlines, and some seniors prefer to shoot at different times of the year. I offer early morning or evening sessions, on both weekdays and weekends, but my weekends fill up fast!
Q: WHERE WILL MY SENIOR PORTRAIT SESSION TAKE PLACE?
A: That will mostly be up to you! I offer sessions both in-studio and outdoors. We can shoot at a park, in the forest, at the beach, or in downtown Salem! If you book my top package, you can choose more than one location and we can shoot on 2 separate days, if needed!
Q: WHAT PACKAGES DO YOU OFFER?
A: For senior portraits, I offer three different sessions: Mini, Classic, and Deluxe. MINI SESSIONS are ideal for those who aren’t very enthusiastic about having their photos taken and/or for those on a budget. These sessions, which are only available in Salem, typically take about 15-20 minutes and yield 10 final images, delivered in digital file format. CLASSIC SESSIONS takes 1-2 hours, allow for outfit changes, and yield 25 final images, delivered in digital file format. Classic sessions must be held at one location, but I’m available to travel, if needed (travel fees may apply). DELUXE SESSIONS last 2-3 hours, allow for outfit changes, and one location change. Deluxe sessions yield 55 final images, to be delivered in digital file format. If needed, you may break your deluxe session up into two shorter sessions, to be held on different days. PLEASE SEE PRICING PAGE FOR CURRENT PACKAGE PRICES!
Q: WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU SELL?
A: All of my senior portrait packages include all of the final images in digital file format. This allows you to order prints and products through the lab of your choice. Ordering products through me is optional, but I do offer professional grade prints, albums, and books in a variety of sizes.
Q: WHO MAY ATTEND MY SENIOR PORTRAIT SESSION WITH ME?
A: You are welcome to bring one or two people with you to your session. Any more than that and it gets a little chaotic and hard to get into a good groove with photos. It also tends to cut into our time, which means we won’t have the good light for as long. If you’d like to do a family photo during this time, we can arrange that, but we must work it out ahead of time.
Q: WHAT IF I NEED TO RESCHEDULE MY SESSION?
A: Sunny skies are ideal for senior portraits, so we will try to reschedule in the event that the weather does not cooperate. If we are on time constraints (yearbook deadline, sports timelines, etc.) and can’t reschedule, I can absolutely work with less-than-ideal weather (and have many times.). If you are sick or end up with a scheduling conflict, please let me know as soon as possible!
Q: DO YOU OFFERE HAIR AND MAKEUP FOR SENIOR PORTRAITS?
A: No, not at this time. I recommend booking privately with a professional hair stylist and/or makeup artist for your session. Most artists will not attend the session with you, but the work they do generally lasts long enough that you won’t need touchups anyway. I also recommend you do a trial run, as that last thing you want is to have to do a session with hair or makeup you don’t love.
Q: WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR MY SENIOR PORTRAIT SESSION?
A: If you’ve booked a mini session, you will wear the same outfit for all of your photos. However, you may bring layering pieces with you (jacket, cardigan, etc.). My recommendation is to choose an outfit you love and that feels like “you.” Don’t worry about whether or not it’ll look outdated in 20 years…that’s one of the best parts of senior portraits!
Both the classic and deluxe sessions include outfit changes. I would suggest one casual, and one outfit that is more formal. If you want to incorporate a special interest or sport you play, I’m happy to brainstorm ideas with you! Here are some things to keep in mind, when choosing your attire for senior portraits:
—> Make sure your clothing is ironed and free of lint, fur, and stains.
—> Consider your location! Try to avoid busy patterns with busy backgrounds and
consider the colors at the location when choosing your outfit(s).
—> Think about your shoes! Do they match your outfit? Are they appropriate for the
location? Is it okay if they get dirty? Do you have the right socks?
—> Do not wear neon colors, as those colors can cause terrible color reflections on skin.
—> You can always email or text me with questions about clothing, as well a send me photos
of outfits you’re considering. I’m always happy to provide feedback!
—> Make sure your undergarments are not visible through your clothing (unless that is
the look you’re going for). Also, keep in mind that if your bra strap shows, that is
not something I will edit out of the final images.
Q: WHEN SHOULD I DO MY PERSONAL GROOMING?
A: If you need a fresh haircut or need to get your hair colored for your session, make sure you plan that accordingly! Make sure there is no leftover hair dye on your skin. If you plan on shaving (face or body) for your session, make sure you give yourself enough time to do that before your session. Plucking should be done at least 24 hours in advance, to avoid redness. Spray tans and tanning beds are not recommended prior to senior portrait sessions, as they tend to look fairly orange (and sometimes splotchy) in photos. Don’t forget about your fingernails and toenails…make sure they are clean and cut. If you want painted nails, make sure it’s not chipped and that it matches your outfit(s).
Q: WHAT CAN I EXPECT IN TERMS OF EDITING?
A: Your photos will be professionally edited prior to delivery. In addition to basic editing, such as color correction and contrast, I will also remove skin blemishes, reduce under-eye bags, and whiten teeth if needed. Things not fixed in editing include, but are not limited to: wrinkled clothing, hair frizz, hair color, root touch up, skin color, tan lines, large stains on clothing, shoe scuffs, chipped nail polish, eyeglass glare (non-glare lenses are recommended), braces, etc. If there is anything you’re not sure about, just ask!
Miss Ainsley rocked an adorable caramel colored cotton dress for part of her senior portrait session, which we shot in a beautiful wooded area. The light was perfect for creating an earthy and moody look.
Yes, I know I’m way behind on blogging. At this point, I don’t even know why I bother saying anything because it’s been this way for like a decade now. Anyway, Ainsley was one of my fabulous 2024 seniors. This portion of her session was done at a local park, which is one of my favorite little hidden gems. Not only does it look good year ‘round, but there is rarely anyone else there.
I really do love the “then vs. now” shots and Ainsley’s is no exception! She was a cute kiddo, but has certainly grown into a beautiful woman! We did Ainsley’s senior portraits in 3 parts, one of which you can see by CLICKING HERE. I’ll be sharing the rest of them soon. In the meantime, here are a few b&w shots from those sessions!
This session was total chaos, but an absolute blast! These four guys grew up together and wanted to do their senior portraits together, so we made it happen! We met up one evening at Riverview Park in Independence, as it was a place they’d spent a lot of time together. In the end, they each got their own mini session, as well as a few fun group shots, some of which can be seen below. I will be sharing their individual sessions soon.
I’ve known Ainsley and her family since she was in preschool, so she’s one of my “get to watch her grow up” clients that I adore so much. We had a great time doing some of her senior portraits at the Oregon Coast!
For those interested in doing your photos at the beach, just ask! I love beach sessions, but my Summer schedule usually fills up pretty fast, especially for out-of-town sessions.
I' met Kyle when he was a pre-schooler, so it was an absolute honor to do his senior portraits all these years later! One of my favorite things to do with seniors that I’ve been photographing for a long time, is to do a side-by-side comparison with an old photo next to a current one. As you can see, Kyle still has the BEST smile! You may also notice that he practically looks like a different person when he’s doing his serious face. He is a football player, so I guess he Must look tough occasionally.
I love photographing Jackson in color because his red hair and freckles are to die for, BUT he also looks great in black and white!
Joseph loves to read and asked if we could do a few shots at The Book Bin, in downtown Salem. He got an immediate yes from me, of course!
By colorful, I’m obviously referring to her hair….with which I’m obsessed! Anywho, these photos are long overdue, as Ember graduated a couple of years ago. She is now a hairdresser, specializing in vibrant hair color!
I always have a good time photographing Ember, who happens to be the younger sister of my son’s fiancé. I don’t think I’ve seen her with the same hair color twice, and she has some really fun outfits! We usually shoot outdoors, but decided to do a quick studio session as well.
Side note: Ember actually graduated high school in 2023 and has been a licensed hair dresser for 2 yrs. She specializes in vibrant hair color, so if you’re looking for someone, she’s your girl (@erahhair on IG)!
I’ve been photographing this kid since he was little, so it was really awesome to get to do his senior portraits. Instead of doing all of his photos in the fall, we did split his session up, also doing some in the Spring, right around the time he graduated high school. So, these photos really mark both the beginning and the end of his senior year. Anytime I’ve done this for senior boys, the change is quite noticeable! Not only do they change physically, but you can see the difference in their confidence.
Yes, you read that correctly, as this handsome guy graduated a year and a half ago. Which means these photos were taken over 2 years ago. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever be current on blogging, but I’ll keep trying.
Anyway, I’ve known this guy’s mom since 1994! We met our freshman year of college, when we were dorm neighbors. Neither of us grew up in Salem, so it’s pretty cool that we both ended up here AND that we live so close to each other (our kids graduated from the same high school)!
I am happy to report that Bradley is in his sophomore year of college in HAWAII! So, suffice it to say, he’s going great!
Is it just me, or has time lost all meaning since the pandemic? I don’ t know how it’s almost December, let alone almost 2025! Anyway, here’s a cool shot I took with a fun lens (Lensbaby Sol). I rented it for a few shoots, but I’m considering just buying one.
