We know you can’t believe it, but high school senior portraits are right around the corner! Here at Kate Schwindt Photography (KSP), we want to help you understand our senior portrait process. So, we created a timeline of what to expect from your senior photos with us. If you are a parent of a high school student who is wrapping up their junior year, then this post is for you!
Over the years, we have received a lot of questions about the process for senior portraits with us. Our timeline will help you better understand what to expect from your senior pictures, but also, highlight what we offer our clients here at Kate Schwindt Photography. Knowing what to expect from your high school senior portraits will ease your mind, allowing you to enjoy the process. With no surprises, we hope you are able to have fun while we capture your child’s natural self, letting who they are shine through!
Our senior portraits session are an experience that lasts all through their senior year! We photograph them literally growing up right before your eyes. From their senior portraits all the way to cap and gown photos in May of their graduating year, we are here for you!
Below is our timeline. We give you this at your consultation, so we can help you navigate through our process here at Kate Schwindt Photography. Again, our goal is - no surprises!
STEP 1 - IN-PERSON CONSULTATION
MARCH - JUNE OF JUNIOR YEAR
We recommend you start looking at Kate Schwindt Photography for your high school senior portraits between March and June of your student’s junior year.
Why so early? Meeting early will give you ample time to plan your photos with us. At your complimentary consultation, in our Littleton studio, we let you know all that is included with your sitting fee for high school senior portraits. With us, it includes some prints as well as a few watermarked images for social media AND cap and gown photos in May of your senior year. This 1:1 time with both parents and students gives us a chance to meet and ask questions, getting to know each other to see if we are a good fit.
At your consultation, we look over a portfolio of location options, taking into consideration locations you and your child might already have in mind. Please note: many locations in Colorado require a permit to photograph in their outdoor areas. Guess what? You’re in luck! We have several permits for popular locations such as Hudson Gardens and all JeffCo Open Spaces.
We will also review all of the prints and photo products we offer. These are high-end luxury products made by professional photography labs. From framed prints, to digital files, to leather photo albums, we have something for everyone. We provide you with our investment guide, so our pricing is transparent.
Next, we discuss what to wear for your senior photos. KSP worked exclusively with local boutiques, designers and hair and makeup artists to create our KSP Style Guide for you and your senior (for both girls and guys!) We also partner with Swept Away Styling and Kim J Beauty, phenomenal local hair and makeup artists, who can pamper your senior for their special day. At an additional cost, these artists will create a natural, beautiful look and take the guess work out of what to do for hair and makeup. This is just another resource to help you feel better prepared for your session with us.
Lastly, we look over our combined calendars to find a date, time and location that fits not only your child’s personality and style, but also your family’s busy schedule. Please note: your session is considered booked once you pay your sitting fee at the end of our consultation.
We also have a wonderful referral programs which gives you a complimentary 11x14 print (or smaller) for each person you refer who books a senior portrait or family session with us. This larger size print is a way to truly thank you for your word of mouth referrals!
As a reminder, at the end of your consultation, you will receive electronic forms of the following:
Paid Invoice
Contract (to be signed electronically)
KSP High School Senior Portrait Timeline
KSP Investment Guide
KSP Style Guide
STEP 2 - HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PORTRAIT SESSION
JUNE TO SEPTEMBER BETWEEN JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR
We’ve met. We’ve planned. You’ve washed and ironed your clothes and you are all set! Here is the fun part…having your high school senior portraits taken! During your 1½ hour session, we move around between various backgrounds at your location, capturing your senior in posed as well as candid moments. We ask for only one director; Kate, as too much direction from others can feel overwhelming. We want your child to be comfortable, being who they are, just as they are. With 3 outfit changes and multiple backgrounds, your session will have variety and be as unique as your senior!
STEP 3 - VIEW & ORDER YOUR PHOTOS
When you come to your 1-hour in-person View & Order appointment with us, come excited and prepared to place your order. Before this appointment, we recommend you review the investment guide and think of some products you might like to purchase. Do you have a lot of wall space for some wall art? Are you looking for an album to display on your coffee table? Will grandparents or aunts, uncles, godparents, want gift prints? Thinking about all this before you get to your order appointment will make things go more smoothly!
To start, when you arrive, we show you a short video of some of the best of the best of your senior portraits, similar to this slideshow video!
Then, we pull up all of your edited photos (roughly 60-75+ images) and help you sort through your portraits by groups with similar backgrounds and outfits. Your rate your absolute favorites (5 star) and “maybes” (3 star.) Nothing else is rated, to provide you with a final view of only your top choices!
From there, we pick your yearbook photo, your 8x10 print included in your sitting fee and (3) images to be watermarked for social media posts. Then we look at our print and photo products and match them to the images you like best. This will create your custom order with relative ease and efficiency.
As a reminder, there is a $200 minimum order to be placed at this appointment. Full payment is needed to process your order, but we do offer payment plans in 2-3 installments if that helps you get the order you want!
STEP 4 - STYLED (themed) PHOTO SESSION
BETWEEN OCTOBER AND APRIL
If your senior is someone who loves having photos taken, this might be something fun to add to their senior experience with us! At an additional cost of only $100, this 45-minute photo session is an opportunity for your high school senior to shine even more! We let you come up with the theme that your photo session is styled around. From sports to movies or music, the possibilities are endless. Some seniors have used it as a chance to reveal the school or college they’ll be attending in the fall. As with their senior portraits, you come to our studio for an in-person View & Order appointment to pick your favorite photos and place your order. This session only includes (3) watermarked images for social media, but, there is no minimum order required.
STEP 5 - CAP AND GOWN PHOTOS
MAY OF SENIOR YEAR
We have found that graduation is such a full day; full of emotions, events, family…that we wanted to provide you with an opportunity to photograph your high school senior in their cap and gown (with cords) in a far less stressful setting.
We coordinate with the local high schools to confirm when your student will receive their cap, gown and cords. This is usually very close to the graduation ceremony. Then schedule approximately 3 dates, with various time slots, for a 20 minute session for your cap and gown photos. In late April, early May, we email you a link to sign up for your cap and gown session.
We encourage you to include family in these sessions if you would like. You will receive a complimentary 5x7 print as part of your original senior portrait sitting fee. Please note: some schools might rent their gowns and ask them to be returned before you are able to have your session with us. Do not fret, we have cap and gowns in the same color as your student’s school, and can provide that for them to wear. Also, these sessions might very well be before or after your senior’s graduation ceremony.
THAT’S A WRAP!
Whew! That about covers it. As you can see, we really do come alongside your family during your student’s senior year. And again, our goal is no surprises….but also, to help preserve these milestone moments in their lives.
Questions? Feel free to email us at kate@kateschwindtphoto.com or call us at 303.801.8419! We’d love to talk with you about creating this amazing senior year experience for your high school student!