At the risk of making you tear up right off the bat, senior photos are one of the last special milestones you’ll have with your teenager before they leave the nest and begin establishing their life as adults. Okay, pass the tissues, please. Consider how exciting and monumental this milestone is, you want so much more than just cookie-cutter photos in front of a bland background.

For me as a Seattle-area senior photographer, senior portraits should paint a picture of who your budding young adult is at this amazing juncture of their life. You want them to look back on these photos in 20 years and not just say, “Yep, that’s what I looked like,” but instead, “That’s me, that’s who I was, that’s what I was passionate about, that’s where I started.” Here’s how I do that.

Intentional Pre-Session Consultations

For me to incorporate your child’s personality into their senior photos, I need to get to know them (and you!), and that’s what my goal is in our consultation. We’ll talk about your vision and your child’s vision for their portraits (and find alignment between them if necessary so we all know the game plan when the day arrives). I’ll find out what your senior is interested in and how we can bring that into the shoot. 

This can vary so much from one session to the next. I recently had a client who said, “I want my photos to look smart, I don’t want them to look like a Taylor Swift music video,” while another client loved Taylor Swift and wanted to incorporate that style into their photos. It’s all about your child and what makes them unique!

Choosing the Settings Wisely

The atmosphere and backdrop of a photo can really set the tone for the portrait, and that’s why I choose locations based on your teen’s personality and their style. In Mercer Island and the Seattle area there are so many different looks and locales, from fields of flowers to rustic woods to beaches to trendy urban streets. We’ll find the perfect spots for your session.

Incorporating Special Interests and Activities

While I’ll match the photo shoot to your teen’s personality from start to finish, I’ll also incorporate some special photos that honor their interests, activities, and hobbies. This can include props like athletic equipment or jerseys, musical instruments, activism signage, crafting supplies, and even a car or bike.

Including the Whole Family if You Choose

This isn’t a must, but many families love to add on a family session at the end of their senior’s photo shoot. That can even include hair and makeup for mom so everyone can look their best. Not only does this honor the fact that your entire family played a part in making your teen the young adult they are, but it’s practical too. It gets so hard to bring everyone together for family portraits when your kids are adults, so the next family photos you have after this might be your child’s wedding.

Your teenager is one of a kind and they deserve a one-of-a-kind photo shoot that celebrates them. I’m here to help! Book your Seattle senior photos with Jaimié Birtel Photography.