A Guide to Senior Portraits for Parents
For most parents, senior portraits are a distant memory. They have changed a lot over the last two decades, incorporating more creativity and individuality than ever before. Seniors have a lot more options available to them, ranging from traditional sessions in a studio to trendy urban shoots. This is the perfect opportunity for them to showcase their unique talents, passions, and personality, while also creating a lasting memory. However, with all the available options, portrait sessions can quickly become overwhelming for both parents and seniors.
For most parents, senior portraits are a distant memory. They have changed a lot over the last two decades, incorporating more creativity and individuality than ever before. Seniors have a lot more options available to them, ranging from traditional sessions in a studio to trendy urban shoots. This is the perfect opportunity for them to showcase their unique talents, passions, and personality, while also creating a lasting memory. However, with all the available options, portrait sessions can quickly become overwhelming for both parents and seniors. Here are a few quick tips to help you prepare for your child’s upcoming senior session.
Make a Note of the Yearbook Deadline
Knowing the yearbook deadline encourages you to schedule a senior session instead of putting it off until the last minute. Depending on your requirements, a senior photo session will start with a yearbook portrait followed by creative shots that are unique to your child. In most instances, it takes at least 3 weeks to receive the final images, so plan accordingly.
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 specific time of day matters when scheduling a senior session. Ideally, you want to take photos just after sunrise and just 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.
Compromise with Your Child
You may have a specific idea about the photos you would like 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.
Encourage Sharing
Prior to a senior session, get your child to open up about their passions, hopes, and dreams. 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.
"THE SHOW MUST GO ON!"
A small town of Peru Indiana is known as the circus capital of the world. This year they are still unsure of the future of their annual circus city festival.
A small town of Peru Indiana is known as the circus capital of the world. This year they are still unsure of the future of their annual circus city festival.
Youth and families all around Miami county Indiana are about to get ready for what they call circus city festival. This year it is being threatened because... surprise, surprise, COVID came to town. All of the money made for each year is to help fund the next year's event Last year didn't happen, so they are hoping to get the funding they need for this year.
As a HUGE fan of these amazing young performers I wanted to help wherever I could. Late last summer a group of us got together and took Beautiful circus images, placed them in a leather bound book and now I’m selling them. We wanted to share these photos with you and also help raise money for their beloved circus. ALL proceeds from the sales will go towards Peru Amateur Circus. Click the “purchas here" button below to order your beautiful piece of art for your coffee table. These make a great conversation piece for sure!
Thank you to the Peru Amateur circus for providing the stunning costumes and participating with me, and to the human cannonball family for allowing us to use your beautiful property!
#FindBecca Homecoming Challenge 2020_Maconaquah High school
The evening of September 25th 2020, I dressed up in a Where’s Waldo shirt and beanie and enjoyed the night cheering on the Maconaquah Braves at their homecoming game. With the sun up it was 80 Degrees, and did I mention, I was wearing a beanie? This was the 3rd annual #findbecca homecoming challenge and COVID- 19 was not going to stop me from holding the biggest giveaway of the year!
What a crazy couple weeks it has been!
The evening of September 25th 2020, I dressed up in a Where’s Waldo shirt and beanie and enjoyed the night cheering on the Maconaquah Braves at their homecoming game. With the sun up it was 80 Degrees, and did I mention, I was wearing a beanie? This was the 3rd annual #findbecca homecoming challenge and COVID- 19 was not going to stop me from holding the biggest giveaway of the year!
This year, we started a bit late in the challenge because when school began at the beginning of August, The local schools were unsure about the fate of their sports seasons. Miami County schools competed on Facebook and Instagram through a weekly and daily voting polls. The first week we placed North Miami HS, Peru HS, and Maconaquah HS against each other. The top 2 schools would compete the next week. Peru and Maconaquah moved onto the championship round and with a close score between them, Maconaquah won in a last minute push!
Now you might be thinking…. What in the world were they competing for? They were competing to have me attend their homecoming game and give out five $100 Gift Certificates to use towards a senior portrait session with me! Anyone else who found me in the stands would receive $50 gift cards towards ANY photo session for the year. With an amazing turn out on social media I think this year was so much bigger than the last! Little did they know this was my second year dressing up as Waldo so while my introverted self was screaming to go hide, I managed to get out on the track and take some photos, give away some gift certificates and cheer on their team!
It was a pleasure getting in touch with so many of you through this experience, you are all the reason I do what I do and I can’t wait to host it again next year. Thank you to all who participated, your love and support mean the world to me!
As a thank you, please enjoy the photos I took on the field that evening!
I'm a Grounded Teenager...
The introverted side of me has severe crowd anxiety, but extroverted me loves a small gathering of friends that I can comfortably by loud and obnoxious with. I have to work myself up to being really energetic and fun for the clients I photograph. This always requires a good recharge when I get home. This leads me back to feeling like a grounded teenager! I like to be home, but I don’t like being told to stay there!
No, really I feel like we are all grounded teenagers! We have to be isolated from our friends, Phone calls are ok to make but no chance you can hang out. We can only go out unless we are in our cars or have to get things that we absolutely need. Granted, we still can watch TV (thank god for Netflix!), but we are still stuck in our homes every day and can’t be with our friends, our extended family, playing our normal sports seasons. Yes it stinks!
I am also thankful. Thankful for a healthy family, for those who have to endure going out to make life a bit easier for us. Doctors and nurses on the front lines of this as well as those businesses who are open to provide us with our essential needs. I am Thankful!
I’m an introvert with extroverted tendencies…
Let me explain what this is, because honestly a lot of us might be like this. I am probably one of the biggest homebodies you will ever meet. Outside of work, I’m usually home. I love having interaction with my clients, students and friends, but I would rather be home. The introverted side of me has severe crowd anxiety, but extroverted me loves a small gathering of friends that I can comfortably by loud and obnoxious with. I have to work myself up to being really energetic and fun for the clients I photograph. This always requires a good recharge when I get home. This leads me back to feeling like a grounded teenager!
While I love to be home, I don’t like being told to stay there!
Instead of complaining about it, I am going to make the best of what we have. Here are a few tid bits that I found to be really helpful for my sanity and soul.
Make your bed
I know this sounds like I’m off my rocker, but if at all during the day you don’t do anything else. It feels really good to start your day by accomplishing one small thing. The bonus is when you go to bed it’s a great subconscious way to end your day by climbing into your already made bed.
Take a shower
We are going on day WHO KNOWS WHAT of this time at home and I have to start marking days on the calendar to know what day it is. Some of you (you know who you are) are going on day 3 or 4 in the same pj pants and t-shirt #guilty. So WASH YO BODY!
It doesn’t have to be a wash your hair everyday occurrence, just your body will do. Get the stink off yourself from the day before, or shower at night to wash off the day.
Put on Mascara
If you want to put on a full face… do it! It will seriously help how you feel about yourself to throw on a bit of makeup.
This one is for the Soul (take time to yourself)
For me this might be a great devotional book so I can connect on a spiritual level and do a little praying, devotional guided books are my favorite! “Prayer journal for women” is what I’m currently using. Podcasts are great as well! Rachel Hollis has one called “rise” and I love listening to her motivation.
Yoga! I love going to my local tribe here in Peru. They were so amazing that they put together a YouTube Channel of yoga sessions. It really helps me relax and get a work out all at once. Maybe you will join us and check out The Breathing Room when this is all over!
Last but not least I asked a few of you teens on my Instagram what you are doing to keep yourselves entertained. Thank you to everyone who participated! Join in on some of the fun in my stories and you might be featured on my blogs!
Madelyn: “Working out and cleaning!”
Hannah: “Working out”
Emma: “painting on things”
Naomi: “fishing, drawing, sleeping, and tiktoking”
Camile: “Baking!”
Zoe: “Running and playing board games”
Allison: “Binging Netflix LOL”
Madelynn: “Rearranging my room”
I hope you all are making the best of this crazy time we are in. Stay safe, God bless and I will post more soon!
‘Becca
Indiana Senior Photographer | Skipper Class of 2020
Her biggest accomplishment of her senior year was buying her first car. She was told that she had to buy her own, so she got a job at Aroma Coffee shop and earned enough from her Junior and Senior year that she bought her very own car.
A Bord photographer safe in her home and can’t photograph. She does the next best thing! Indiana Senior Photographer | Rebecca Danielle Portraits
Skipper, what can I say about her? This girl showed me sass the entire session. Not once did she crack a full smile. Adamant on using that blue steal look of hers, and she rocked it! As soon as I met her for coffee in The Dream house Café I knew we would instantly have a great time. We laughed and even played dress up from Barbie’s wardrobe (Don’t worry, Barbie gave us the ok). We set a time earlier in the year to have this session, but with the COVID-19 outbreak I was just about to cancel with her. She told me she was immune from the virus and couldn’t even carry it! Presented a note from her Doctor so we kept the date! I was so excited to finally photograph again!
Her favorite memory of 2020 was her homecoming. The game was against their undefeated rivals “The Braves.” The score stayed neck in neck the entire night. Her boyfriend Kevin made the winning touchdown. Afterwards they went to East End Double Dip and celebrated with lots of Ice cream and Pizza.
Her biggest accomplishment was buying her first car. She was told that she had to buy her own, so she got a job at Aroma Coffee shop and earned enough from her Junior and Senior year that she bought her very own car.
Before all this chaos of schools shutting down she was able to get a scholarship for cheer at Arizona State. I was so excited for her because I had told her that I lived there for almost 10 years and I told her she was going to love it. She wants to major in the medical field.
The evening was amazing, and it really made my night. I am so thankful that I was able to meet Skipper she may look like a stoic model, but she is one fun girl.
I hope you enjoyed this session as much as I did. Stay at home, be safe and be grateful.
#letusallbewell #coronacation
God Bless,
‘Becca