(518) 584-4237 info@susanblackburn.biz

What You Need To Know About Your Senior Portraits

The Go-To Guide for Planning Your Senior Portrait Session
How much do you charge and what is included in the Session Fee?

Our session fee for a session lasting up to one and a half hours is $350. This includes the file we send to your school that is fully retouched. Anything else you would like to order (prints, albums, etc.) is additional. Selection of final images is your choice--there is absolutely no "hard sell."

My High School requires a “drape” photo. Can you do that?

Yes, we are happy to provide this for you. We can do this quickly and really well. We have everything here, and best of all, there is no additional charge.

How do I schedule my Senior Portrait Session?

Easy! Have your parent or guardian call us at (518) 584-4237. We will chat, talk about clothing and location options, and figure out what date works best for you. It is simple and we can answer any questions you have at that time.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept checks and cash as payment.

When will I see and select the images from my Senior Portrait Session?

We generally schedule a Viewing and Ordering Appointment one week after your Senior Portrait Photography Session. We can do this in person  or with video conferencing.

Is there a minimum order requirement?

Glad you asked--NO! We feel that it is unfair to ask you to commit to spending your hard earned dollars before you have seen any of your images. And if we truly do our job well, you will want to purchase them, so we don't feel the need to require a minimum order fee to be paid up before we even begin shooting your Senior Portraits.

What is a viewing and ordering appointment?

You will come back and first view a slide show of the culled and color corrected images. We will then go through the images individually and narrow them down to your favorites. You will place your order at this time for any prints, as well as choose your yearbook image.

How does my Yearbook photo get submitted to my school?

After your photo is retouched, we will send the digital file directly to you. You will be responsible for submitting that to your school/yearbook.

What should I bring with me to my session?

We require that anyone under 18 come accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. We suggest you have only one adult join you for the actual senior portrait session. Experience has shown us that the less people watching, the more comfortable you will feel.

Can I bring a friend with me?

Absolutely! Some of our Seniors bring a friend with them--friends can help you feel less nervous and even make you laugh!

What if I have a zit?

We retouch everything we send to the school or print–at no additional charge. There are no hidden or “surprise” charges. Because it is our job to make you look your best. That is why our session fee and print prices are a little higher than some people.

Do I get digital files?

Your yearbook image is sent digitally to your school. You receive social media sized digital images of every image you order an 8×10 print or larger of. These are not printable. Digital images sized for printing are available for purchase. Some may be included when certain print minimums are reached.

When do I pay my session fee?

Your session fee is due at the time you book your appointment. Senior Portrait Season is very busy, as you can imagine. If we book you in and you do not show up for some reason, that is a slot that could have otherwise been booked. Therefore, we need to receive payment before putting you in the calendar. The session fee is non-refundable, but can be used if you need to reschedule your appointment with 24 hours prior notice.

Do you have a Senior Model Program or do you offer Styled Team Shoots?

Our goal is to make all of our clients look and feel like models. We do offer Styled Shoots from time to time with previous clients when the mood strikes. This is offered on a First Come/First Served basis to all clients in good standing.

What is a consultation for my Senior Portrait Session?

A consultation prior to your session is highly encouraged to ensure you get the images you want. Because of the financial commitment involved with our services, we want to ensure you will be happy with the final results. But we get that you may be super busy. We are happy to talk to you over the phone for your consult or do a video conference. We will go over wardrobe and styling and how to get the best images.

Where do you photograph Senior Sessions?

We offer the best of both worlds with both in studio and on location options. Our indoor studio is fully equipped with professional lighting. Please be aware though that travelling out of our location may incur additional fee.

How long do you keep the images from my Senior Session?

Due to the high volume of Senior Portraits, anything you do not order during your Viewing and Ordering Appointment is deleted the day following the appointment. Anything you order prints of we archive for one year. After that, the files may be deleted.

Will you drive us around to locations during our Senior Portrait Session?

Unfortunately, our Liability Insurance does not permit us to drive clients to our locations. So please plan on driving yourself to our destinations.

Can we take Behind the Scenes photos or videos during our Session?

Sure—We love it when our clients share their experience with their friends and family!

We think having a High School Senior Portrait Session is kind of a big deal.  We want you to have a wonderful experience and feel great.  If you were unable to find an answer to your Senior Portrait question, you can find loads more information on our Blog.  Below are just some of the topics we have covered to get you started before you have your Senior Portrait Photography Appointment:

Prepping for Your Senior Portraits

Planning Your Senior Portrait Location Options

When Should I Book My Senior Portrait Appointment?

Planning the Perfect Senior Portraits.

Our High School Senior Portrait video below can be helpful as well.  And be sure to check our Blog frequently as we are constantly adding new content to help you plan your Senior Portrait Session.