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Your senior portrait is an important image of your life that you'll look back on for years. The secret to having a photo you'll absolutely love is the combination of a competent photographer and your personal comfort: You need to be relaxed and at ease in your photo, otherwise you'll look stiff and posed.

This type of shoot seems to be the new big thing among the established photographers. They all say their shoots are "fun," and contrast themselves with the stereotypical old fart photographer, a seasoned pro out of touch with his clients after 25 years in the business, who comes to your school's gym, sets up a background and some softboxes, and runs you through like an assembly line, barking orders at you to "turn to the left," "look right," and "move your right shoulder up."

How many of those photographers can say that they are young people just like you?

As a young person myself, creating that comfortable and fun environment doesn't even take conscious thought! I'm neither that old guy nor some friend of your mom who will keep telling you how much you've grown and tell you stories about when you were a baby. As a professional tall person (I'm 6' 6"), I have heard that phrase enough times already.

My shoots aren't just tolerable: They are downright enjoyable and fun! (Since I'm not old, that's not creepy, it's a good thing!) I spend a minimum of two hours with each senior and usually make most of my best images in the last 45 minutes. By that time, even the most camera–shy person has loosened up and relaxed. Real smiles are so much more beautiful than fake posed ones.

All of my shoots are done on location and have no limit on clothing changes or poses. At the end, you receive a set of prints as well as the full-size images on a CD, at a price agreed on before the shoot. I detest the whole hostage-taking print packages pricing methods favored by some photographers: you deserve better.

Pricing

There are many complex factors that go into setting professional photography rates including overhead costs such as printing and travel, my time spent shooting, editing, and getting your photos to you, and of course my business costs of running a website and owning equipment.

To simplify this, I charge by the hour on top of a flat fee for retouching, licensing, and prints.

• 75 per hour.
• 50 for retouching, licensing, and prints.
• 50 if the shoot is over one hour away from Worcester.

My senior portrait shoots are two hours in length, so my minimum (and average) cost is $200.

In return, you get the full-sized images on a CD in addition to a selection of prints: one 8x10, three 5x7s, and twenty wallet–sized prints. These digital images are yours, for whatever you want including additional prints and Facebook. If you want more prints right away, you can add them to my order at the cost of the print service I use.

Senior Ambassador Program

Are you a high school junior? Do you want the chance to get your senior portraits done early and by a professional photographer...for free? The Tyler Trahan Photography Senior Ambassador Program offers you that chance!
Here's how it works:

In the spring, in the final semester of your junior year, we meet somewhere cool for your first photo session, just like all my senior portrait shoots. We'll spend a few hours shooting to make you look your best. After the shoot, you get watermarked images to share with your friends on Facebook, business cards with your photo on them to hand out, and your photo will be featured on my website.

All of your junior friends will be looking for a fantastic senior portrait photographer, and will no doubt see and admire your portraits. You earn referrals by having them being in your unique card to their own senior portrait session at Tyler Trahan Photography!

In the fall, your referrals will be counted up and you'll receive the benefits from them:

• One referral: Your spring images sent for inclusion in your school's yearbook, and $100 off your purchase of the full-size digital images for yourself.
• Two referrals: The full-size digital images from your shoot, including inclusion in your school's yearbook.
• Three referrals: The same as above, plus a selection of complimentary prints: one 8x10, three 5x7s, and twenty wallet–sized prints.
• Four referrals: The same as above, and another shoot for you in the fall to add to your set of senior portrait images.
• Five referrals: The same as above, plus a complimentary family portrait session within the same calendar year.

What's in it for you

• A senior portrait shoot way more fun and comfortable than a lame stuffy studio with an ugly background set up in your high school's gym.
• Being able to show your friends your fantastic senior portrait images before everyone else gets theirs.
• Your parents' gratitude after hearing that they don't have to pay for your senior portrait right before sending you to college.

What's in it for your parents

• A set of beautiful images of your senior for their yearbook, holiday cards, graduation cards, and the family albums, with no messy print pricing to deal with! (You'll receive the full-size digital images in addition to a bunch of free prints – a $200 value.)
• Two 8x10 prints, four 5x7s, and twenty wallet-sized prints.
• $20 off a family portrait shoot booked during the same calendar year.
• Compliments from all your friends without the competition of all the other seniors in town receiving their portraits at the same time.

Exactly what you have to do

• Attend an on-location shoot in the spring, the final semester of your junior year.
• Sign a photo release form that will be emailed to you, and bring it to the spring photo shoot. (You will need a parent/legal guardian's signature if you are under 18.)
• Use the provided web images and business cards to promote Tyler Trahan Photography to your friends for their senior portraits.

To apply

To apply to be a Tyler Trahan Photography Senior Ambassador, please contact me and answer the following questions:

• Your name.
• Your email, if you check it regularly. Otherwise, your Facebook ID so I can message you. (Sorry, I don't have a texting plan.)
• The school you attend, including the town.
• Three words that your friends might use to describe you.
• Any ideas you have about your senior portrait (location, theme, feel, etc.)

I hope to hear from you soon!

The fine print

There's not much fine print here. You just need to sign the photo release, not sue me for any reason, and not try to scam me for a free senior portrait without doing any work. A "Successful Reference" means the other person involved purchased a senior portrait shoot from me, not that your email successfully reached them without bouncing. I maintain the right to suspend, end, or alter the details of any arrangement at any time. Play nice, guys.

Tips for Seniors

The pressure of getting everything right for your senior portrait — something that all your friends, relatives, and classmates will see and critique — can be scary. Luckily, I have some tips for you to make that process as easy and enjoyable as possible.

What to Bring

• Feel free to bring multiple outfits, dressy, casual, or themed (like a sports uniform). If you only bring one outfit, I've found that a casual outfit is usually best.
• A friend, sibling, or parent is great to have to help you look your best in every photo. I'm also shooting and paying attention to lighting and composition, and another set of eyes to watch for uncooperative hair, makeup, or clothing is always good. They will likely make you feel more comfortable as well.
• Props such as instruments or sports gear are welcomed. My aim is to tell your story, and props are great for that!
• Bring a bag or some way to carry extra props, makeup, and clothing items. We will not be in a studio, so make sure you have a way to carry your stuff.

Clothing

• No sleeveless shirts or spaghetti straps, please.
• Avoid flesh toned and white clothes as they will seem to draw color out of your face.
• Stripes, words, and graphics will distract from your face, so avoid any except those from your school or college.
• Dark colors make you look slimmer.
• If you're interested in black and white results, wear black and shades of gray.
• For more inspiration, check out Seniorologie!

Hair and Nails

• Guys, please come clean-shaven or with beards and moustaches neatly trimmed.
• Please make sure your fingernails and toenails are presentable, especially if you wear open–toed shoes to the shoot.
• Style your hair for the shoot the way you usually do, or if you must try something new, try it out beforehand so you don't decide you hate it later.
• Haircuts should be done about a week before the shoot so your hair will have time to grow and adjust into a natural look.

Glasses, Makeup, and Jewelry

• Glasses can reflect light from the flash and make it hard to see your eyes. Your optician can remove the glass lenses from your frames if given advance notice, or you can buy or borrow empty frames for the shoot.
• Wear the same amount of makeup you usually do, or maybe a little bit more. Feel free to bring more with you to be applied as needed.
• Avoid glitter like the plague. It will reflect the flash and cover you in white spots.
• Lip gloss should be used in moderation, as it can also reflect the flash and make you appear to drool (and that's no good!).
• Seniorologie has a fantastic guest post about makeup.
• Try to avoid fancy jewelry, it will both date the picture and draw attention from you, the real subject of the photo.

List of publications:

• Trains Magazine
• The Banner
• WBUR Hubbub
• Boylston Public Library website

Selected images: