CITY MALL: A Quick Snapshot of Senior Photos, 2012

With 2012 senior photos due at Muskego High School on Friday, October 7, 2011, summer is a busy time for Muskego photographers.

Local photographer Carol Schlintz schedules up to about 60 summer sessions with high school seniors at her studio, MindWorks Photography, or on location.  Schlintz has these tips for choosing a photographer:

Think about your graduate’s personality:  What’s a big deal in your child’s life? Are they an athlete, a musician, a Police Explorer?  Senior photos are about milestones in life, Schlintz said: Completing 12 years of education and showing the student who they have become through the lens of a camera.

Find a match for the student’s personality:  Ask the photographer what they’re willing to do.  Will they accept sheet music, can they do creative images focusing on a student’s interests, are they willing to shoot on location or are they studio only?

Talk prices:  Senior photos can run from $150 to $900, Schlintz said.  Ask about session fees and the cost of prints, the 2 key drivers of cost.  Be aware of what’s not covered, i.e., many photographers do not release digital records of the shoot.   Schlintz said her solution is to create a slide show of the best photos, set it to music, and offer it as a gift when photos are purchased.

Define your expectations together:  Graduates may be looking for 40-60 images that look great in a book, Schlintz said, with 3-4 poses in wallet-sized photos they can hand out to friends. Parents may want just one timeless photo they can hang on the wall…or a couple of creative photos to appear on graduation announcements. 

Watch out for red flags:  The catalyst for senior photos is the school yearbook, so make sure you know the school’s format rules.  Muskego is strict on the “no hands, no hats, no props” rule, Schlintz said, so some of the photos must follow those guidelines.   Muskego families can find the MHS rules at this link under “Senior Pictures for the Class of 2012.”