Your senior year deserves to be captured!
THE SARAH SURETTE
Senior Experience
Your senior year deserves to be captured!
Sarah
HEY, THERE!
Let's just start off by saying: I know senior portraits may not be the thing you are MOST excited about in your senior year. I totally get it: being in front of the camera can be intimidating and feel a little bit like a chore or a box you have to check to make your momma or your parents happy. The BIGGEST thing I hear from my senior guys (and ALL of my clients) is that they're so thankful I make the process quick, easy and painless. You have worked SO hard for so many years to get to this point and you are SO close to graduation...you DESERVE to be celebrated and have amazing photos to look back on 10, 20, 30 even 50 years from now! I have been photographing senior portraits since 2017. My goal is to make your experience fun, make your shoot feel like YOU and give you images that you are excited to share with your friends and family. So, please read through this guide to learn everything you could possibly need to know about your senior portrait experience...and let's brainstorm some fun ways to make your shoot unique and get you excited! Want to photograph somewhere epic? Include your car, your dog, your family? Let's make it happen! I want this shoot to be something you're excited for, not something you're dreading...so let's work together to make it amazing! See you soon!
to the parents...
I know you had a LOT of options for senior portrait photographers...so I just
wanted to take a moment to say thank you for choosing me to capture
your son's senior year. I know how proud you must be and how bittersweet
it is to know that he has worked SO hard for this moment for so long...and
it's finally here! I hope that the images we capture will be a celebration of
everything he has accomplished + will continue to accomplish over the
next few years!
While I know that *most* of my senior guys aren't super excited about their
senior portraits...my goal is to make it as FUN and as personal as possible. If
you are the one reading over this guide, I just ask that you let your son
know the important pieces! I try to make every senior experience as easy
and streamlined as possible...so I hope this guide answers any and all of
your questions to help you prepare and get EXCITED about this
experience!
If you have any questions arise leading up to our shoot together, please
don't hesitate to reach out and ask! And, if you have any creative ideas that
come to mind or sentimental moments/locations/memories that you'd
like featured during his session...I am all ears!
I can't wait to meet you and create some wonderful memories for you to
cherish for years to come!
See you SOON!!!
Thank you for trusting me!
I'M SARAH!
Now that we've gotten to know each other, let's dive into the good stuff!
YOUR SENIOR PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER AND
ONE-WOMAN HYPE SQUAD.
I promise to give you a senior session that’s just as chill or as upbeat as you are. I’ll get you laughing and soon you’ll forget the camera is even there.
When you’re like “what do I even do with my face?”, I’ve got the answer. And I’ll leave you with personality-packed photos so you can remember this moment in time forever.
When I’m not behind the camera, I’m hanging out at the beach, adding another concert to my bucket list, or singing along to T-Swift for the millionth time (but you are too, right!? Lol).
in case we haven't met...
What to expect
Now that you are booked and things are officially official - let’s talk through the entire senior experience, step-by-step! Your senior experience starts NOW, and I want you to know what’s around every corner as you begin to prep for your shoot day!
01
At the end of this guide, there will be a senior questionnaire to complete. This questionnaire will help me to get to know you, your style and your preferences so that I can create the best possible senior experience for you! Please take the time to fill it out thoroughly after reading this guide - the more info you give me, the more I can customize your experience and be sure your images reflect YOU! But, finish reading this guide first…there’s helpful stuff in here!
the prep guide & questionaire
02
the week before
As we get closer to the day of your shoot, you can expect to hear from me with our meeting time, location and final check-in! I photograph senior portraits at “golden hour” - within 2 hours before sunset. This time of day has the most amazing, glowing light, cooler temperatures and less crowds at popular locations. Because of this, I like to wait until we are 1-2 weeks from your shoot date to lock in an exact meeting time based on the time of the sunset. If there are clouds or rain storms in the forecast, this also allows me to plan around the weather to ensure we get the best lighting possible! So, if we planned for around 6pm…it may end up that 5:30pm or 6:30pm is actually the best time to meet. That is super normal!
03
the shoot day!
This section of the style guide could be its own book in itself! SO many fun things to talk
about on the day of your shoot! Let’s dive into what to expect each minute of your
senior session! If you booked a shorter session, your shoot will only be about 20-30 minutes. If
you booked a full shoot, you can expect it to take closer to an hour.
The importance of being on time
First things first: being on time for your shoot is VITAL.
And I don’t just say that because of my time…I say that
because we are on the SUN’S time. Since we plan your
shoot around the ideal time for golden lighting…being
late means that you lose that time off of your shoot.
Even being 15 minutes late means that we’ve lost 15
minutes of light. Once the sun goes down…we can’t
shoot anymore! So, try to plan to be 10-15 minutes early
for your session. That way, even if you hit traffic or a
delay…it doesn’t eat into your shooting time! If you are
more than 30 minutes late for your session, we will have
to reschedule for my soonest available date.
the first 15 minutes
When you arrive at your shoot, the first thing we are
going to do is look through your outfits together! We
will run through them together on the day-of to map
out exactly where we will photograph each outfit and
when you will change. This helps us to go in with a
game plan and decide which outfit will look best in
which location.
Changing Outfits + Locations
I frequently get asked where my seniors will change
outfits on their shoot day…and the answer is almost
always in your car! Typically, the locations that we
shoot don’t have public bathrooms…which isn’t ideal.
But, you can take a break in your car for some heat or
air conditioning in between each outfit! Sometimes I have a pop up tent if you'd like, but the car is still usually easier. Let me know if you'd like the tent though ahead of time so I can be sure I have it with me!
Posing + Shooting
The BIGGEST and most important thing that I want
you to know about your shoot day is this: I am going
to tell you what to do the ENTIRE time! You do NOT
need to have any posing or modeling experience. I’ve
actually never photographed a real model in my
entire career of being a photographer! Part of your
investment in your senior portraits is my experience
and ability to pose you and make you look (and feel!)
your absolute best. So, there’s no reason to be
nervous at all! I will guide you through every single
pose and I promise the BIGGEST compliment I get
from seniors is that I make it so easy.
After we look through your outfits together, we will
start shooting! We typically spend 15-20 minutes
photographing each outfit before changing and
moving to the next spot.
Who to bring with you
I request that at least one parent or guardian joins us for your senior session. But, whether
they join us for the entire shoot or wait in the car is totally up to you. The most important thing to
think about is what will make you feel the most COMFORTABLE in front of the camera. If you
tend to be more shy and will feel awkward having your mom or dad watching the entire time…
we can ask them to wait in the car. If you LOVE having them with you and want everyone to
follow us as we shoot…let’s do it! I just ask that we are still able to keep your images as the top
priority with minimal distractions. Bringing a large group of friends can sometimes mean that
you get distracted while in front of the camera…and that can mean you don’t get as many
images or time is taken away from shooting. So, I recommend only bringing 1-2 people along…
this ensures it won’t take away from your focus as we shoot!
Another frequently asked question is “who do I bring with me!?” And this has a two-part answer!
Deciding who you want to be PHOTOGRAPHED with! One of my favorite additions to any
senior session is your favorite people. If you want to have your best friend(s), significant other,
parents, pet or anyone else join in your photos…they are more than welcome! I just request that
they wait to meet us until the last few minutes of your shoot. This way, we can make YOU the
focus for the majority of the session with minimal distractions…and still capture photos with your
favorite people as the grand finale! More on this later in the guide!
PART 1:
PART 2:
LET's talk locations...
are they a big deal?
Aside from choosing outfits (which we are diving into next, don’t worry!) - choosing your
LOCATIONS is a huge part of what will determine the overall style and aesthetic of your
images. It also takes a little bit of logistical planning to map out where we will shoot and
the travel time between locations if you booked a full session. Overall, there are a few
things to keep in mind when picking where to shoot:
It’s actually not the location that matters most…it’s the LIGHT!
YEP. This is hard to understand if you aren’t a photographer, but hear me out: if you
have the most amazing location in mind with tons of cool views and backgrounds…but
it’s in the DIRECT sunlight all day long…it’s actually not an ideal place to shoot. It would
be better to have the session in a random field on the side of the highway with gorgeous
back-light coming through the trees…because the LIGHT is what makes the biggest
difference in the whole world! Trust me on this one!!
Try to think of an overall “feel” or “vibe” for your shoot…and let this guide your location choices!
While the location of your shoot totally matters…it may not matter quite as much as you
think. The majority of the images in your final gallery will be close-up images…meaning
you can’t see a whole lot of the background. What you CAN see is the colors, light and
overall “feel” of the location. For example, if you want a neutral, light feeling gallery to
match your home decor when you print your photos…we literally only need one white
wall to achieve that! If you want beach-y vibes…we don’t need to photograph
every image on an empty beach. We can do some in the water, some in the dunes,
some with beac grass nearby…you get the idea! The point is: don’t get so caught-up and
stressed over one specific location. Choose a “vibe” that you want…and I can help you
pick spots that will make that happen!
This part can be SUPER overwhelming - I know! So, let's break it down to be really easy.
Typically, for my guys I recommend only 1-2 outfits for a mini session or 3-4 for a full
session. But, most opt for a mini! To get the MOST variety possible, I recommend doing
one casual look (shorts and a collared shirt, for example) and one more formal (a blazer
+ bow tie). You can also opt to have one of those outfits be a sports uniform or college
tee - or throw those on at the end for a few quick shots! The next few pages are some
general tips to help guide your choices.
WHAT TO WEAR
1. be comfortable & Be Yourself
The NUMBER ONE, most important thing to remember when planning your outfits: if
it’s not comfortable to wear in real life, it won’t make you feel confident on camera! If
you aren't someone who likes to dress up or ever wear a suit jacket...I don't
recommend doing it now. In order to make the pictures look MOST like you...they
should be a slightly elevated version of an outfit you would normally wear. Don't try
to push yourself too far outside your comfort zone! A suit can be a great option for
LinkedIn profile pictures and professional head shots...but it's not a necessity!
2. CONSIDER USING COLOR
On camera, solid black + white can make skin tones look washed out and a little
unflattering. When choosing outfits for your senior session, try to choose colors that
make a statement and that compliment your hair + skin tones! Primary colors like
royal blue and yellow photograph beautifully, as well as jewel tones (like a lot of the
blues that you see in this guide!)
3. HAVE SOME VARIETY
Like I mentioned above, you want to feel and look like yourself...but you don't want all
of your photos to look the same. So, even if you don't dress up and don't want
pictures in a jacket or suit...try to think of at least two outfit options to bring along with
you. Even if it's just a change of your shirt!
4. EMPTY YOUR POCKETS!
I will do my best to remind you of this on the day of our shoot, too...but don't keep
anything in your pockets during photos! Your phone, keys, wallet, etc. will all show up
in your pictures as a random square in your pocket...and we don't want that!
5. ACCESSORIZING ISN'T JUST FOR THE LADIES
Consider bringing along a watch or two, a belt, cuff links if you are wearing a jacket, a
hat if you are wearing your sports gear...think outside the box a bit! Bringing along
additional pieces like this allows us to get a lot of variety in your photos in a short
time, and make them feel more like YOU!
inspiration
Scroll through the below sessions for inspiration from previous seniors who NAILED it with their outfit choices + styling for their session!
click to see pinterest
kazuya
Kazuya had a half hour session so he went with one outfit. He chose some great pieces for layering, a great look for fall! Layering with a jacket is great too because you can take it off and have some variety with only one outfit. After I delivered Kazuya's gallery his mom emailed me laughing that his older brother wore the same jacket in his senior photos that I took a few years before! Ha!
daniel
Daniel had a couple of outfits, 2 being sweaters so they were super easy to just toss on and off real quick. All his tops were paired with a great neutral colored pant so they went with every look.
click for full post
OTHER WAYS TO PREP:
Aside from your outfits, there are a few other quick things you can do to look your absolute
BEST and be super prepared for your senior session!
1. Plan a haircut a few days (up to 1 week beforehand)!
This is something that is super easy to forget until it's too late! You likely don't want a
haircut the day before or day-of, just in case it's a little short immediately after.
Getting a haircut about a week in advance is typically the perfect amount of time for it
to look natural + like YOU, but without it begin overgrown or too long!
2. Shave or manicure facial hair the morning of
Another important element! If you are someone who likes a clean shave, be sure to
do this the MORNING OF your session. Not the day before...we'll see a little bit of
shadow if you do it too far in advance. If you have a beard or any facial hair, just be
sure to trim it up and manicure it the day-of, too!
3. Clean your nails
4. Moisturizer + chapstick
May sound silly...but it matters! Be sure to cut your nails and clean them up just a little
bit before your shoot.
Listen, I'm not here to tell you that you need a 5-step skincare routine...but pretty
please be sure your skin + lips are moisturized and not dry or flaky. This can be super
hard to edit out and appear natural, and it's super easy to avoid!
Make it feel like YOU!
This is clearly a theme of this entire guide! The
goal of adding in props or accessories is to make
the shoot feel even more like YOU. Try to think
creatively about the things that make you who
you are. What are your hobbies? Favorite colors
and styles? Extracurricular activities? Are you an
athlete with medals and trophies that you want
to highlight? Do you already know your plans for
college and want to have celebratory images to
share about your next steps? Let’s do all the
things!!!
Bow Ties + Watches + Cuff Links
One of the best parts about bringing extra
options for props is that it gives us VARIETY. I
already mentioned this once in this guide,
but the little details matter! Think about ways
you can add elements to your outfits that are
sentimental or a little more attention to detail
than your typical day-today. This will add a
lot to your photos, I promise!
PROPS & ACCESSORIES
Now that we have a better idea of the overall style for your session based on your
outfits and locations…let’s add in the personalized details! First, let me clarify: this part is
TOTALLY optional! If you don’t want to add any props or personalization to your shoot…
you don’t have to! All we need is YOU to make your shoot amazing. But, if you want to
personalize your shoot even further and add in some fun “extras”...this section of the
guide is going to help you!
SPORTS + HOBBIES
One of the easiest + best ways to customize your senior experience is to add in some
of your favorite things that you do every day! I've had seniors want to highlight the
sport they play, their favorite foods, their love for reading, shopping or flying
planes...I've done it ALL! Use this section of the guide to start brainstorming ways we
can creatively incorporate what makes you YOU!
Athletics + Sports
If you play a sport that is a huge part of your high
school career...we need to highlight it! You can bring
along your uniform + equipment (soccer ball, lacrosse
stick, etc.) for some really fun photos. You can also
consider adding in any medals, trophies or letters you
have to highlight
Cheer + Dance
Let me just start by saying these are BOTH also
sports...but they deserve their own section! Bring along your uniform + poms or your
dance shoes + we will get some really amazing action
shots of you!
Hobbies + Artists
As a photographer and artist myself, I love finding
creative ways to highlight your talent! If you paint,
write, read or are a photographer yourself...let's show
that off! We can find some really fun ways to highlight
this, and I would love to have you bring along any
pieces you are proud of to incorporate in your
images!
Favorite Things
Incorporating your favorite things into your pictures
can be really creative...and also really funny! Are you
someone who can't live without your daily energy
drink? Have a Chipotle obsession? Super proud
your car or motorcycle? Let's brainstorm together to
find some fun ways to highlight these things at your
shoot!
I've got you covered!
Now, for the slightly less fun part...let's address a few quick things that
could go wrong at your session. These are some frequently asked
questions that I get about common problems that can pop up...and I want
you to feel as prepared as possible! I've been doing this for almost a
decade....so I've seen it all! And, I'm confident that we will get you amazing
images no matter what gets thrown our way!
frequently asked questions:
Here are some questions that I get often, and what to do if anything goes
wrong leading up to your shoot date!
This is by far the most asked question I get about things that could go wrong, which makes total sense...because bad weather happens all the time! If there is bad weather in the forecast for your shoot, rest assured that you have options and I am MORE than happy to reschedule! I typically wait until we are 48 hours out from the session to make a final decision about weather because it changes so often.
f there is a 50% chance of rain or LESS: It is TOTALLY up to you whether you want to move forward with trying to shoot, or if you'd prefer to reschedule to another date. If we shoot and it DOES rain...we will have to finish the session despite the weather (we can't do two shoots if you decide to move forward but the weather doesn't cooperate). But we can make some REALLY cute photos happen in the rain!!! However, if you have your heart set on glowing light and bright images...I'd recommend rescheduling to be safe.
If there is a 50% chance of rain or MORE: My professional recommendation in these scenarios is to reschedule. Even if it doesn't end up raining, it's always better to be safe than sorry, especially if you are really excited about bright, sunset light in your photos!
Wind: Typically, we can shoot despite the wind if we are strategic with WHERE we shoot. But if there are crazy gusts and you would prefer to move to a day when we know your hair won't have flyaways... we can make that happen!
Cloudy: I have a lot of seniors who get worried about cloudy days because they think their images won't be as bright and beautiful...but rest assured, that's not true!! Cloudy days are actually AMAZING for photographers...because it means there are no harsh shadows!! Unless it is a seriously grey day with heavy fog or severe storm clouds...cloudy days are our friend!! AND they aren't as hot!!
That is COMPLETELY okay! We will make the final call 24-48 hours before your session.
This is why I have you choose a rain date as ell when you book.*
*This does NOT include needing to reschedule because of poor planning, running late or any other reason. These reschedules are required to book for my next available weekday date - which is often weeks out.
My skin is breaking out like crazy...HELP!
We've ALL been there! Don't worry one bit. I am happy to remove any large
blemishes in Photoshop - you won't even know it happened! Promise!
Where am I going to change my clothes?
I mentioned this briefly earlier in the guide...but it's a question I get a lot! Typically, my seniors choose to change their outfits in the car. A lot of the time, we are photographing at locations that do not offer public bathrooms, so it's the quickest option! I recommend trying to organize your outfits + accessories ahead of time to make this process super quick and easy. If you’d prefer I usually have a pop up tent with me but usually the car is easier and faster. But let me know if you'd like the tent ahead of time so I can be sure it's with me.
GALLERY DELIVERY
YAY! It takes 2-3 weeks to edit your senior images, then you'll get an email with the link to your full gallery - AH!!! This is where you will be able to download, share and print all of your high resolution digital images. You can download individual images or the entire gallery at once. You can also individually save photos to your phone to start sharing on social media! The next few pages of the guide will walk you through how to use your gallery and the best ways to print and display your new favorite photos. Be sure to come back and reference this after your session!
After your shoot, my favorite part of the process is sharing your sneak peeks! I truly get just as excited about your images as you do…and if I'm able I try to edit a handful of my favorites and get them in your hands ASAP! You can expect 3-5 sneak peeks to be shared within a few days of your shoot on my Instagram stories & Facebook page…and you are welcome to share them anywhere you’d like, too!
The Sneak Peeks
Editing your final gallery typically takes 2-3 weeks, and gallery delivery day is THE MOST EXCITING!!! I will send you the link to your final gallery in an email. This gallery is where you can easily download, share and print all of your high resolution digital files. Your gallery is SO easy to use, and my hope is that it makes sharing your images easy. Here’s a peek into what it will look like:
The Gallery Delivery
You will be prompted to log into your gallery with your name and email. This is for your safety and my records! This way, I know exactly who is viewing your gallery and downloading your images...and you know that random people can't get access to it without us knowing! Additionally, you can favorite images and easily order prints and products!
Logging In
There are a few ways to download + save your digital images! When you are looking at your full gallery, you can click this button (downward facing arrow) to open the download menu
DOWNLOADING YOUR IMAGES
Or you can click on an individual photo to download them one at a time!
You can download your senior photos on your phone the SAME way you can download them on a computer - it's super easy! For the best quality, I recommend downloading them directly to your phone - or using AirDrop to send them from your computer to your phone. This way, you can easily share them on social media! You can also text your gallery link directly to your friends and family if you want them to be able to log in and view the photos for themselves! I can also make you an app version of your gallery that lives on your phone and you can have access to the images even if you don't have Wi- Fi. Just let me know after your shoot if you want me to send you an app link!
#SENIORSUNDAY
Now for the fun part: sharing your images!
printing your images
I truly believe in the power of printing your images and displaying them in your home. There is something so special about having a physical copy of these memories to cherish and pass down to other family someday. You took the time to invest so much money into your senior session...why not print the images and have a physical way to cherish them and share them?
I do not have any purchase minimums or requirements in terms of printing your images. They are yours to share and print from wherever you prefer! But there is the option to purchase professional-quality prints and products through your online gallery. This is the ONLY printing option that I personally and professionally recommend in terms of quality and durability. If you print somewhere else, I can NOT guarantee that the quality of the images will look the same as they do online, or that the products and prints themselves will be durable.
My honest suggestion is this: if you want to print your images larger than a 4x6…the professional printer through your online gallery is the best way to go.
In the next few pages, I am going to walk you through the "shop" portion of your senior gallery. This is where you can find prints, canvases, graduation cards and more directly through my professional printer!
accessing the print store
When you are inside your full gallery, you will see "PRINT STORE" over on the right. This will option the shop page and it will guide you through ordering prints & products.
Senior
Questionnaire
email address*
nickname/pronouns?*
Name*
instagram handle
phone number*
verify email address*
birthdate*
What are your hobbies? What are your favorite ways to spend your free time?
WHAT HIGH SCHOOL DO YOU ATTEND? WHAT YEAR DO YOU GRADUATE?*
Is there someone I can thank for referring you?
Any special locations you want me to check out?
Are there any must-have photos?
any future plans yet?
anything else i should know?
current obsession?
current favorite musician/band/singer?
Send
*Required
