High School Senior Portrait Photography Style and Approach

Congrats on your upcoming graduation from high school or congrats on the upcoming graduation from high school of someone special in your life! I’d love to be the photographer who provides them.

For parents that might be reading this page, I want to make sure your student gets the photos THEY want and want to hear THEIR creative ideas and input. I’ll make sure the graduation portrait session is 100% stress-free so that you can relax and enjoy all the aspects of the shoot.

The main inspiration I draw from comes from the composition of Wes Anderson’s movies and the look of movies shot on film. I love composing photos with my couples in the middle of the frame and the beautiful landscapes surrounding them. Don’t be surprised when I’ll ask you what your favorite movie is to get a point of inspiration.

I love doing sessions that look different from all the other typical graduation sessions out there. That’s why I love working with students who also want a different and unconventional approach to things.

If you’re looking for someone who’s going to be rigid and do things with a cookie-cutter approach where the photos look like photos from every other grad session out there, I might not be the best fit for you.

Please continue reading this page and looking at the sample photos that showcase a variety of senior portrait sessions I’ve done over the years. You can also jump right ahead to the pricing section to read that important information and to inquire about a session.

High School Senior Portrait Sessions with Great Value

I fully believe in giving the students extra value for the price they pay to schedule a senior portrait session. That’s why I’m happy to include lots of great options and extras!

A big one is that all graduation portrait sessions are priced with no time limit or limitations on the number of locations used. I’m not going to tell you we only have 30 minutes or 60 minutes or we can only use one location. We can shoot as much as we want, and we don’t have to limit ourselves to campus.

I’m also not going to limit the number of final photos you receive in the hopes of trying to sell you more after the session. When I’m a customer, I hate being upsold, and I refuse to do that to my clients. Unlike what a lot of other photographers will offer, you will receive EVERYTHING that makes the final cut.

You will also receive FOUR DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF YOUR PHOTOS in high-resolution format which is print-quality. You’ll receive an “out-of-camera” version adjusted just for cropping and exposure. You’ll also receive two edited color versions and a black-and-white version.

I will also shoot at least ONE ROLL OF FILM during the session so there is a mix of digital and film photos you’ll receive.

Your photos will also be delivered back to you within a matter of days. I do not make you wait weeks or months to receive them.

High School Senior Portrait Session Availability

As we approach the day of the senior portrait session, I’ll be in touch to coordinate the timeline, get your creative input, and determine stylistic choices for the shoot.

I definitely want to hear all the input your upcoming graduate has because it’s their senior portrait session!

I like to photograph portrait sessions in the early morning just before or after sunrise or in the afternoon/evening, close to sunset.

Do also note that I limit myself to two portrait sessions a day to ensure every student who books with me gets the proper attention they deserve.

I’m proud to say the Birmingham, Alabama area is home and has been home all my life! I’m also proud to say that I love to travel, and I have a general range of a 250-mile radius for senior portrait sessions.

That’s why I’d be delighted to set up a high school graduation portrait session anywhere in the Birmingham, Alabama metro area or throughout Alabama and the surrounding states!

Whether you’d like to do something in downtown Birmingham, one of the over-the-mountain communities such as Vestavia, Mountain Brook, Homewood, or Hoover, or places like Trussville, Pinson, Clay-Chalkville, or really any other location in the area, I’d be happy to work with you there!

I’m also available for high school senior portrait sessions throughout Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi in places like Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga, Tupelo, and many more.

Please refer to the list below for more areas where I’m available for high school senior portrait sessions.

ALABAMA: Birmingham, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Trussville, Pinson, Clay-Chalkville, Pell City, Moody, Odenville, Leeds, Springville, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Montgomery, Prattville, Mobile, Anniston, Gadsden, Florence, Jasper, Cullman, Auburn, Opelika, Mobile, Dothan

GEORGIA: Atlanta, Athens, Macon, Columbus, Rome

TENNESSEE: Nashville, Chattanooga, Memphis, Jackson

MISSISSIPPI: Columbus, Starkville, Meridian, Tupelo, Oxford

High School Senior Portrait Session Pricing

I’ve been photographing senior portrait sessions since 2010, and I’d love to photograph yours! All portrait sessions include the following: 

  • No time limit on the session + no limit on the number of shooting locations.
  • All digital photos will be rapidly turned around and delivered in high-resolution format with full print rights to a private password protected gallery.
  • 4 digital versions of each photo: The out-of-camera version (edited for just cropping and exposure), two edited color versions, and a black and white version.
  • A set of photos shot on film. These take a bit longer to process and deliver than the digital versions.
  • A $100 print and product credit.
  • Coordination + styling assistance if needed.
  • A bottle of champagne to use.

Portrait sessions are $500.

You are able to include up to two additional people in the session. An additional fee can be added if more people are involved in the session. An additional fee can also be added for any session outside of my 250 mile coverage radius.

Since there is no-time limit on the shoot and you are paying for the session as a whole, mini-sessions and “by-the-hour” pricing are not available.

Please take in all the details and information I have regarding graduation portrait sessions. Do also take a look at the galleries from the many graduation and senior portrait sessions I’ve photographed in the past.

If we all feel that this is going to be a perfect fit, we can schedule a consultation over the phone or Zoom. That is where we’ll go over all sorts of creative and specific details regarding your session. It’s also a great opportunity to ask questions and get to know each other better.

A signed agreement + a retainer of 1/2 of the package price would be required to book your session. The final payment would be due the day of the session.

I ask that you please fill out the form below so I can get you an accurate and fair quote for your session. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!.

Testimonials

“David recently photographed our teen for their senior portraits, and I highly recommend him. He understood our unique requests. He was efficient but took the time to help put any nerves at ease, making our teen look their best, natural self in front of the camera. He captured not only their personality in the pictures but also the natural light and chosen background in such a beautiful way. We look forward to using him again when our next teen becomes a senior. Highly recommend him for senior portraits.”
-Ellis

Our experience with David was amazing, from the first contact to the final exchange with the pictures. I had contacted several photographers with no response and David responded literally within minutes of my first outreach. The planning leading up to the session was thorough, and David had the brilliant idea of Oak Mtn State Park when we described what we were looking for. He listened to our ideas and the session was a huge success. His eye for the perfect shots is second to none. The photos capture perfectly the spirit of my daughter’s personality, and I will treasure these photos. I highly recommend David without reservation and would be happy to use him again in the future should I need a professional photographer!
-Carlee