I remember when I was graduating high school, my parents were so confused with how much senior photos have changed! I was showing them large galleries my older friends got back, and in return they showed me the one photo they had for their yearbook. With the rise of digital photography, senior photos have become increasingly more popular and the sessions have become longer! Senior photos are often the first time 17 year olds will experience a professional photoshoot and it’s hard to know what to expect! Let’s unpack senior photos 101 and answer all the common questions I see as a professional senior photographer!

Understanding Senior Photos in 2025

What are senior photos?

Senior photos are a great way to celebrate the end of this chapter of your life! Typically taken in late summer or early fall, seniors hire photographers to capture individual portraits of them in a favorite location of their hometown! Some bring friends, dogs, letterman jackets, or anything that they want to remember about their high school experience before they move away to college! This is the session where you choose a photo to submit to your yearbook as well!

When do high school seniors take photos?

Typically seniors will take photos in summer or fall while the weather is still nice! This gives them time to take the photos, the photographer to edit them, and meet the yearbook submission deadline that happens in the winter.

What’s the difference between senior photos and grad photos?

Senior photos have a dressy outfit and sometimes a more casual outfit and are at locations that are pretty or meaningful to the senior! These are the photos you submit for yearbook photos. Grad photos happen when the senior gets their cap and gown in the Spring. Grad photos are great for graduation announcements as well as the memory of having all your regalia on before you graduate high school!

What are yearbook requirements for photos?

The requirements vary from school to school, but generally the yearbook photo should be a close up of your face, including shoulders and your entire head, no hands on your face, and no profanity on your clothes or accessories. To get specifics about your school, email the facility over yearbook!

Where do high schoolers take senior photos?

It’s common for high schoolers to take their senior photos in grass fields, parks, by lakes, or anywhere out in nature! They can also take photos in a place that has a lot of meaning to them, or by their school!

Before Your Senior Session

How long should senior photoshoots be?

Most senior sessions last from 30 minutes to 1 hour. If you are at one location and only want one outfit, 30 minutes should be a perfect amount of time! If you’re bringing a few outfits, want to have a couple locations, or include friends it may be closer to an hour! In some cases, you can have an “adventure session” where you shoot for 2 hours on the beach, in the forest, bring friends, pets, etc! 

What should high school seniors wear to their photoshoot?

Pinterest is the perfect spot to find outfit inspiration! I recommend having one formal outfit like a dress or a button up shirt and nice pants, then a more casual outfit like jeans and a shirt you like! Wearing natural colors and outfits that don’t have large logos is also a great rule of thumb. Having jewelry or other accessories and nails painted looks great for the little details in your photos. If you’re torn between outfits or not sure, text ideas to your photographer and they can help you out!

How should I do my hair and makeup?

Stay true to you! If you do heavy makeup everyday, keep it up in your photo session! If you never wear makeup, adding a little mascara and filling in your eyebrows may help them pop a bit in photos. Having your hair down is a great way to go so you can play with it in poses and have a little extra movement in your photos!

How much do senior photos cost?

Brand new photographers will do senior photos for $100 while experienced photographers can go up to $1800! For a 30 min session, expect to pay around $300.

Do parents need to sign off on senior photos if the senior is paying for them?

Yes! If the senior is under 18, the parent or guardian still needs to sign the contract since the senior is a minor. 

What happens during a senior session

Can I bring friends to my senior photos?

Make sure you chat with your photographer first, but bringing friends is a great way to shake some nerves, have fun, and get cute photos with your besties!

How many outfits are typical for senior photos?

For a one hour photo session, 2 outfits is a good rule of thumb! Start in the outfit you’re not as fond of, then finish in your favorite! At that point your warmed up to the camera and the lighting tends to be ideal!

How many locations do seniors go to?

Seniors typically stay in one location for their photos! Maybe they’ll head to two if the locations are somewhat close! If you’re on the Oregon Coast, you may want photos in the rainforest, then drive over to Cannon Beach for a few! Or do a few up in the canyons of Salt Lake, then a few in front of your high school!

Should I bring props to senior photos?

If you have props that are meaningful to you like an instrument you play, or a letterman jacket, you should totally bring them! These photos should represent you and your high school experience. Bring things that will make you reflect on your time in school in 10, 20 years!

Should parents accompany their kids to the senior session?

Parents or guardians can attend their senior’s sessions! It’s not necessary, but it is fun (and a tear jerker) to watch your senior at the photoshoot! It’s great to have someone there to encourage the senior and make them laugh as well!

How do I pose for my senior photos?

Pinterest is your bestie for this! Make mood boards of poses, photos, and outfits you like so you feel prepared! Your photographer is also the pro at this and will guide you through the whole process. I always tell my seniors to keep moving, play with their hair, outfits, etc! If there are poses you really like, make sure to let your photographer know so they can prioritize it! 

What to expect after your senior session

How many photos do you get with a senior session?

Senior sessions can have 40-400 photos depending on your photographer and how long your session was! When you get pricing guides, the amount of photos you get back should be listed!

Do we pick proofs for senior photos?

This depends on the business structure of the photographer you go with, but with the rise of digital photography, most photographers will pick the best photos, leaving out the ones of you blinking or in an awkward in between moment, and send the high res photos to you!

Do photographers photoshop senior photos?

Most photographers will remove temporary blemishes or things that will be gone in the next week. If you love some photos but see a lot of flyaways or you want a few without a birthmark, you can request photoshopping from the photographer. Review their contract because some extensive photoshop work may be an upcharge. Senior photographers typically do not photoshop bodies to have smaller arms or different colored hair. 

Why do I need grad announcement cards?

Graduation announcements are a great thing to mail out to your friends and family to celebrate all your hard work! Some people include open house invites with these cards, and other people traditionally send money and congratulation cards in return! 

Utah Senior Photos

When do seniors in Utah take their grad photos?

Seniors in Utah don’t usually have yearbook photos, so traditionally they have been taken in the spring when the senior gets their cap and gown. As a Utah photographer, I still recommend taking your photos in the summer or fall to get all the beautiful colors and weather in the canyons! If you want your Utah senior photos in the canyons or mountains, Spring can still be snowy and bleak.

Where are popular spots to take senior photos in Salt Lake City?

Little Dell Reservoir, Tunnel Springs Park, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon, The Capital, or at your high school!

How much do senior photos cost in Utah?

My senior photos start at $350 for a 30 minute session!

Oregon Senior Photos

When do seniors in Oregon take their grad photos?

In Oregon, seniors take photos in the summer and fall for their yearbook photos and dressy photos, then again in the spring when they get their cap and gown photos.

Where are popular spots to take senior photos around Portland, Oregon?

The Columbia River Gorge, Mt Hood, The Oregon Coast, Downtown Portland

How much do senior photos cost in Portland, Oregon?

My senior photos start at $350 if I’m already in the Portland area!

Utah and Oregon Senior Photographer

Hi!!! I’m Meghan, a senior photographer that’s based in Salt Lake, Utah, but in Oregon like all the time. I grew up in Portland, and I’m frequently back to spend time with my family. I’ve loved senior photos since 2017 when I was selected to be a senior model for a local photographer! It inspired me to be a photographer and I have loved celebrating seniors in both high school and college for their amazing accomplishments! I can’t wait to hype you up at your senior session!!

Book your senior photos here!