It’s time for back to school… so you’re probably thinking “senior pictures”!

I know we’re on our way out of summer, and kiddos are headed back to school. And that might seem like it means it’s too late to get pictures done for your senior. But if that’s what you’re thinking… don’t worry, you’ve still got time! Especially if you take care of things now.

And if you do get them booked into the calendar now, you’ll have time to help your senior (or you, if you’re a senior reading this) pull together a super unique senior photography session, that will finish up with images that they, and you, love!

It’s the perfect time to get them booked, and still submit to the yearbook!

Now one of the reasons that now is the time to get booked, is I do have to admit we’re in the final stretch for being able to submit the photos of your senior to the year book, assuming you want to do that kind of thing. Schools usually have a timeline that’s pretty specific for submitting images, and outside of that, your senior will have to settle for the picture your school’s team snaps on picture day. But if you book now, you should still be able to fit things in perfectly, ahead of the deadline! Especially if you work with a photographer like me, who guarantees a super speedy turnaround, so you can have your photos in your hands ASAP after your session.

But all that is curtain dressing – you’re really here to talk about unique senior photo sessions, so I’m going to walk through some of my favorite things you can think about to make sure that your senior’s session is 100% unique to them!

Creating a unique senior picture session is all about the details

Like with all things, when it comes to unique senior pictures, the devil is in the details. And… so is the fun! So most of what we want to think about before senior photos, is in the details!

So ask yourself:

1 – Do you want to bring props?

One of the first questions I usually suggest you ask before your Minneapolis senior picture photo session, is whether you want to bring props. Now, you don’t have to, by any means. There are props in the studio, and sometimes that’s all we need! But if there are things that are important to you, or you want to work in your diploma or your cap and gown, even… then you should! Bringing meaningful elements into your session will not only make it feel more “you,” and naturally make it more unique, because if you’re bringing your own props, they’re not going to be in other people’s sessions, are they? Well… not unless you share them with a friend!!

2 – What places are important to you?

After we talk about props for your senior’s photos, it’s time to talk about location! Now, we can keep location really simple, if you want to. This doesn’t have to be complicated, or involve driving all over Minneapolis. But… important places are a real contributor to making senior pictures feel like they’re YOURS. And documenting the locations that were meaningful to you over the course of your high school journey is valuable. Imagine looking back on those ten years from now – and all the good times after school at your favorite café come flooding back!

3 – Are there activities you do that you want to work into your session?

It’s not just props and places that can help make your senior photo session unique, we can also work in activities that have been important to your senior throughout their high school career! Now, that being said, sometimes this is kind of a combination of “props” and “locations”. If you want photos taken at your favorite record store, like this fabulous kiddo did, then that’s going to encompass props, a location, AND an activity – music! So really there’s a lot of crossover here. But if nothing popped in your mind that might make your session stand out from just props or places… then thinking about the activities that you enjoy might jog some planning into place!

4 – What about a video addon?

Another way you can make your Minneapolis senior photo session stand out, is actually new here at Jessica Strobel Photography! We’re now offering video add-ons to sessions, and adding one onto your senior photo session is 100% on the table. These video add-ons are designed for you to end up with basically a behind the scenes home-video of your session, and they are SO COOL. They’re essentially moving-pictures, and for a session like senior photos, they’re a huge way that you can freeze time, without freezing time. This is a huge celebration you’re having, scheduling senior photos. And having video clips of it, takes it to a whole new level!

5 – Allow for as many wardrobe changes as you want!

And finally, we arrive at the last topic I usually talk about when it comes to unique senior photo sessions. Wardrobe! Your clothes are a huge way that you express yourself – I mean, they’re a huge way that ANYone expresses themselves. So obviously, the clothes you wear for your senior pictures will go a long way to making them stand out from the crowd! When you’re choosing wardrobe options, think about ALL of the potentials. I want you to consider everything from your prom dress, to your cap and gown, and everything in between!

Ultimately how unique your session is depends on YOU.

At the end of the day, you don’t need to make super specific choices to ensure your photo session is unique, because YOU are unique, and that means your photos will be too. But if having a session that stands out from the crowd specifically is part of your goal, we can make that happen too!

And if you want to have a chat about putting together a super unique senior picture session here in Minneapolis, just reach out, and let me know. I would love to get you on the schedule, and design a session that focuses on the things you’ve enjoyed doing for the last four years!