Should I get senior pictures?

Question

I really don't know if I want them or not. To tell you the truth I think I look horrible in any pictures, regardless if it's professional or not. Even if I did decide to get senior pictures I don't really have anything really special to wear and nothing cool to put in the pictures. I also have not so great a smile and feel even though I would smile and they would photoshop my braces out I still am weary. I'm also concerned about money, my father passed away about 3 years ago and I've always held myself back from things because I'm worried about money since my mom is a single working mom. I'm really conflicted. T_T

Answer 1

I personally never got them. The are cliche and totally unnecessary. You could take pictures with a camera of your own, but I wouldn't throw away my money on senior portaits.

Answer 2

These portrait studios are a racket, for sure. And, this is a milestone year for you.

I'm sure there are lots of different ways they do it, depending on the studio, but when my son graduated a couple of years ago, they had their pictures made in graduation gowns and tuxedo jackets, so having cool clothes may not be an issue.

We ended up getting one of the cheapest packages, which was just enough for relatives and family friends with a couple left over for us.

Senior portraits are kind of corny and definitely part of a marketing scheme, but this is also a one-time shebang. My advice is to get the most basic package you can-- no keychains, no specialty shots with your tuba or hockey stick, no tacky frames.... just one or two plain headshots.

If you don;t do the official studio thing, you may want to at least have some casual photos of yourself at this age.

Answer 3

Even if you dont want the pics, you probably have family that wants some. Very few guys look good in high school senior pics. I didnt, my freinds didnt, my son didnt, but grandparents, etc..., really expect them.

If cost is a concern, with the consent and assistance of your mom, go to your local craigslist page, and place an add under barter, or platonic, or whatever, and be honest about what you need. Senior pics. There are usually hobbyist photogs, even helpful pros, that might get you a sitting for free, and charge low for the prints, or just provide a cd for you to use as you want. There may be some conditions, but give it a shot.

I have done several senior pics, for use in my portfolio, and just for the heck of it. I provide a written agreement that the photos are to be used for personal, non-commercial uses, give them a cd of retouched photos, and a written authorization to print as needed (to please the copyright dweebs at walmart). You might find someone to help you out.

Answer 4

It seems that you are very depressed right now. I think you need to have someone to talk to about what you are going through now. But to answer your question about having a senior photo taken, well, it is just a photo of you at one point in time. Who knows things will look up, and years from now you can look at the photo and see how much you have come from that person in the picture. Besides, a photo can only be as good as the person inside it, doesn't matter if he/she wears anything cool in it.

Answer 5

well, one reason you might want to at least get a shot taken at the picture place, even if you don't end up buying any (though you might have to pay for the sitting if you don't buy, when the sitting is usually free if you do buy) is that you won't be in the yearbook if you don't have your picture taken. so then you wont' have pictures to hand out to friends and you won't be in the yearbook, either!

you might want to look into the less expensive packages, where you might just get enough to give to your family and closest friends. your mom probably feels your graduation is a special time, and so will aunts/uncles/grandparents/etc. they will probably give you grad gifts and would probably like to have a picture of you. if you have a grad gathering, it is pretty normal to display your grad pictures as well, with pictures of you throughout your youth.

a friend of mine did the taking her own picture thing, and she even cut them to look like professional pictures, but it was kind of weird and i think it brought more attention to the fact that she didn't ahve pictures taken than if she hadn't had any at all.

generally kids i knew took 3-4 shots and ordered at least 100 little ones to pass around, and a variety of larger ones for framing or giving to family. maybe just consider a small package with about 20 pictures. also, at a sitting, for each pose, they will take at least 20 shots. so even if you feel like you look bad in pictures, you will have a lot of options to pick from, undoubtedly you will like one!