Senior year is a time that’s all about celebrating! You have spent the past three years busting your booty, trying to get ahead. You’ve taken prep courses for college entrance exams, devoted free time to extracurriculars, and spent countless hours on homework. Now is the time to take electives and make memories. And what better way to celebrate this time than with a photo session? As a Central Iowa senior photographer, I love working with my students through every step of their photoshoots, including selecting the picture that will be used as their Van Meter High School yearbook pic. Here is how to choose the perfect yearbook photo.
The very first step is to pick out the perfect outfit. First, make sure it’s something that matches the Van Meter High School dress code so you are not left scurrying to find a replacement. I tend to advise my clients to stick with a classic, timeless outfit. It might seem a little boring, but think about how quickly trends change. This is a picture your future kids might see someday. Now, think about the way you laughed at your parents when you came across old pictures of them. Do you see what I mean now? By sticking with solid colors and simple cuts, you can have a pic that doesn’t age like milk. Remember, if you do want some pictures with bolder outfits, you can always have an outfit change later in your session.
In the same vein, I would stick with simpler choices throughout your Van Meter High School session. Not only does this mean no chaotic clothing, but you will also want to ditch any props or overly distracting backdrops. For your yearbook picture, the focus should be completely on you. You don’t want to have to compete for attention in your own portrait!
Now, it’s time to pick how close you want your Van Meter High School photographer to get. Some schools do specify using a close-up (with a head and shoulders crop) in their yearbook guidelines, but this is far from universal. Still, I typically tell my clients to use close-up pictures for their yearbooks. There are several reasons. First, the end pictures tend to be pretty small. If you choose a full-body picture, your classmates will not be able to see your face. It’s simply not going to stand out on the page. Also, there is a chance the yearbook might have to be resized to fit on the page. With a close-up, you will have more control over the final product.
Last but not least, choose the pictures that feel authentic to you! This is going to be the picture that lets your Van Meter High School classmates remember you. If you have pictures where you don’t feel comfortable or genuine, it’s going to give your classmates a bit of a false memory. Lay off the filters and the editing, and stick with a picture that feels as though it represents you the best!
Hopefully, this helps you as you choose the perfect picture for your Van Meter High School yearbook. And if you are still looking for the best photographer for your session, just let me know! As a Central Iowa senior photographer, I adore working with students across the area to plan photo sessions to celebrate this amazing season. Send me a message today if you think my style might just match yours!