I’m a big believer in the power of print. One day, we’re going to pull out old photographs to show our grandkids, and it’s much more nostalgic to pull out physical photos, than to unlock an ancient phone. It’s why all of my packages don’t just have digital files—they also include options for high quality prints. I honestly get excited when clients tell me “we have so many pictures we love! But what do we do with all of them?”
When clients ask what I recommend they do with their photos, I always suggest getting them in an album and putting some on your wall, sooner rather than later. Displaying these photos is an important part of celebrating your senior.
Even aside from framed photos, there are so many great things you can do with senior portraits, and some of their uses might surprise you! If you’re one of the parents wondering what to do with all the senior pictures, or how to display them, let me help you!
Why Are Senior Pictures Important?
Senior pictures are a celebration of your senior, and the hard work they’ve put in to get here. Senior photos are all about showing how far your child has come, and the incredible person they’ve grown into. It’s the culmination of years of hard work, growth, and determination. They’ve achieved so much—on the field, in the classroom, on stage, or in their community. But what makes this year so special is not just what they’ve done, it’s who they’ve become.
These are photos that truly reflect your child’s personality, passion, and individuality. Your child is on the cusp of adulthood, stepping into who they are with new confidence and clarity. This is such a fleeting time, and senior pictures allow you to hold onto a piece of it forever.
Decide What To Do With Senior Photos Before Your Session
A well rounded senior photo shoot should include more than just a few nice portraits (although those should definitely be there too!). It’s a great idea to think of all the things you want to do with the photos you get from your senior session ahead of time, so that you can plan the style of photos you need, the type of outfits, and the location that best fits. Of course, you also want your senior’s personality on full display throughout the shoot. We’re celebrating them, and their energy should come through loud and clear in every photo, even the posed portraits.
Once you have an idea what you want to do with the senior pictures, and you know the style of photos you need to make your dream a reality, you will have an easier time choosing the right senior photographer. And if you’re looking for a photographer in the Indianapolis & Cincinnati area that can provide a luxury experience that captures all the sides of your senior, and is guaranteed to get every type of photo you need, I’m your girl!
Senior Session Overview
If you’re researching photographers for your senior, you’ll find that options run the gamut. You can get anything from a quick 30 minutes to a full 6 hour experience.
Understanding what you want to get out of your session will help you narrow down choices and choose the right photographer, who can deliver exactly what you’re hoping for (and more!).
I offer two types of sessions: the Luxe Experience and the Express Session. My Luxe experience ranges in time from 2-6 hours, depending on the needs of the senior. This photo shoot is designed to be their dream experience, and ensures that you get all the photos you need. You’ll get a mix of posed, candid, and themed shots. My Express Session is for the senior that wants something more short and sweet. It is 45 minutes at my indoor/outdoor studio in Milroy, IN. It’s perfect for the senior who wants the quality and artistry, without the fuss. You can learn more about the sessions I offer and what is included here.
What To Do With Senior Pictures
There are so many wonderful things to do with your senior’s portraits, and some of them might surprise you. Here are some of my favorite ways I’ve seen parents use their senior’s pictures.
Social media posts.
Your senior wants to be shared looking their best, and they appreciate having nice portraits to share on socials, both for them and for you. Pro tip: keep a few photos off social media and save them for graduation announcements or the yearbook. And remember: sharing on social media is fun (and a great way to publicly celebrate your senior), but it isn’t lasting—that’s what prints are for.
Graduation announcements.
These are the most common ways to use senior photos. This is how you can share your child’s many accomplishments with your friends and family. It’s a great idea to design your senior’s graduation announcements to match the photos we take during the session. To make it easy, I offer my clients the ability to order graduation announcements right from their photo gallery.
Party decorations.
Your senior’s graduation party is a complete celebration of them. The photos you get during their session are the ideal decoration for table settings, cupcake toppers, or anything else you can think of!
Gifts for family.
The perfect way to thank family members for all they’ve done to support your graduating senior on their journey. Give them something they can hold and cherish! I recommend anything from accordion books to wall art, depending on the relationship between your senior and their extended family.
Scrapbook.
For the crafty family, a scrapbook not only tells the story of your senior, but also tells the story of the photo shoot experience itself.
Photo books.
A session that captures all the sides of your senior can’t be trimmed down to just one or two pictures on the wall. A photo book tells the entire story of who your senior is, and who they are becoming. This is the album your senior will show their future family.
Memory boxes.
A perfect keepsake for your senior’s pictures. Keep them preserved and safe. This is the box your photos will come in, and can be used as a keepsake box, protecting these pictures as a family heirloom.
Dorm room decor.
A great way to make a dorm room feel like home? A photo of your senior! Consider surprising them with a gift of a framed print for their dorm before they leave for college.
Headshots.
Having something professional is important to use as a LinkedIn profile photo, for resumes that require photos, or for frat and sorority rushing. If your senior is eager to enter the job market, or to join a fraternity or sorority, getting a few of these shots is the best way to kill two birds with one stone. Pro tip: did you know that college town photographers charge upwards of $250+ just for rushing photos? Let’s plan ahead so you don’t have to worry about that!
Wall art—framed prints, canvases, and metal prints.
This is my favorite way for my clients to use their photos. It’s the perfect way to add a touch of your senior, in all their glory, to your living space. This is for the family’s hoping to go all out celebrating their senior. I offer high-quality wall art that will become treasured heirlooms. I share samples of wall art to help with inspiration, and provide guidance on color matching, so everything goes together—a gallery celebrating the amazing person you raised.
Framed Prints VS Canvases VS Metal Prints
For the parents wondering what type of wall art to choose, I have good news. You really can’t ever go wrong with any option! It just depends on sort of look you prefer, or what goes best with your living space.
Framed prints have the most flexibility to compliment your living space, with the color options of the frame itself, and the material brings character to the image. Canvases feel luxurious, due to the textured material that adds depth to the image. Metals are my personal favorite and give a bit more of a modern feel, plus the colors of the photos pop the most on metal. They come in both a gloss and a matte finish option.
I’m always willing to help my clients decide which option would fit their space best if they are having trouble deciding.
How To Display Senior Pictures
Once you’ve chosen the type of wall art you’d like, the next choice is deciding how to display the photos of your senior.
There are some amazing ways to combine different size prints in an artistic wall collage that shows your senior’s personality. Displaying these photos on your wall is a great way to keep your senior close even after they’ve left for college.
For the families I work with, I offer packages with the perfect complimentary sizes that transform your wall into a work of art. You’ll have the perfect gallery to show all the sides of your senior and what makes them unique.
Senior Photo Packages
When you know how you want to use your images, choosing the right photo package is much easier. It’s important to ask your photographer ahead of time about the types of packages they offer, to ensure you are able to get everything you need.
I offer a variety of packages to preserve these memories. And for the families that want a little more, I also have a la cart purchasing options available.
Before sharing my full list of package options, I like to have a phone call with the soon-to-be seniors, so I can learn about their dreams for their session. I love having the opportunity to get to know each person that I’m photographing, to connect with them, and make sure they feel seen and celebrated. My process is designed to bring out their unique personality during the photo shoot, and give them photos that leave them in awe. The initial phone call is the first step in making that happen.
My most popular package is my gold package, which includes a 10×10 album and a 16×24 piece of wall art, plus corresponding digital images. My clients love that it is the happy medium between the Silver and the Platinum packages, providing just the right amount of photos, a medium sized piece of wall art, and an ideally sized photo album—not too big or too small.
Aside from my product packages, I also have a wide array of a la carte options, from album upgrades to folio boxes. All of the products I offer are of the highest quality, because you and your senior deserve the best. If you can dream it, I’m sure we can make it happen!
Since senior photos are so versatile and can serve so many purposes, I have graduation announcements and other prints that can easily be ordered directly from your gallery. Save yourself the trouble of needing to find a specialty print shop in your area!
The Purpose of Print
My passion is making unique photos that help my clients see themselves in a different way. I strive to take photos that my clients can’t wait to frame on their walls. The photos I take capture the true essence of your senior, revealing their inner beauty, strength, and awesomeness in a way that only a photograph can. The signature albums and wall art I offer make sure these memories last, transforming a picture into an heirloom that reminds you of your senior’s greatness every single day.
Albums are forever. Let’s create something meaningful and lasting. Head here to start the process that your senior will cherish for a lifetime.
Amanda is a luxury photographer located in Milroy, Indiana specializing in senior portraits. Her goal is to provide beautiful, high-quality, authentic photos that reveal the true you, and an epic experience that leaves you in awe.
Serving high school seniors (and their parents!) in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Batesville, Greensburg, Columbus, West Harrison, Harrison, Rushville, Shelbyville, Greenfield, Brookville, New Castle, Richmond, Connersville, Columbus, Muncie, and beyond.
