Chad Bridwell Photography – High School Senior Portraits

While taking senior portraits, it's natural for teenagers to feel self-conscious. Many high-school-aged teens are self-conscious about their appearance and would prefer to miss the photo shoot entirely.

Senior pictures are an institution that’s been celebrated by American families for decades. These pictures are treasured by families for a lifetime. Encouraging your soon-to-be high school senior to partake in this tradition should not be hampered by anxiety or embarrassment. 

If you’re in the greater Seattle area, you can ease the process for you and your teen by choosing the best photographer for high school senior portraits at Chad Bridwell Photography. 

Chad Bridwell is a classically trained professional portrait photographer who can get your teen ready to take a senior portrait they'll be proud to show off. With more than 15 years of accredited experience in Seattle, Washington, you can trust him to capture the spirit of who your teen is so you can celebrate this major milestone in their life. 

Helpful Tips for Parents of High School Seniors

For parents of high school seniors; senior photos have changed! Your high school senior is no longer limited to the school photographer's traditional images. Nowadays, high school seniors are bombarded with a plethora of possibilities to showcase their true selves. From standard studio sessions to outdoor shoots to trendy fashion photography, senior photos allow teens to showcase their individuality, spirit, activities, and passions.

Given the endless amount of choices, it’s easy to become intimidated and overwhelmed. High school seniors (and their parents) are generally confused about where to begin! Below are a few pointers that you may find helpful when planning your high school senior’s portrait session.

High School Yearbook Portrait Submission Cut Off 

A primary motivating factor for parents while scheduling high school senior portraits is making sure they make the deadline for yearbook photos. By choosing Chad Bridwell Photography, you’ll obtain a noteworthy feature shot for your teens high school yearbook. 

The deadlines for submitting yearbook photos are different for every school. Some set their deadline as early as October and as late as February. You can find out when your deadline is on your school's website or calling a staff member. Give yourself an appropriate amount of time; it takes about 2-3 weeks for final portraits to be ready once the session is complete. 

Given the unpredictable nature of Seattle's fall weather, you may experience scheduling conflicts. So, plan your high school senior portraits session for July, August, or September. We'll make sure you have a fantastic shot for the yearbook before moving on to more creative photos you'll want to hang on your walls at home!

Prepping Your Soon-To-Be Senior For High School Senior Portraits

As a parent, you'll need to exercise compassion and patience as your teenager approaches their high school senior portraits. The experience will be different between teenage sons and daughters. 

Females may experience a higher level of stress; especially considering the societal pressures our culture places on them. Aside from outfits, hair, and makeup, your senior gals are most likely concerned about how they will feel posing in front of the camera or whether they will appear uncomfortable. 

Chad Bridwell Photography is here to support your daughter. They are dedicated to ensuring your daughter has a pleasant and uplifting experience that will make her look and feel beautiful. A helpful hint for parents of daughters to relieve pressure is to take her shopping prior to the session.

Senior boys may be difficult at times. The good news is that Chad Bridwell has an edge because he, too, was once an obstinate senior lad! He guarantees that your son's photo session will be as painless as possible. 

Chad Bridwell Photography will make him look his best, and despite his denials, he could even enjoy himself! Although, as his parents, it’s likely you’ll want to share the experience with your son, it may be beneficial to have him do a solo session to capture photos that are as natural as possible. 

Prepping Your Son For High School Senior Portraits 

When you’re preparing your son for his high school senior portrait session, there are a few recommendations that will help the process. 

First things first; although it may seem like a good idea, don’t have him get a new haircut or drastic modifications (chemical treatments) right before the session. This way, you can avoid them not having as much confidence when they step into the shoot.

You want your child to look and feel their best in their photo, and you want them to be proud to show it off to their family and friends. Work with your senior son to help him select the best attire that suits his personality and complements the area he has chosen. 

If you're stumped as to what to wear for senior photographs, the solution may be simpler than you think. Bring a variety of clothing to the picture shoot. They can advise you on how many outfits to pack, which is usually between three and four. 

To get a range of photos, wear different sorts of dress, such as casual, formal, or outdoor gear. Consider bringing a sports uniform if he was a member of a sports team; or a choir or band uniform. Bring outfits that reflect their personalities or activities they participated in throughout high school.

Keep it basic with your attire. It's not the right moment to wear a big design or pattern right now. Clothing that is brightly colored and solid in hue always looks the finest. Check that the colors compliment your child's skin tone. 

Unless it's your school's insignia, don't wear t-shirts with lettering or designs on the front. You want your child's personality to shine through in the images, not their outfit. 

Many seniors would really like to choose their favorite shade in senior photos, but make sure it complements their complexion and eyes. The last thing you want to do is spend a lot of money for a washed-out portrait of your child.

There are far too many senior photo themes and positions that will highlight your child's hands. It's wise to ensure your child's fingernails are clean and clear of dirt and properly trimmed prior to the session.

Preparing for senior portraits can be more stressful for teenagers dealing with blemishes and braces. Luckily, you can ease your high schooler’s angst by choosing the best photographer in the Seattle region at Chad Bridwell Photography. 

His studio has in-house retouching capabilities that can eliminate these insecurities. This can help you choose the best images after retouching them so your son can be proud of their high school senior portraits.

Choose Chad Bridwell Photography For the Best High School Senior Portraits 

High school is a time where teens can express themselves. Chad Bridwell Photography vows to collaborate with you and your teen to produce a unique portrait session that reflects who your senior is. 

Chad Bridwell Photography offers sessions that can be in the studio or a designated location; both of which he guarantees will be a stress-free environment for you and your teen. He'll sit down with you to discuss your preferred location, wardrobe, hair and makeup, and portrait style.

For genuine and professional high school senior portraits, contact Chad Bridwell Photography for a free senior portrait photography consultation today. 

If you have any questions or concerns, Chad Bridwell Photography is ready and willing to help you and your teen during every step of the process. They will devote as much time as you need to answering questions to assist you in planning and creating stunning high school senior portraits.