Upper Arlington Senior Photographer
Meet Oliver, a senior at Upper Arlington High School. During our first consultation, we knew he wanted studio senior pictures to commemorate his final year. Not every senior wants to walk around fields or pose on a city street. Oliver wanted simple, straight-forward, and classic.
While there are many benefits to shooting in a studio, I always offer both to clients, so they have the flexibility and get to create the session that suits them best.
If you're not sure what's right for your senior pictures, this blog should help you decide! And if you're still not sure, I'm always here to help guide you.
5 Benefits of Studio Senior Pictures
Privacy and Comfort
Creative Control
No Weather Worries
Rescheduling is Easier (at my studio)
Ease of Mobility and Accessibility
Ready for more deets? Awesome!
1. Privacy and Comfort
The teacher in me wants to say, "Where are the introverts? Raise your hand!"
But really, shooting in the studio is perfect for anyone who is shy or has never had a professional photo session before.
My portrait studio is inside my house, so when you come in for a session, I welcome you into my home, just like I would for a friend. I’ve found over the years that my smaller-sized studio has made it an excellent place for seniors who are shy or want something low-key and private.
Often parents are the ones scheduling photo sessions for their seniors. And the first time I’m meeting the senior is on the day of their session. This scenario could make even the most outgoing kids feel intimated walking in for a professional photo session with someone they’ve never met.
Thankfully, my studio makes it easy to have conversations and small talk, so I can get to know the seniors before clicking a button! I love making connections with my clients, seeing what’s going to resonate with them, making sure they’re comfortable, and guiding them through every step of the process.
The studio also provides all the creature comforts of home. I have a bathroom, a place for clients to change their wardrobes, and I can offer parents a place to sit and watch the session. It’s a cozy little studio, and I’m really proud of it!
2. Creative Control
No matter what style of senior photos you want to create, we have more creative control in the studio! Some seniors want moody editorial shots, while others want something a bit more formal. The beauty of shooting in the studio is that we can do it all!
Oliver wanted to create formal studio senior pictures that showcased his sense of style in his amazing suit and tie (and who can blame him!). But he also wanted photos that were a bit more relaxed in a nice button-up shirt. We successfully captured exactly what he wanted right inside my studio!
Josh, a senior client from last year, wanted to create some moodier pictures for his session. So we collaborated during his session and changed the lighting to create darker shadows (which created the moodier vibe he wanted.)
In the studio, with creative control, we can create senior photos that are uniquely you!
And if you find inspirational photos you want to replicate, by all means, bring them along to your session! I’m always up for creative experimentation in the studio!
I consider senior sessions a collaborative event between me, the senior, and the parents!
3. No Weather Worries
Rain, Humidity, Mosquitoes, oh my!
With studio senior pictures, weather worries are no worries!
This reason (no weather worries) tends to be the number one reason seniors choose a studio session as the fall and winter months approach. In Ohio, we lose daylight hours quickly, making the window of opportunity smaller to shoot outdoor photos.
Studio sessions are perfect if you’re a busy senior with a busy schedule! You won’t have to reschedule because of weather woes and can stick to your regularly scheduled active agenda!
In my studio, the light is always bright, the humidity is low, the wind is non-existent, and I promise no mosquitoes are out for your blood!
4. Rescheduling is Easier (at my studio)
I know I just mentioned not having to reschedule sessions with studio sessions, but if Covid has taught us anything, it’s that nothing in life is certain.
Rescheduling is a part of life. Things come up, people get sick, and schedules change. I get it.
For my business, it’s much easier to reschedule a last-minute studio session than an outdoor one.
Case in point: Oliver had something come up on his original session date and had to reschedule. Because the studio is flexible (no worries about the time of day or the weather forecast), it was much easier to reschedule his photos and accommodate his request.
This may not be the case for every photographer, but it is for me. With my studio being in my home, it’s pretty easy for me to reschedule studio sessions if something changes in your schedule.
So if you have a schedule that fluctuates, keep that in mind when you choose your photographer, and ask about their rescheduling policy. Sometimes there are rescheduling fees involved.
5. Ease of Mobility and Accessibility
Honestly, I’d never considered the ease of mobility and accessibility as a “benefit” of shooting in the studio. But now that I’ve heard this direct feedback from a client, Oliver’s mom, I understand it better.
You see, Oliver had some limited mobility due to an upcoming surgery. He couldn’t walk long distances or hike up flights of stairs. He needed a space that was easy to access and move around once inside. In fact, she said that had spoken to a previous family photographer of theirs, and that person said, "Oh, I know this perfect field with a little river a little walk down a path." Oliver's mother said, "I'm sorry, but we can't do that. We need something different. We need a studio."
But that photographer didn't have a studio, and that's why Oliver and his family came to me. I could accommodate their needs.
Because my portrait studio is on the first floor of my house, it was the perfect accommodation!
So what’s the best choice for your senior pictures?
Studio Senior Pictures, Outdoor Senior Pictures, or a mix of both?
The most common benefit of studio senior sessions (especially in fall and winter) is that it fits into their schedule easily without weather worries!
Whatever you decide to do, know that when you work with me, I always go the extra mile to figure out what’s right for each client.
CJ's ultimate senior session is a perfect example of this! He wanted to showcase his snowboarding hobby, so we broke his session up into a couple of days.
You’re unique, and your senior pictures should reflect that!
If you’re not sure what you want for your senior pictures, don’t worry! Every session includes a free consultation with me to help you decide what location works best for your vision.
I love shooting in my studio, but I love being able to provide flexibility for clients even more. That’s why I offer studio and on-location photography to all my clients for no extra fee!
Ready to chat about designing your perfect senior session?
No strings attached!
Aaron Taylor is a photographer based out of Columbus, Ohio, specializing in senior portraits.