Senior pictures come with a surprising amount of logistics for something that sounds as simple as “take pictures.” What do I wear? What if it rains? Can I bring my dog? Does cap and gown count as an outfit? Am I supposed to know what to do with my hands?!
Good news: we have answers. Here are the questions seniors and parents ask us most before an Ahnvee senior session.
Booking + Planning
When should I book my senior pictures?
Earlier is usually better, especially if you have a specific season, date, or location in mind. Booking ahead gives us more options and, more importantly, enough time to actually plan the good stuff. Not sure when you want them taken? Our Fall vs. Spring Senior Pictures guide breaks down the difference without pretending one season is automatically better.
How do I book my senior session?
Start by contacting us for current collections, pricing, add-ons, and availability. We typically photograph seniors on Wednesdays, Sundays, and Saturday afternoons.
Once you choose your collection and date, we will send over a digital contract and retainer invoice. The retainer is 50% of your session fee plus sales tax, applies toward your balance, and officially takes that date off our calendar for you. Retainers are non-refundable if you cancel because we immediately reserve the date and begin planning your session.
What happens before my senior session?
We actually sit down and figure this thing out with you!
During your consultation, we talk through outfits, locations, hobbies, props, inspiration, and whatever ideas have been bouncing around in your head. Then we turn all of that into an actual plan so nobody is standing in a parking lot on session day going, “Okay…now what? If you already have the whole thing mapped out, fantastic. If your contribution is currently “I have no freaking idea,” we know what to do with that too.
What do Ahnvee senior photos look like?
We have photographed seniors in arcades, airplanes, aquariums, swamps, studios, downtown streets, fields, and plenty of places that made sense for exactly one person. Some sessions are classic and polished. Others get considerably weirder.
We direct posing and expressions throughout the shoot, but we are not trying to make everybody dress, move, or photograph the same way. Editing stays polished and true to color while still leaving you looking like an actual human being. You can see more of how all of this works through the Ahnvee Senior Experience.
What should I wear for senior pictures?
First rule: wear things you actually like yourself in!
We usually want enough variety that every outfit does not feel like the same look in a different shirt. You might bring something dressier, something casual, and another outfit connected to your sport, hobby, style, or whatever else makes sense for you.
Rich colors and texture tend to photograph really well. Neon and very bright white can pull attention away from you, so we usually steer away from those. And please show us the outfit you almost left at home because it feels like “a lot.” We would like to inspect it before anybody makes any rash decisions 👀
Can I send you Pinterest ideas?
Yesss! Pinterest helps us see what your brain is gravitating toward. Maybe you love the lighting in one photo, the movement in another, the outfit somewhere else, and the overall attitude of something completely unrelated. We are looking for the pattern behind what you save, not trying to photocopy somebody else’s senior pictures.
Can I bring pets, props, sports gear, instruments, or my vehicle?
Yep. If something is genuinely part of your life, we want to know about it!
We have photographed seniors with guitars, football gear, pets, vehicles, records, books, swords, and more than a few things that require additional logistical discussion. If it is alive, enormous, sharp, difficult to move, or otherwise capable of creating chaos, mention it during planning… 😂
Session Day Questions
Do I need to know how to pose?
Absolutely not. We direct you throughout the session and adjust as we go. You just need to show up.
What if there is something I feel insecure about?
Almost everybody has something they notice about themselves in photos. Knowing what is bothering you helps us make better choices with posing, angles, movement, and lighting instead of accidentally spending an hour doing the exact thing you hate. No awkward confession required. A simple heads-up is plenty.
When is the best time for outdoor senior photos?
Most outdoor sessions happen in the late afternoon or evening, usually within a couple of hours of sunset. The light is softer, the shadows behave themselves, and nobody has to spend an entire session squinting directly into Louisiana sunshine. If your concept needs a different time, indoor location, or creative lighting setup, we plan around that instead.
What happens if it rains?
Do not let the weather app emotionally destroy you three days before your session 😂
Louisiana forecasts change constantly. We keep an eye on the weather and decide what actually makes sense as your date gets closer. Depending on what we planned, we might move indoors, use the weather creatively, or reschedule at no additional fee based on availability. Louisiana is going to Louisiana. We plan accordingly.
Can we travel for my senior session?
Absolutely. Your collection includes up to 20 miles of travel from Lafayette, Louisiana at no additional cost. Beyond that, travel is $1.50 per additional mile.
Need somewhere to go? Browse our favorite Louisiana photoshoot locations, or tell us what kind of setting you have in mind and we can help narrow it down. The prettiest place is not automatically the right place. We care more about whether it actually makes sense for your session.
Do outfit changes and travel count toward my session time?
Nope. Your session time means actual camera time. Travel between locations and outfit changes are planned separately, so changing shoes in the backseat is not eating away at the time you paid us to photograph you.
Once we know your outfits and locations, we will help you figure out how much total time to set aside.
Does my cap and gown count as an outfit?
No. We treat cap and gown as a prop, not a full outfit. Throw it over something you are already wearing, drape it over your shoulder, toss the cap, celebrate accordingly. You do not have to sacrifice one of your planned looks just to get graduation photos.
Can my parent or a friend come with me?
Absolutely. Bring somebody who makes the experience easier, more comfortable, or more fun.
We only ask that phones and other cameras stay put while we are actively shooting. Trying to figure out whether you should look at us, Mom, Dad, or your best friend holding an iPhone two feet to the left is how perfectly good expressions go to die 😂
After the Session
Do you retouch senior photos?
Yep. We clean things up, even skin tone, smooth where needed, tame stray hairs, enhance eyes, and give every selected photograph our finished edit. What we are not trying to do is blur away your freckles, texture, or the features that make your face yours. Polished, not plastic.
Who chooses my final photos?
You do. Your proof gallery is typically ready within 3 days. From there, you choose which photographs you want fully edited based on the number included with your collection. If choosing favorites becomes a full-blown crisis because you like too many, additional edited images are $30 each.
Can I purchase the entire proof gallery?
Yes. The complete gallery of unedited proofs is $500. Those files are delivered exactly as they appear in your proof gallery. They do not receive the full retouching and finished edit applied to your selected photographs.
When will I get my finished senior photos?
Final edited images are typically delivered within 3 to 4 weeks after you make your selections. Running up against a deadline? One-week rush editing is available for $100.
Can I order prints, albums, or graduation announcements?
Yes. Professional prints, albums, graduation announcements, and other products can be ordered directly through your gallery. We offer professional-lab products at cost, but you will also receive a print release if you prefer to print somewhere else.
Do You Offer Senior Mini Sessions?
We do not do the traditional 15- or 20-minute, everybody-meets-us-at-the-same-spot senior mini. It simply is not enough time for the way we work. We do offer a smaller senior-session option if you want something simpler without giving up the planning, direction, and room to actually make the photos yours.
Still Have a Question?
There is a very good chance somebody has asked us something stranger. And if they have not? Congrats, we love a first 😂
Every senior session starts with a consultation, so there is plenty of time to sort through questions, logistics, outfits, locations, strange props, giant Pinterest boards, and whatever else needs figuring out before picture day.
Ready to get yours on the calendar? Contact Ahnvee Photography, take a look through the Ahnvee Senior Experience, or start poking around our favorite Louisiana photoshoot locations and see what gets your wheels turning.