Good Preparation Helps Avoid Portrait Mistakes

Becky Keifer, a student at Pullman Christian School, knew exactly what she wanted to wear for her senior portrait. She had selected her clothes with great care and went to have her pictures taken knowing she would look wonderful.

Then the proofs came back.

“We were really disappointed with the results,” said her mother, Teresa Keifer. “The pictures didn’t look at all like my beautiful daughter.”

One of two main mistakes seniors make when having their senior pictures taken is choosing the wrong style and color of clothing.

Michael Wade, owner of Anastasia’s Portrait Studio in Spokane, has students fill out a questionnaire following the purchase of their portraits. Many indicate they wish they had spent more time selecting their clothes.

Most studios recommend the students bring four changes of clothing for the big day. Select two outfits you like and two your mother approves of.

If the pictures are taken outdoors, you can go with brighter, more vibrant colors. If you’re staying in the studio, it’s best to choose solid colors of similar tones.

Selecting classic styles will keep your portrait from looking too trendy. Remember, this photo will hang in your parents’ house for decades to come, so you don’t want to wear anything that will appear dated in a couple of years.

George Goetzman, owner of Goetzman Studio in Coeur d’Alene, recommends students skip the glamour route and simply wear the best of their normal school clothes for senior portraits.

But, Goetzman said, “I try not to give too much direction because I want the kids to look as natural and real as possible. I really work at helping them focus on their own true style.”

Michael Shollenberger, owner of Memories Photography in Spokane, cautions students against making drastic changes just before having their pictures taken.

“Don’t change your hairstyle or hair color,” Shollenberger said. “Don’t suddenly decide to grow a mustache or goatee.”

We heard from a couple of seniors (who asked not to be identified) who said they had gone for the glamour look and went platinum for their pictures.

They were disappointed in the results and ended up returning for retakes.

“If I had it to do over,” said Keifer, the disappointed mom, “I’d have Becky try on the clothes, put on her make-up and fix her hair - then take several Polaroid snapshots to see how the look (would) translate to a photo. It would have saved us a lot of time, heartache and the cost of an extra sitting fee for retakes.”

The second mistake many seniors make in planning their portraits is waiting too long to make an appointment. Right now, as they finish their junior year, is the time to call and arrange for a sitting.

“Most schools need portraits by the end of August or the middle of September, if they are to be included in the annual,” said Laurie Garcia of Impressions by Laurie, a Spokane studio.

“Most photographers get booked up fast, so it’s important to call early for an appointment,” she said.

The usual timeline to have a portrait done - start to finish - is about eight to 10 weeks.

If you call early for an appointment, you can usually get in within two weeks. Add another two weeks until the proofs come back. Then, you should spend a week or two deciding on the poses you’ll purchase. Expect another four to five weeks until the final product is ready.

Should there be a problem and you need to arrange for retakes, this whole scenario gets extended an additional month.

How much should you expect to pay for senior pictures? Of course prices vary from studio to studio, but the average cost for a standard package falls in the range of $200 to $300. The more poses or props you want, the higher the price.

So, Class of 1999, now is the time to begin one of your first official duties as high school seniors: Get on the telephone and make that appointment for your portrait today.