Before you know it, your junior will be a senior, and it will be time to select a photographer for senior pictures. Too often, parents seem to get left out when it comes to making choices about a student’s senior portraits. Parents input truly matters and is very important to all of us at Santees. And it’s important to your son or daughter too.

I’ve prepared this guide to help you be better informed about the senior portrait process, and to help you be a wise consumer. If you follow my tips and suggestions, I guarantee your child’s portrait experience will be the best it can be, and you’ll be thoroughly satisfied with the results.

If you take away only three things from this page, let the messages be this 1) you have the right to pick the photographer of your choice. Therefore you should look beyond the “contract” photographer to be certain you are getting the types and quality of photos you and your senior deserve. 2) The personalized attention and reliable service from the studio staff plays a big part in making your senior’s portraits look great. 3) A studio visit would be a very wise investment before you select your photographer.

Sincerely
Randy Santee

1. Be involved thoughout the portrait process

2. Start planning and evaluating photographers now. You can never start too soon. At our studio, the sooner the senior is photographed, the greater the savings.

3. Don’t feel pressured to use the school’s contracted photographer. It’s simple for your son or daughter to be in the school’s yearbook. We submit photos to all area schools. Just check with your school for requirements.

4. Visit any studio you are interested in, and look at the portraits they’ve taken. You’ll quickly determine which is best suited to your taste.

5. Don’t limit yourself geographically; don hesitate to drive a little farther for the photos and service you want. After all, this is a once in a lifetime photo.

6. Talk with the studio staff and ask questions! Do this prior to the actual photo session!

7. Evaluate just what you’ll be getting for your money. Look for a pricing structure that you are comfortable with. We suggest one that let’s you save more as your order increases.

8. Be thoroughly satisfied with your portraits. If something isn’t what you expected, ask why.

9. Look in the senior section of last years yearbook(s). Look for photographs whose quality stands out. Ask those people where they had their senior portraits taken.

10. Encourage your son or daughter to be creative and have fun! That’s what it is all about.

Q – Who should you choose?
A – One of the nation’s finest Portrait artists is in your backyard. For over 20 years, Randy Santee has been on the cutting edge of creative senior portraits. Randy lectures at seminars and workshops to keep up with the latest trends in senior photography. He is superb at posing and lighting the high school senior, but one of his best attributes is making the senior feel comfortable in front of the camera.

Q – Why do schools have a contract photographer?
A – Contracting one photographer simplifies getting photos of dances, sports groups, band groups, graduation, ect. It simplifies it for the school, but it is not necessarily the best choice for students wanting high quality senior portraits. All of our seniors come to us because they choose to. Even if they are contracted to other studios.

Q – Who submits the senior portrait to the yearbook advisor for publication?
A – We do! We know the specifications and deadlines for submitting yearbook pictures for all of the schools. Senior pictures have been our business for years. Getting each and every student’s yearbook picture delivered on time, and to the right people, is our primary concern.

Q – What makes Santees unique?
A – In our opinion, it is everything we do. From the moment someone calls to make an appointment, to the time the pick up their final order, they will be showered with personal, friendly, helpful service. Santees knows the importance of senior portraits.
Randy has an upbeat personality that puts people at ease. The more at ease people feel, the better they photograph!

Q – When should I schedule my senior portrait?
A – Contrary to what most parents think, senior portraits are NOT taken during the senior year! Because the deadline for submitting yearbook portraits is in the fall, most seniors are photographed in the summer before they graduate. If however you are thrift conscious, and want to save a lot of money, schedule your son/daughter to be photographed this April, May or June. The best buys are before our peak summer season. The earlier your senior is photographed, the more you save. Your son/daughter won’t change much between now and July, but your savings will be great.
Call us and ask about our Early Bird Specials.

Q- Who much should I expect to spend on photographs?
A – Whether you place a larger order or a small one, you will be amazed at our price schedule. Our pricing is designed so you save more as your order increases. Pricing is an important issue, but remember, if you choose a photographer who takes mediocre pictures that you are not happy with, any money spent is a waste. Don’t let that happen to you!

All of our finished photographs are fully retouched, meaning that we remove blemishes, and soften lines under eyes and make those eyes sparkle.

Q- How about a pre-appointment visit to the studio?
A – We encourage you to stop by for a pre-session appointment visit to our studio. During your visit, we will give you a tour of the studio, tell you about prices, and answer any questions you may have. Schedule a tour in April, May for June and we will give you a certificate for 8 free wallets (some restrictions apply), even if you schedule your session for July or August.

Remember, you have the right to select the senior photographer that you want. No individual or organization, by law, can tell you where to spend your money.

Your son or daughter’s senior portraits are very important. It will follow them for the rest of their life. Consider you options carefully.

Sacramento Wedding, Family and High School Senior Photography.
Site designed by Photographer and Artist Randy Santee,
High School Senior Portraits and Wedding Photography in the Rocklin, Roseville and Sacramento area. Family and Wedding Photography by Santees.
Copyright © 2008 Santees Designer Senior Portraits.
Call 916.630.1616 to speak with one of the best Northern California Family, Wedding and Senior Portrait Photographer.

Serving Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Loomis, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Sacramento, Auburn, Grass Valley, Lake Tahoe, Napa, Wine Country, San Francisco and Bay Area, Monterey, and Northern California.
An award winning maternity photographer, baby photographer, children photographer, families photographer, Seniors photographer, and Bridals photographer Sacramento, California photographer, Granite Bay photographer, Rocklin photographer, El Dorado Hills photographer, Placerville photographer, Roseville photographer, Laguna photographer, Elk Grove photographer, Folsom photographer, Auburn photographer, Grass Valley and Nevada City.

Randy Santee of Santees Designer Portriats is a contemporary, custom, photographer specializing in
maternity, babies, children, families, Seniors, and Bridals in the Sacramento, California and surrounding areas, including Granite Bay, Rocklin, Lincoln El Dorado Hills, Placerville, Roseville, Laguna, Elk Grove, Folsom, Auburn, Grass Valley and Tahoe.