Picking the Perfect Yearbook Picture

October marks my 13th year doing high school senior photography, and there’s nothing like the excitement of the start of senior year with so many possibilities! With so many “first day/last day” photos, or “Senior Sunday” posts on social media, it’s easy to get caught up in home football games, what to wear for that Homecoming dance, and so much more.

Sometimes it doesn’t feel like there’s enough time to absorb it all.

Sometimes it’s easier to just let the flow of the fall take us down a “river” of indecision.

But unless your child wants their yearbook photo to be the one taken for their student ID in August when they picked up their class schedule, there is one important decision they/you should make.

Getting your yearbook photo doesn’t have to be hard. Many high schools’ yearbook editors now allow students to submit an outdoor photo instead of a professional one taken in a portrait studio, like mine. This is both good and bad, in my opinion. It does lower the barrier for those who can’t afford a professional photographer. That is good; everyone deserves the perfect yearbook picture for the yearbook. However, what is bad, in my opinion, is to let that moment pass by without caring too much about the quality of the image submitted.

This is a rite of passage for your child. Only once in a lifetime do they have a senior photo in a yearbook, even if they choose not to purchase that yearbook. It is a tradition and a legacy in print form.

As a professional photographer, I must follow certain rules so that my client’s yearbook photo meets standards for publication. The standards are not difficult, but they are still followed regardless of whether the family chooses to have the portrait taken outdoors or indoors. Most local schools require the images to be uploaded to the Jostens.com website by November 1st. Some have deadlines as late as February 1, but that’s less common. When you book a yearbook photo session with me, I will contact your local high school to find out all the submission details…a personable touch to the caring service I love providing to my network.

Here’s my approach for picking the perfect yearbook picture this fall.

Bring two outfits for your senior photo session. One that parents love, and one that the student loves. Both outfits should be a bit “fancier” than an everyday outfit, but it doesn’t require a tie, suit, or dress. Usually there’s a collar to the garment, but you don’t have to have dress pants or a skirt since it doesn’t show in the photo.
The shirt neckline is an important detail to consider when selecting your outfit. Since yearbook portraits are cropped to specific dimensions, certain necklines may affect how the final image appears and could impact yearbook approval.
Let your child pick their favorite image for the yearbook, because it is, well, their yearbook. They are becoming a young adult, and they should make more and more of their own decisions (trust me, and a mom of 2, I know this feeling…but that is why I am here for you during every step of picking the perfect yearbook picture).
If you disagree with their choice of yearbook outfit, you can collaborate on another (sometimes more formal) outfit for the family’s mantel, or a gift for grandparents, etc. If the parents are paying for the yearbook photo session, then they often want a classic, more formal photo for themselves.
I sometimes act as a mediator between the parent and senior, and this process has worked best over time. Both parties are always happy with the result, and they appreciate having an expert to guide them on beginning a visual legacy.

As far as styles go, the current trend for the past few years has been neutrals: white, black, grey, creams, and browns. Tone-on-tone provides a lot of color harmony that seems both popular and classic. However, the color is fairly irrelevant; it should be a favorite of the high school senior student. They should feel amazing in it!

Speaking of styles, one of my favorites when it comes to editing is Black & White, or (which is why I offer ‘This Is Me’ to my Personal Branding clients, though you and your student could experience a small sprout of this style). Remember the image above? Check out the capture below to get a glimpse of the soulful difference B&W can make to your student’s picture:

Need more inspiration? Read my previous blogs to see other stellar images I’ve captured for students that families cherish along with guidance adjacent to what I provide in this blog. At Ginger Liemohn Creative, I ensure you never feel lost. I am here to help in building your or your student’s/family’s visual legacy.

I will coordinate with the family to have several backdrops already set up in my studio in advance of the student’s arrival. Or, alternatively, if we are solely doing an outdoor session, then I will provide a high-resolution image with a shallow depth of field for the best quality image.

The image below shows you my studio in case you and your student prefer an indoor session:

So if you are looking for a professional yearbook photo this fall, you can book your slot any time between now and Saturday, October 24th, and you can purchase it directly from my website here: https://gingerliemohn.com/headshots/

Where Is Ginger?

Just like choosing a yearbook picture is about capturing a moment in time, the places we show up, and the people we meet become part of our story, too. WXWForum26 is one stop on my much longer list, and another “Where Is Ginger?” moment to share with you. My clients often ask where they can connect with me, so I’ll keep giving you little glimpses into the communities, events, and causes that fill my calendar. Find me at events focused on entrepreneurship and networking, like 1 Million Cups Ann Arbor and The Profile Experience hosted by Ezra Zimbler, along with environmental service like York Charter Township Environmental Committee and even the Herb Society of America, Great Lakes District. Because sometimes the best stories, connections, and memories happen when we step outside of our usual routines.

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Enjoy those Senior Sundays! -Ginger 🧡