Are Simple Senior Portraits Still A Thing?

Have you searched “ideas for high school senior pictures”? It’s an entertaining few hours!

I thought I was being creative, 24 years ago, when I insisted my brother take me to Patoka Lake and set a kitchen dining chair in the water why I posed in a blue floral maxi dress and looked off into the sunset. Everyone else was doing white backgrounds with a big block “99” on the floor. (Clean white was the response to paint-splattered canvas backdrops a decade earlier- usually with a stepladder in the scene).

Then came photoshop, and people seemed to think it was a fine idea to put “fire” on baseball bats and random sports equipment…ah, fun times.

I do love to be creative. But I’m not a shock-and-awe type creative. I love classic, timeless styles. I’m so happy to see a return for classic, nicely-lit senior portraits in the last few years. I think some teens are tired of the same brick walls and same outdoor locations, and they are leaning into more subtle, timeless looks.

If that’s your preference, I invite you to come view the studio and see if something here works for you. I also shoot on location- but I bring lights, so we still have a polished, professional look. Call me- let’s chat. Even if you decide not to book, you may get some ideas!

The classic white wall- it’s back!

Close up senior pictures of girls are timeless.

A simple, real pose- made interesting by different textures, warm skin tones and a smile.

Outside in the studio courtyard. Classic black and white- and what really makes this photo is all the texture. There may be no color, but see the concrete wall, the denim/lace shirt, the plants in the background, the ringlets, the hat…? All contribute.

Another classic close-up. Nothing is overly loud. It’s sweet and simple.

Senior Boy Photoshoot: Class of 2022

Why should you have senior pictures taken?

  1. You deserve it!

  2. It’s fun!

  3. You will use these pictures more than you think. Announcements, grad slideshows, social media, applications, resumes, even LinkedIn. Calotype will make sure to cover all the requirements so you get the most use from these senior photos.

  4. You are interesting- whether you think it or not. Getting your face, your bone structure, your eyes, etc. into the right lighting can make a world of difference in how you see yourself.

Look over these senior pictures in Springfield. (I can shoot in any location, not everything needs to be in our studio). These were taken on a fall afternoon, just walking around downtown. What would you like to do for your senior photoshoot?

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senior boy walking up stairs in downtown Springfield for a senior photoshoot
black and white photo of a senior boy, centered, leaning on a bike rack in downtown Springfield MO for senior photos
smiling senior boy leaning against wall for senior pictures
horizontal pictures of serious hs school senior boy sitting on a fountain, looking directly at camera

Happy 13th Birthday to Jack

Jack is my firstborn. The tiny tot I used to call “The Calotype Poster Child” is now a tall teenager.

I didn’t realize how enjoyable life can be with an older child! Instead of throwing food on the floor and singing “The Wheels on the Bus,” we now have such good conversations together.  (AND… some boring ones… because my interest in Star Wars is about a level three, and he’s a solid ten.  But he’s not as interested in writing essays as I am, so we’re even). 

We’re learning to compromise (an essay on Star Wars!) and he’s great at unloading the dishwasher, so he can talk all he wants about SW composer John Williams “He also did Jaws, Mom! Isn’t that cool?” and other things I never knew I needed to know. Thirteen is a lucky number!

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25th Anniversary Portraits

Looking for ideas to celebrate a wedding anniversary? What about a Portrait Session together? You can purchase your favorite images in a leather-bound album that will endure for generations to come.

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This was actually a test shot where I was metering the white wall.  They ended up loving it and putting it in their album.  “It looks like we’re dating,” she laughed.

This was actually a test shot where I was metering the white wall. They ended up loving it and putting it in their album. “It looks like we’re dating,” she laughed.

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The last image.

The last image.

Girl Dancer in Costume

Dancers put so much time and work into what they do- why not have professional photos taken to celebrate? This young lady dances at Solomon’s Dance Studio in Neosho. Can you guess some of the dances these costumes belong to?

Photographed in the studio.

Family of Six In the Studio: Winter/Dressy

This family has waited a long time for family portraits. Why do you think they waited?

  1. Couldn’t find coordinating outfits in everyone’s sizes…

  2. Dad works every evening and kids have school in the daytime so there was no time for an appointment…

  3. The youngest cut her bangs down to the root and unless she wore a sock hat, there were NO FAMILY PICTURES taking place until the hair grew out…

Of course, it’s number three!!

The hair is growing out, and this family went with dressy clothes for portraits. Scroll down close to the end- NOBODY was as proud to wear his suit as child #3… can you tell by looking??

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Doesn’t every man feel like this when he knows he’s looking fine? :)

Doesn’t every man feel like this when he knows he’s looking fine? :)

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Dancing to a tune only she can hear…  (This pose is her idea, FYI)

Dancing to a tune only she can hear… (This pose is her idea, FYI)

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You can watch this Portrait Session on IGTV on Instagram. This is my sister-in-law’s family and they graciously allowed me to film the whole session, unedited and as-is, so others can get an idea what a Family Portrait Session in the studio might be like. Enjoy!

Extended Family In The Park/Late Fall, Early Stages of Winter

Are you wanting to get the family together for outdoor portraits, but concerned how it will look now that leaves are off the trees?

This family was photographed on November 16th. The previous weekend, Neosho experienced a cold, heavy rain storm that stripped the final fall leaves from trees. No matter- there’s a beautiful bluff in Big Spring Park that never changes. Its deep gray/brown colors look great with skin tones and clothing. Plus- when the finished pieces of wall art hang on the client’s walls, the natural gray backdrop will blend well with most current home color schemes.

At Big Spring, there’s frequently an occasional duck that wanders by. Can you find it?

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Girl Senior Pictures/Class of 2021

Looking for fall senior pictures? I can do both outdoor and studio senior portraits, especially on a beautiful fall day in the Ozarks.

**NOTE: My subject may be smiling in these senior pictures, but the first time we met she was NOT happy. Scroll to the end to see. **

Her outdoor senior portraits were taken in a parking lot near the studio; by the creek that runs through Morse Park to the northeast of the studio; and beside the courthouse in the square across from Calotype. I chose the locations based on her clothing colors.

Her mom’s favorites were the last images- in the studio on the olive plaster wall. Which ones do you like? Feel free to email me and comment!

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Because you scrolled to then end so diligently- here is the first image from the first time I photographed this young lady. I took these in 2007 when her mom brought her to the studio for a spring portrait special. She may not look excited to be there, but thirteen years later… I know her mama’s glad she made time for professional photography.

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High School Senior Girl Outside With Horse

For this class of 2021 senior girl, I went to her farm for the portrait session. Three outfits- the prom dress with her horse, jeans and a sweater, then a similar sweater but with a color change to better match the surroundings. These were photographed at 9 AM in the middle of October. Do you like the idea of pets in senior portraits? Your comments are always welcome- feel free to email me.

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Family of Five Photographed in the Studio- Three Boys/Muted Colors

If you’re looking for ideas on how to dress three boys for fall portraits, glance through these portraits. Their mom chose simple neutrals- cream sweaters and jeans. It keeps the focus on the eyes- keep scrolling until you see their closeups.

Note: I don’t recommend cream/white/ivory or anything light colored for grownups because it’s much larger splash of white- proclaiming “Look at this!” Most adults don’t want their chest or belly to be the first thing you see when you look at their family portrait!

But for small children, little highlights of cream/white/light colors can be pleasing.

What do you think about these colors? Send me an email with comments or questions!

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Family of Five in Studio/Fall Colors

When weather turns bad, we always have the studio as an option. Full of sets and backdrops, it’s fun to piece together a family portrait with props, stools, backgrounds… just like working a puzzle. Who fits where? Can we see your eyes full of light when I put you there? Do you look natural or uncomfortable? Sometimes I arrange and change a few times before it feels right.

Lately, I’ve made it a point to spend most of the session time on family groups, so moms have plenty of options to choose from when they come back to order. If people have gone to significant effort to get ready for family portraits, it’s my responsibility to make the most of their time and make sure they have great choices for wall portraits.

Edited 11-9-20 to add this thoughtful review from the dad: “We are so pleased with the pictures.  Even our 15 year old commented on how talented you are, not only in the pictures but how you engage and make people comfortable with your requests to change posture, position, etc.  Thank you for making it a great experience and for amazing photos.”

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First Birthday Fall Outdoor Portraits

These were taken at Morse Park here in Neosho. The first baseball images are inside the dugout, and the second set is down by the creek. For future reference (if you’re eyeing leaf color and wondering when they change) these were taken the second week of October. Fall color is slightly different every year and varies by location, but I keep my eye out for patches of good light and good color during the whole fall season. Do you like the baseball or creek portraits better? Feel free to comment by emailing me!

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Props provided by the client.

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The Weird Child (There's One in Every Family)

It was late in the evening on a Wednesday night. I had just finished cleaning up from dinner and the kids were playing quietly with Legos and reading books. Apparently, the self-destructive part of my psyche decided that this Peace Should Be Interrupted and I should drag one of the kids to the studio to test another lighting idea that had been running through my brain.

Bruce happened to be the cleanest (surprisingly) so I grabbed some fall hand-me-downs from big brother Jack and off we trotted to the studio.

Bruce wanted to know if he would get paid.

Once I agreed to his terms (payment as soon as we arrived back home), I set up against the olive wall to see how many different looks I could get with a five-minute attention span (normal for a five-year-old). You can see the progression of his interest in these image. Serious and ready to work for a few minutes- then his native weirdness takes over… then he’s done. The last smile was only because I said the word “poop.”

All poses are Bruce’s own. I told him the general vicinity in which to stand; he supplied the rest. Do you have a child that brings his own life to the party?

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