Best areas for senior pictures?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I graduated from hs on '94 in ny and did not have a class ring, a school jacket, senior pictures, a graduation party or a yearbook. I think my older sister had a graduation party and a yearbook. I guess she doesn't think of it as the "nice memory" you guys are referencing because I don't think she's looked at the yearbook in well over a decade if not two.

Weird. I graduated high school in 94 in the midwest and did get a class ring, senior pictures, backyard open house, and a yearbook. No school jacket - I didn't do sports, but if I did, there would have been a letter jacket. They are a nice memory, since before that the last time I had a picture taken that wasn't a five second shot in the basement of the school with hundreds of us lined up for our turn I was... four years old. So my parents wanted a set of nice pictures for their mantel. My graduation pictures are displayed next to my sister's graduation pictures, near my wedding pictures (that didn't happen until 15 years after high school graduation, so those graduation shots stood alone for a LONG time.)

Maybe not everyone does the exact same thing, and maybe we shouldn't look down on people who value different things than we do? And maybe one person's experience isn't necessarily the same as everyone else's? Oh wait, this is DCUM. Never mind.

Though I will say that in 94, as a midwesterner, I would have been surprised to learn that someone from someplace as "cool" as New York didn't do some of these things we considered to be "all-American." But I wouldn't have looked down on you, I just would have thought it was too bad you didn't get to do these fun things that we did. Because that's what they were - fun. And for some of my classmates (though fewer and fewer each year now) graduation from high school was the pinnacle of their educational career, so this was a BIG DEAL. To be celebrated in many ways. And those of us headed to college wanted to do the same fun things, because graduation from college didn't involve these things.

Anyway, OP, I think the idea of using the cool outdoor locations in the area for graduation pictures is awesome. And if your child likes dogs, I'll add the idea of sitting by Fala at the FDR memorial for a shot. I've also loved some of the shots my friends' kids have gotten from a friend that loves amateur photography rather than going with a professional, which - as a bonus - will make it easier to go to some of the places that have requirements for professional photographers using their space.

[Anonymous]

Tidal Basin
Also +1 for Georgetown Canal and Meadowlark Gardens
Lincoln Memorial if you can be subtle and low-key. I think professional shoots are not allowed.

[Anonymous]

I would rely on your photographer to suggest a few locations. The most important thing is lighting and they will be able to recommend a fantastic location based on the time of day you pick for your pictures!

I think it's a wonderful idea as long as your DD is the priority and not the backdrop! The point of the pictures isn't the pretty flowers in the background...it's your DD's amazing smile or laugh or skill/talent that is captured so that you can remember her NOW!

[Anonymous]

My seniors photos where taken at the high school, we had to pay for a sitting fee. What I do not understand is why the least expensive photo package is more than $150 and the price of 1-8x10 is more than $60. Why are they so much more expensive than the school photo packages -- it is the same company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, so it's time for DD's senior pics. Anyone have ideas as to good places for these? We are right on the border, in CCDC. She wants both nature-y shots and some urban.

Just curious, but what are these? We had yearbook photos in HS, but they were all done at school by whatever photographer the school hired.

+1 Like birthday parties, photo sessions have to be "events."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My seniors photos where taken at the high school, we had to pay for a sitting fee. What I do not understand is why the least expensive photo package is more than $150 and the price of 1-8x10 is more than $60. Why are they so much more expensive than the school photo packages -- it is the same company.

Yes, I have also wondered this. The quality doesn't seem very different to me from the regular school photo. It's annoying to have to pay so much more for the senior year pictures just because they are seniors.