The Senior Picture Struggle

Feature

By Lukas Kellerman
Husky Herald Reporter

  Some love them, some dread them, and some don’t even get them; senior pictures. This tradition spans back decades and seems to be a sort of  “right of passage” before high school graduation. But how much money really goes into getting these done?

  Seniors usually chose from a few major competitors in throughout the area: O’Hare Photography, Twin Shutterbug Studios, and Birchfield studios. Each of these companies offers a unique style and price range according to number of outfits, locations, and poses.

  With O’Hare, a basic session with basic additional prints would come in at around $300, whereas a “supermodel senior session” with “the works collection” print option adds  up to $1,225. Mark Le (‘16) said “It was hard contacting O’Hare probably because it’s a busy season, but I think they did an amazing job.”

  Twin Shutterbug Studios offers three different session options as well, with prices ranging from $125 to $300 for a “designer session” and various additional print prices  ranging from less than $100 to over $500.

  Last but not least, Birchfield Studios offers the least expensive option. Their prices aren’t listed on their website, but, according to Mckenna Sweeney(‘16), the prices were fairly cheap, “We only paid $30 per session, with two outfits  and eight poses. Print prices range from $30 to about $530.”

  Another option is one many chose, especially in this day of age when every smartphone is equipped with a decent camera. Some seniors simply bring a friend to a scenic location and have a mini photo shoot for free. Of course this takes some extra time and effort, but it seems to be increasingly popular among thrifty seniors.

  Depending on the importance a family puts on memorializing their child, senior pictures can be as cheap as a nice dinner, or as costly as a used car.  

  Regardless, by having so many options it’s hard to understand why one wouldn’t want a snapshot of their child before entering adulthood.