Hi! So happy you’re here! If you ended up on this page, you must be having a hard time deciding on who to choose to photograph your High School Seniors Portraits.

There are so many different options to choose from when it comes to finding the right photographer, including; style, locations, a reputable business, final products and more!

Our local, family owned company wants to share all the tips we have learned after evolving with trends for the past 50 years in business.

We know this coming year can be a bit overwhelming, so heres some advice to help you choose a photographer that you won’t regret investing in.

#1 Do Your Research

It’s almost senior year and it only happens once! We think it’s important to do your research when searching for a photographer to capture such a big, important moment in your/your child’s life. Having been in business for 50 years we hear so many parents come to us saying they wish they investigated before choosing a photographer. We advise thoroughly digging through websites and social media pages to make sure the photographer can take care of all your wants and needs. Make sure they have a ton of work on their website, showing all sorts of variety, different locations, different lighting scenarios and more. Are their prices easy to find? Make sure their pricing is clearly listed on their website.

Do they answer their phone? This may sound simple, but it is important! Make sure they answer your phone calls or messages in a timely manner. Nobody wants to struggle when it comes to contacting and setting up appointments.

A lot of experience, training and skills are also an important thing to look for. You want someone who knows what they’re doing. Ask friends about how they choose a photographer. Word of mouth is such a great way to learn about other peoples experiences. There are so many people with a camera that can push a button, but can they give you beautiful lighting, natural poses and a fun experience? Can they make your child who hates getting their picture taken, smile and feel comfortable in front of the camera?

Focal Point Studio has 6 professionally trained photographers who have years of experience and attend conferences throughout the year to give you the best of the best! We get it…it might be easy to just have your best friend with the cell phone or your cool uncle quickly snap some photos. Just a reminder…your portraits will out last your lifetime and will be admired by generations long after you. Don’t regret your decision!

#2 Find Someone Who Matches Your Style

It is important to decide what sort of style images you prefer before choosing a photographer. Trends in the photography industry are always changing. What has kept us in business for so long, is how we change with the trends that go in and out. We incorporate classic, trendy, natural, candid, glamour, drama, and high fashion styles into all of our sessions. This makes the senior AND the parents happy and gives you a ton of variety! That is why doing your research is important. Make sure your photographer can shoot the style you want hanging on your wall or sharing with your friends and family.

There is a lot of training and practice that goes into posing someone to make it look natural. Most people that walk through our door are not comfortable with being photographed and love having some direction when it comes to looking good in front of the camera. You want your images to be natural looking, and also flatter you! Find a professional photographer that is trained to make you look the best in your photos.

#3 Professional Retouching

Does the photographer offer retouching or editing for your portraits? If you think you don’t need it, you probably do! No one is perfect, and as a full service studio we believe it's important to include natural retouching as a part of your final product. Your portraits will last for years to come, and no one wants to stress about stray hairs or acne on that large portrait hanging on the wall. At our studio we have full-time, professional retouchers that enhance your portraits to bring out your natural beauty. We recommend not investing your money into someone who doesn't care about putting work into your portraits from start to finish.

Before

After

#4 Trained In Lighting

We all know that the #1 key to amazing portraits is having nice lighting. Good lighting takes your portraits to the next level. Beautiful images are not created because of a professional camera, they are created because of the photographers ability to sculpt the lighting around you. At Focal Point Studio we are professionally trained in lighting. We light up the eyes to make them pop and sparkle!

BONUS TIP! - When doing your research & looking at portrait examples, make sure the eyes don’t look like “racoon eyes” (Harsh shadows around the eyes).

Not only do we think lighting is important, we also think color is important as well. We don’t believe in throwing filters over your photos to alter the original colors. We edit all our images to be true to life. This makes your pieces classic and timeless.

#5 Options for Final Products

As you do your research for the right photographer, look for someone who supplies you with plenty of options for a final product. We call ourselves a “hybrid studio” because we offer both digital images (for the senior) and prints (for the parents). This makes everyone happy!

In this digital age, it is common for photographers to send you home with just an online gallery full of digital images. This might be a great option, but 50 years from now those images will be lost in space or stuck in a drawer on a flash drive, for no one to discover and enjoy.

As a full service studio we think it’s important to invest in someone who can offer quality prints & special products to choose from. Photo books, albums and wall portraits are such a fun way to display your senior in your home or at your graduation party. Choose a photographer who is emotionally invested in the entire process from the beginning of the session to the final product. Don’t settle for a photographer who is content with you figuring out how to print your own images. You want future generations to be able to find and cherish photos of you/your senior at this important stage in their life!

#6 Make Sure they are a One-Stop-Shop!

Need to check the yearbook headshot off your list? Why not find a photographer that takes care of everything for you, from beginning to end. As a portrait studio that attracts many schools in the Metro Detroit area, we feel committed to photographing and sending the yearbook headshot to the school for you, hassle free. As we like to say, a One Stop Shop! Get your yearbook headshot taken care of and then have fun with an outdoor session at one of our favorite parks, grab your sports gear and bring it inside our studio or travel to Downtown Detroit for our pop-up days. The choices are endless!