Make the Most of Your Grad’s Senior Portraits with These Ideas
As your senior heads off to their next adventure, give them a little piece of home to take with them
From keepsakes to celebrations,
here’s how to put those photos to use
I have no idea where my senior portraits are.
I totally remember taking some at the park and at Belle n’ Beau photography studio. I even borrowed one of my friend Jenny’s dresses to wear because I didn’t want to buy anything new for them.
There’s a picture in my yearbook from the outdoor session, and I remember handing some out to family and friends. But I don’t have any now—and I haven’t seen any at my parents’ house either.
That’s exactly why I feel so strongly about helping today’s seniors (and their parents) get more out of their portraits than I did. Your session is about so much more than just taking a few pictures—it’s about creating memories and keepsakes you’ll actually use and treasure. So, I’ve put together a few ideas to help you make the most of your senior portraits.
Display Them at Graduation Celebrations
My absolute favorite party decoration is ALWAYS pictures. And whether you use images as decor or show them off in slide shows, senior portraits add such a personal touch. Print a few favorites for framed displays at your grad party, or create a banner. Guests love seeing those professional portraits alongside baby pictures and other memories. I made these signs for the girls promotion party on canva. And used these to make temporary tattoos of them for guests to wear. They were a huge hit and we had the best time with them.
Gift Prints to Family
My grandma had our annual school picture in 8x10 framed and hanging in her living room. One for every grandchild so 20 or so lined up over a large window was one of the most prominent aspects of her home. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and godparents will oo and aww over a professional portrait of your grad. Prints or framed images make meaningful gifts that will be cherished for years.
Send Out Custom Graduation Announcements
I love mail - twice a year. At the holidays, when I get holiday cards with collages of family photos or important moments of the year and at the end of the school year when I get a graduation announcement with pictures. Personalizing your grad’s announcements by including one of your senior’s portraits or more. Getting these in the mail is so fun and some parents include their senior’s plans and college intentions too. Whether you go for a classic style or something modern and bold, their portrait makes each card unique and personal.
Decorate Their Home
As your senior heads off to college or their next adventure, think about giving them a little piece of home to take with them. A framed print or canvas can be a comforting reminder of where they came from and the people cheering them on. And if a small dorm room isn’t the perfect place for it right now, that’s okay—having a portrait ready for their first apartment or future home is just as meaningful. It’s something they’ll treasure down the road (I know it’s something I wish I had now).
Create a Keepsake Album
An album tells your senior’s story in a way a single print just can’t. From cap-and-gown portraits to the fun, personality-filled shots, it becomes a keepsake they can flip through now and treasure for years to come. Someday, they may even share it with their own family.
When you’re planning your senior’s portraits, think about how you’d like to preserve the whole story. An album or a magazine is a beautiful way to keep all those images together in one place—something you and your senior can look back on again and again.
Update Family Portraits
I’ve noticed that families tend to take fewer portraits together as the kids get older. When they’re little, it feels easy to fit them in—you want to capture every milestone and stage. But once everyone’s busy with school, sports, and activities, family pictures don’t happen as often.
That’s why I love the idea of using senior year as a chance to refresh your family portraits. Seniors are usually on board with having their pictures taken (at least more so than at other times!), and it’s such a meaningful season—the last year before life takes everyone in different directions. Adding a family session means you’ll have updated portraits of this chapter together, not just of your senior. And honestly, those images become such treasures in the years ahead
Share Them Online
As much as I talk about the importance of prints, I know digital images matter too. Sharing your senior’s portraits online is such a fun way to celebrate with friends, extended family, and friends outside the inner circle. Your graduate will probably want to post their favorites on their own social media too—it’s a great way for them to show off this big milestone and let their friends share in the excitement. Senior portraits aren’t just for photo albums anymore; they’re also for telling their story right now, in the places they spend the most time.
Senior portraits are more than just pretty pictures—they’re a celebration of this incredible moment in your family’s story. With a little thought, they can become a way to celebrate your grad and be part of memorable events during this season of your Senior’s life.
If you have a question or have an idea for your senior’s portraits, I’d love to hear it. Send me an email.
