It’s true—senior photos are typically associated with high school seniors. They’re a time-honored tradition and right of passage going back way before the department-store photos of my generation. And why not? There are so many important uses for them! (Check out a few of my favorites here!) But what about college? Graduate school? Why leave all the fun to the teens? Whether you’re a student yourself or a parent looking for ways to celebrate your offspring’s unique accomplishments, let me tell you why senior photos aren’t just for high school students anymore.

Senior photos commemorate milestones—whatever they might be!

Yes, graduating high school is a significant accomplishment. But so is graduating from anything else! Senior photos represent the graduates of college, medical school, law school, and so much more. They’re a unique way to mark your achievements, whatever they might be! They capture a significant milestone, provide a visual representation of the journey through any endeavor, and act as a cherished keepsake for years to come. 

More than that, senior photos give us a way to look back on the college or graduate years with joy-filled memories that we’ll definitely be nostalgic for someday. They allow students to express their unique personality and style beyond the awkward teenage years, and document those passions through props, poses and photos. These images aren’t just another set of generic portraits; they’re artistic representations of YOU at this specific moment in time. 

Take them for your family

Trust me. Even if you don’t feel like marking every graduation with senior photos, your family definitely does! These images visually celebrate both academic and personal accomplishments. They showcase the hard work and dedication of each graduating student, and highlight the unique talents, interests, and extracurricular activities that shaped the whole experience. They even create a visual narrative that bridges the gap between a student’s college years and their future aspirations. 

These are the images that will tell your story on the mantel in your parents’ living room. The ones they’ll show friends and family as they share their pride and joy. The ones that connect the dots from baby pictures to wedding pictures, family photos, and beyond. They’re gifts, they’re social media posts, they’re holiday cards, and more!

Let’s talk logistics

Most seniors choose spring sessions for their senior photos, but I always recommend the summer before your final semester. The weather is better, the outfits are cuter, and the “senioritis” hasn’t quite kicked in yet. Plus you’ll get your gallery in hand sooner, so you’re ready for graduation invitations, thank you notes, personal portfolios, professional job applications and more. 

Are you graduating from an institution in Colorado? I can help you craft the perfect portrait session. Get started by reading this, check out some of my work, then reach out so we can chat! I’d love to bring this chapter in your story to life.

Senior portraits have come a long way since I was a graduate, awkwardly posing for maybe 20 images in a department store studio. Nowadays senior sessions can be customized to include meaningful locations, favorite outfits and overall composition that showcases each student’s personality like never before! So say goodbye to the stiff, cookie-cutter “senior pictures” of the past, and say hello to stunning photos that make your heart swell. 

Seniors have put lots of time and effort into becoming the young humans they are, and senior portraits are your one chance to capture their hard work and accomplishments, preserving them in a way that’s totally worth the investment—and totally worthy of showing off! Not sure how? Here are my favorite ways to use your senior portraits.

Grad Party Invitations/Decor

There are plenty of companies that will help you create amazing graduation announcements and grad party invitations with all your favorite shots (think Minted, Zazzle or Shutterfly, to name a few). But why stop there? Displaying senior portraits at the party itself is a great way to show them off. String your favorite images up like a banner, use them as centerpieces on tables, or create a path to the festivities that starts with kindergarten and finishes with a collage from your senior session.

Dorm/Home Decor

Sometimes the thought of displaying your own senior portraits can be a little cringe, but if you love your photos and still want to show them off, I get it! Framed portraits aren’t everyone’s thing, especially if you’re heading into your first apartment or dorm. So why not make it cute? Print out wallet sizes of your favorite shots, and collect a handful from your family and best friends, too. String them up or add them all to a bulletin board to keep your favorite people close!

Yearbooks

Believe it or not, most schools allow you to use one of your own senior portraits as your official yearbook photo now! And if not, they allow you to create custom pages and collages from your senior session with notes from families, mixed with childhood and other photos from over the years. I told you stiff, traditional senior pictures were a thing of the past!

Meaningful Gifts 

Maybe framed senior portraits aren’t every young graduate’s idea of home decor, but I guarantee their people disagree! Think of the countless hours and miles spent going to and from school, cheering at games and showing up for extra curricular activities over the years. Those moments count, and they’re etched into the hearts of every graduate’s biggest fans. These are the years you’ll never get back, and honoring those who supported the journey will always be important. So turn your senior portraits into a photo book or album, frame some prints, create some display collages and canvas prints. They make great (and meaningful!) gifts for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, coaches, mentors… you get the idea! 

Social Media

Did someone say #SeniorSunday? Sharing senior portraits with your friends and family is so much fun! And looking at all of their posts and pictures is part of the whole senior-year experience. Showcase your favorite shots by sharing them in your stories and posts, and I bet your proud followers will want to share them, too. You’ll only have this opportunity once. Share it with those who are nearest and dearest to you!