Once you begin planning your senior photos, you will need to choose between shooting in a studio and on location. To help you decide which option is best for you, here are a few pros and cons to consider.

Studio Senior Portraits

During an in-studio session, your photographer will use professional camera equipment, lighting, and backdrops to create your shots.

The Pros

     ●  Your photos are set against a plain background, which means there are no distractions, and you are the focus of every shot.

     ●  A studio is a controlled location, which means you can change the lighting, temperature, colors, and your outfits at will.

     ●  Because the shoot is indoors, you don’t need to worry about planning your shoot around golden hour or rescheduling due to bad weather.

     ●  Because it’s only you and your photographer in the studio, you don’t need to feel uncomfortable when strangers walk by. This gives your photographer the opportunity to capture your true essence.

The Cons

     ●  The only way to add more interest to your photos is to use props or to change your outfits.

     ●  You can’t take advantage of environmental elements to express yourself.

     ●  The photographer you want to use might work out of a studio that’s far from home.

     ●  Studios shoots can be more expensive, particularly if your photographer needs to rent the space.

Location Senior Portraits

When you decide to shoot outside of a studio, you have more flexibility and can choose a location that fits in with the theme of your senior photos.

The Pros

     ●  When you have a location shoot, you have far more options available to you. You get to choose a setting that you feel comfortable in and that speaks to your personality.

     ●  Seniors have the option to use environmental elements to create a specific mood and more authentic photos.

     ●  You have the option to meet your preferred photographer at a location that works for you both.

     ●  Location shoots tend to cost less. This is because your photographer doesn’t necessarily need any extra backdrops or equipment and they don’t need to rent a studio space for a minimum amount of time.

     ● With an on-location shoot, your photographer has the chance to capture a wider variety of images.

The Cons

     ●  Because you’re potentially shooting outside, you need to take lighting and the weather into consideration. The weather could also result in you having to reschedule your senior photo session.

     ●  Choosing a busy location means there might be people in the background of some of your shots.

     ●  If you aren’t comfortable in front of strangers, you may feel awkward shooting at specific locations, which will show in your photos.

     ●  You may need to arrange a permit to shoot at specific locations.

As you can see, there are pros and cons to shooting in a studio and shooting on location. The best option for you depends on your personality and what you want out of your senior shoot.