Why ARE senior portraits important? There are many milestones in life, but only a few really, really important milestones. I believe the most important milestones we have in life are birth, starting kindergarten, graduating high school, graduating college, marriage, creating a family and finally, death. Yes, to me death is also a milestone, not just a very happy one. Let’s get on with the rest.

I believe that each of these milestones should be well documented. (A little morbid and maybe taboo, but yes, death too.) Do you know that Americans have been taking senior portraits since the 1800s? When you are in your final year in high school, you are right on the cusp of being a kid and becoming a young adult. Never again in life will you be viewed as a child. You have your whole future ahead of you and it’s in near reach. This is the beginning of the next chapter in your life. So, you ask, why ARE senior portraits so important? Let me tell you.

The Importance of your Senior Year Portraits

Sadly, for many people, this is the last time they will even have a portrait taken of themselves. This milestone is very important, because, well, statistically, you may not get another opportunity for a portrait. A senior portrait will not only preserve an era, but also give you something to exchange with your closest friends in high school. Too many times, you will never again be as close to the people you thought you’d never lose sight of.

Think of senior portraits as the preservation of history—a time capsule if you will. I often tell my clients to think their senior portrait images will be far more important to their great-grandchildren than they will be to them. I ask my clients to imagine their future generations pulling the portrait book off the shelf and thumbing through the images of their great-grandmother all the while commenting how beautiful and youthful she looked. Youthfulness is something to cherish and images from this milestone will provide a familial connection to your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on.

A senior portrait should not only capture your beauty, but also capture your personality, energy and document what you loved about this time in your life. This is your chance to show the world who you are in a creative way. Senior portraits should focus on you and what makes you unique.

Senior portraits are a custom and a bit of ceremony too. These senior portraits will help provide memories and keep those memories alive. The experience should make you feel special and like a million bucks! The moment should be all about YOU!

And finally, you can share these images with your present family too. Grandmas love these images!

Why are Senior Portraits Important?

This is the last year you’ll be surrounded by the closest friends you grew up with, the last year you’ll be at home and the last year you’ll be under your parents’ wings. You will never again see the world the way you do right now. Please be photographed and cover all your milestones! Until next time, be positive, happy, healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

The post, Why are Senior Portraits Important?, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.