Economical, Beautiful senior photos for the thrifty homeschooler

Back in 1977 getting senior pictures was simple. We walked into the local photo studio with one or two outfits. We posed in front of some pretty backdrops and then waited weeks to get our proofs back. From that folder of photos, we got to pick a few for our senior pictures. One went into the high school yearbook and then our parents framed one for the family wall.

The following year things got a little more complex. My sister had much better backdrops that looked almost real. As time went on outside photo shoots became more of a thing. Today kids are actually going into the great outdoors with hired photographers to shoot their senior pictures! Of course, everything is digital now so the time wait is shorter and the ordering process is easier, but with many more photos to choose from.

Why I took my own kids’ senior pictures.

I didn’t have to worry about senior pictures for my own kids until around 2008, when my oldest graduated from high school. With the cost of sitting fees and orders so high, Mr. Pete and I decided it would be better to invest in our own camera and take our own photos, which is exactly what we did.

Of course, it’s a bigger upfront investment, but considering the camera was then used for thousands of other pictures, it really paid for itself over time and now I have thousands of memories captured in photos thanks to my own camera investment.

I’ve also come to enjoy taking pictures and have gotten much better at it over time.

What camera to use?

As time went on, I graduated to a DSLR camera. My first was a Pentax K2000 and I shot the next four sets of senior pictures with it.

And now it’s my baby’s turn to have her senior pictures taken, which we could do on one of the few warm days we’ve had this spring! I wore out my K2000, but I like my Pentax, so now I am using a Pentax K-70.

I like it because it’s weatherproof and it’s been great with getting running and action pictures. But it’s also been wonderful with portraits. Here are some of those highlights.

And this one I just took with my phone and edited online!

More tips for good senior pictures

How to take great digital portraits

DIY Senior Pictures

Posing Tips