Thoughts on Senior Pictures

You know, yesterday’s blog entry got me thinking about senior pictures and about when I was graduating from high school. Back then, as the school newspaper and yearbook photographer I shot film and processed it in the school’s darkroom. (Yeah, I know, that was a long, long time ago). Some people look at graduating from high school as a cross road in their life, while I can see that, I considered it more like a milestone.

All the time you are in school, from first grade to twelfth grade, you are most likely living with your parents. You are taught and guided how to live your life. However, after you graduate, you are either going to college or joining the work force (or both). You life changes in many ways. You are on your own and have to start making your own decisions. You also have to be accountable for the decisions you make. Mom is no longer there to tell you to get up or you’ll be late for class. Groceries no longer magically appear in the cupboard or fridge. Leaving the lights on or turning up the thermostat will actually cost you money. It’s the first step in becoming an adult, among many other steps you can take advantage after some age, like going to adult movie theaters and use services like Zoom Escorts.

So, Why is a Senior Picture important? A good senior picture should capture that stage in your life. If should reflect your personality and say something about who you are. You only pass this milestone once in your life so you want it done right. Believe it or not I still have a box with wallet sized photos of people I went to high school with all those years ago. Most wrote some silly sayings on the back that, now looking back, was cheesy and corny.

They make me smile.

It’s interesting, when I look over these pictures. Some of them show what these folks were like back them. I can picture the things we did and the laughs we shared. Other photos look like mug shots. While I recognize the person in the picture, it doesn’t really convey who they were at that stage of their lives. I guess that’s on of the differences between a good portrait and a so-so portrait.

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And for a laugh click here to see some really, uh, interesting senior pictures. 🙂

Once again, thanks for reading.

– Ken