We are the new "contract studio" for Newcastle High school for the 2007-2008 school year. What does that mean to you? When our children were seniors, I would have liked for someone to simply, honestly say, “Here's what senior pictures are all about….” Instead, we were misinformed on some things, and there were some things we just weren't told. So, I want to take a moment to give you -

Five quick facts on senior portraits & yearbook portraits for Newcastle Class of 2008.

First, about "appointment cards" and "pre-scheduled" appointments:

• If you're like me, you don't much like being told you have to do something, you have to be somewhere at a certain time without regard for your schedule, and you have to spend money when you get there.
• As much as I disliked the idea, when we talked with the junior class in early May, we passed out appointment cards for their yearbook sessions. I was very careful to explain that I understand those times will not work for everyone, and many will want to reschedule, and that is fine. If you cannot make your appointment or want more than the yearbook only portrait, all we asked is that you call us and reschedule and please don't just “not show up.” The pre-scheduled appointments and appointment cards just give us a starting point to make sure we got everyone's yearbook portrait created before the deadline. And, we want you to look your best - it would be impossible to edit everyone's pictures for blemishes, stray hairs, etc., if everyone waits until "picture day." Besides, you've sat for "school pictures" for 12 years - this year, you deserve something better!

Second, there is a difference between the yearbook portrait and senior portraits.

• The school contracts with a studio to create the yearbook/senior panel portraits. This is so that all the pictures will have a similar look to them – the lighting, background, posing…. It just makes for a better looking yearbook. From the studio's perspective, having the yearbook contract gets more people in the door, and hopefully, more people will use us for their senior portraits.
• Senior portraits should be more personal. They should be about you, your personality, your interests and activities. They should reflect who you are as a senior. They should have a professional look to them, and be created in a style so that your family and friends will enjoy them.

Third, you're required to use the contract studio for your yearbook portrait.

• I know. I didn't care for that part either. Even so, although I was a professional photographer when our children graduated from Newcastle, we went ahead and sent them to the contract studio for their yearbook photo. It was just easier than hassling with copyright releases, and trying to match lighting and backgrounds and print sizes and headsize on the print, and getting permission from the school….

Fourth, you're not required to spend any money! (We hope you will, but you aren't obligated to.)

• You shouldn't have to pay to have your picture made for the yearbook! So, even though we are the “contract studio,” the "contract" part just means we're the studio that is supposed to provide the yearbook/panel picture according to the requirements to get the best looking yearbook possible. You are not contracted to spend money with us. The “yearbook only” session is free. (There is a session fee if you want more poses and backgrounds. See the "Senior Specials" page for more information.)
• Are we the best place for your senior's portraits? Obviously we believe we are, or we wouldn't be in business. Obviously, a lot of other people believe in us, or we couldn't stay in business. The truth is we are not for everyone – and that's okay! Some people can't afford to invest in photography. For some people, photography just isn't a priority. Believe it or not, some people would rather go somewhere more expensive. Others have a favorite studio they've “always used.” Let's just get your yearbook portrait done. Then, if you don't want senior portraits, or want to go somewhere else, that's fine – no hard feelings. We bid on the school contract so we could offer you our photography services, not so we could “force” them on you.
• We would like to do your senior portraits! I would love for everyone who is scheduled for a yearbook session to call us and reschedule for a regular senior portrait session! It is how we make our living, but more than that, it's what we love to do! We make our living this way because we love creating beautiful portraits and helping people see the beauty in themselves, in their lives and in their relationships!
• The former contract studio "assumed" you would do pictures with them. In fact, they kind of manipulated it by telling students “when you come for your yearbook picture we will also do a couple of other poses and the session fee will be $xx.” You went there thinking you had to have other pictures made because “it's just the way it's done.” We could do that, too. Instead, we chose to schedule yearbook only sessions, and give you the option as to what other images you have created!
• By telling you that you do have a choice, I'm not suggesting you go somewhere else. I'm just being fair and honest. I didn't pursue the school contract for 12 years because I liked being "the nice guy people could go to instead of the contract studio." However, year after year, no matter how many seniors we photographed, we had several more tell us they wanted to use us for their senior portraits, but since they had to go to the contract studio anyway, they just went ahead and did their senior pictures while they were there. So, this year, we bid on the contract so those who wanted to keep it simple and just go one place, would be coming to us instead of telling us why they didn't.

Fifth, there are some deadlines that have to be met for the yearbook. Like we told the students when we made our presentation to them at school, we have to have the yearbook photos created and to the school by early October. However, we want you to look your best in the yearbook. If we can have about ½ hour to create your portrait in our studio instead of waiting until “Picture Day” at school, it will accomplish several things.

• The extra time doing it in our studio will allow us a few minutes to talk with each student about what's important to you about your portrait. Do you have any concerns about the way you look? Have you had any bad portrait experiences? It will allow us time to study your face a little more and find the angles and poses that will help you look your absolute best.
• It will give you at least a few minutes to get to know us, and feel more comfortable, so you are more relaxed and not so tense about being in front of the camera. That will make for better portraits also.
• If you need an evening appointment for your yearbook session to work around a job schedule, call us. We would be glad to accommodate you.
• If you're going to be in votech or alt.ed. in the Fall, you may not be able to have your picture made on “picture day.” You need to come to the studio this summer and have it done, at least for the yearbook/senior panel. And, again, if you need to work around a job schedule this summer, call us. We are glad to help anyway we can so that you can be part of your senior yearbook!