I am so happy you found me! I am a Toledo based Wedding, Portrait and Event Photographer with years of experience in caputuring moments that matter with creativity, emotion, and lots of fun!
Today's senior photos are all about You, the senior! So have fun and let your personality shine! Show off what you do and what makes you, You.
Today's Senior Portraits are clearly not the same as your parents senior portraits. So let's start with the basics. What do you want from your Senior Portrait Experience? Are you going to be ordering printed photos? Do you want digital images so you can print them yourself? Do you participate in sports or extra curriculars? If you are getting photos printed, where will they hang? How many will you need and how many people will you give them to? What color are the walls they will hang on? What kind of clothes do you normally wear? Do you want all of your photos taken inside a portrait studio or outside at a park or your school, or both? You should be asking yourself all of these questions and more when planning your senior photo session because it will directly affect how the final images will look.
Your senior portrait experience begins with choosing a photo session that is right for you. My 2200 square foot portrait studio holds many different permanent sets and I have tons of different backdrops we can use. If you prefer a different setting, we can go to your school, your house, downtown Toledo for an Urban look, or one of Toledo's Metroparks, or anywhere within 25 minutes of my Sylvania Studio. The choice is up to you.
Most of my portrait session options come with a yearbook photo for your school's yearbook.
All sessions are sold separately from the prints and digital images. That way you can choose what you want and how much you want to spend.
This session is strictly inside my portrait studio.
This session is approximately 45 minutes in length.
For this session, you can choose up to 3 different outfits.
For best results, arrive in whatever you are wearing in your yearbook photo if you need a yearbook photo. If you don't, arrive wearing the outfit you want most. We will take a few headshots and other photos in this outfit first and then move on to your second or third outfit.
This session fee is $49.95 plus tax.
My on-location senior session is perfect for anyone that wants senior photos that are not taken in a portrait studio, and you don't need a yearbook photo taken.
For this session, we can go anywhere within 25 minutes of my Sylvania Studio.
We can go to your school. We can go to your house. We can go to downtown Sylvania or downtown Toledo. We can go anywhere you want to go for your senior photos.
This session is approximately 45 minutes in length.
For this session, you can choose up to 3 different outfits. Keep in mind, when choosing a location, there may not be anywhere to change clothes or use the bathroom.
This session fee is $79.95 plus tax.
This session combines both my inside my portrait studio and my on-location session at a location of your choice.
Each portion of this senior pictures session is approximately 45 minutes in length and is booked for a two hour time frame to allow for traveling from one location to the other.
For this session, you can choose 2 - 3 different outfits for each portion.
Where we start this session depends on my schedule. For instance, if you are scheduled at 10 am, then we will probably start at my studio for the in-studio portion. However, if you are later in the day, we may start with the location portion because I may be at another location before your session or you may live near where you want to go for the outside portion. It just depends on where it makes more sense for both of us.
This is the best value and provides the most options for photos.
This session fee is $89.95 plus tax.
My Senior Special session my most popular senior photos session option.
This session consists of a 15-20 minute yearbook session and a location session that is approximately 45 minutes in length.
For this session, we can go anywhere within 25 minutes of my Sylvania Studio for your location portion.
We can go to your school. We can go to your house. We can go to downtown Sylvania or downtown Toledo. We can go anywhere you want to go for your outside senior photos.
For this session, you can choose up to 3 different outfits, including your yearbook outfit. Keep in mind, when choosing a location, there may not be anywhere to change clothes or use the bathroom.
This is the ONLY portrait session that comes with digital images. You can purchase prints or digital files separately with all my other full sessions.
This session comes with 15 digital images of your choice.
This session fee is $349.95 plus tax.
This session is strictly inside my portrait studio, and is only for your high school yearbook photo.
This session is approximately 15-30 minutes in length.
For this session, we will take a few photos for your school's yearbook. You will pick which one that will be used right after we take the photos.
For this session, there is nothing included, but you can purchase prints when choosing your yearbook photo. Sorry, we do not sell single digital images at this time.
I will retouch your photo to get rid of any blemishes or stray hairs. I will crop the image to your school's yearbook guidelines and electronically send the image to your school's yearbook advisor. You won't have to do anything but show up for your session and pick which image to be used.
This session fee is $29.95 plus tax.
Please check out my Yearbook Walk-In Days web page for more information.
* I photograph seniors all year round. Traditionally, most seniors would take their senior photos in the summer before senior year begins. This is because there is more time to schedule your session in the summer. However, the trend seems to be moving towards the fall. Most of my seniors come to me in October. This could be for a multitude of reasons with waiting until the last minute being the top trend. The problem with waiting is that yearbook deadlines are also during this time of year. Daylight hours are also getting shorter and by October, I am only able to take one after school senior session. So optimally, you should schedule your senior photo session as soon as possible after junior year. This allows for weather cancellations and guarantees you will meet your yearbook deadline. Another alternative is to consider taking off school to do your senior photos during the day when my schedule has more flexability.
* I obviously rely on good weather for my business so I do keep a close eye on the weather. If you schedule an inside and outside session, we will most likely try to go ahead with the session. We can at least get the inside portion done and out of the way and reschedule the outside portion if necessary. If you are outside only, we will play it by ear and I will touch base with you on the day of. It does not need to be sunny outside for senior pictures. In fact, it is better if it is a little cloudy for even lighting.
* Your senior photos are all about you, so bring what makes you You. Bring your dog. Bring your car. Bring your sports jersey and senior teammates. Bring your band uniform and instrument. Bring your best friend. Bring your family. I don't limit what or who you bring. But please keep in mind, we are on a time limit. I will shoot a few photos with whomever or whatever you bring, but the focus will be on You the senior.
* This is the one question that we get for every photo session. There is not one definitive answer. I always tell my seniors to wear what makes their personality shine. If your fit style is goth, wear goth clothes. If you are into dresses, wear a nice dress. But, at the same time, make sure whatever you wear is flexible. You will have some poses where you will be standing and some where you will be sitting. Short dresses can be difficult to make look good in a sitting position. And you need to be able to walk in the grass and on uneven walkways, so your shoes also matter. Bring a backup pair of flipflops or other walking shoes if you are wearing heels in the photos.
That being said, I've had students fishing in suits. Some students have worn evening gowns in a pond or creek. Some students wear ripped jeans, graphic tshirts and flip flops for their whole session. The style is up to you. Traditionally, photographers recommend neutral colors without any designs because it will go better with the surroundings, especially in outside settings. Just make sure the student and parent agrees on the outfit choices. We want everyone to be happy with the photos.
* No, I do not provide hair and makeup artists in any of my packages. They would have to charge me more to come to my studio than they would charge you to go to them. Plus, I have heard from so many seniors and thier parents that they did not like their photos with so much makeup on or hairstyles that they did not normally wear. Hair and makeup is an intimate thing and you should go to someone you are comfortable with that knows your hair and skin.
* Look, I get it. I became a photographer because I don't like being on the lens side of a camera. But, I will strike up a conversation with you from the start to make you relax and forget that you are having your photos taken. I've had seniors that absolutely did not want to have senior photos taken say that they absolutely loved the experience and were glad they did it. No, I'm not challenging you to like it, I'm just saying I will do whatever it takes to make sure we get some really good photos for you and your family.
* Typically, the turnaround is just a couple of days. After your session, I will do minor adjusting for lighting and take out any possible blurry photos from too much movement. I will post all of your proof photos online to a private gallery and send you the password. Once the gallery is posted you will have two weeks to view them and make your selections. After the two week period, they are archived and you will have to pay a retrieval fee to view them again. However, during my busy season, it may take up to two weeks to get them posted.
* Once I send you your password to view your online gallery, you will be able to view them and choose your favorite images. Make sure you write down the image names and bring your list into my studio during your ordering session. If you are ordering prints, make sure you also write down the sizes of each image you will need. You can find all of my print pricing on my Senior Photos Pricing page of my website.
I do require an in person ordering session. This is so that we make sure we have the correct image and cropped and edited the way you want. I also require full payment for prints and digitals before placing your order.
Your final images will be fully retouched to remove any blemishes and stray hairs and other issues with the images purchased.
Once I place the order with my print lab, you can expect to receive a call from me within two to three weeks letting you know your images are at my studio for pickup. If you are purchasing digital images, once I have them ready, I will send them via WeTransfer so you can download them. There will also be a print release for you to get them printed.
I cannot send your senior yearbook photo to your school without you placing an order first.
* I suggest you try to make it to one of my yearbook walk-in dates if we can't fit in a full senior photo session mutually into our schedules before your school's designated yearbook deadline. The session fee for your yearbook session would then be applied to your full session at a later date.
* I absolutely carry backup equipment and insurance. I have been in this business a long time and I know unexpected things do happen. I am fully prepared just in case for your peace of mind and mine.
* First, make sure you have everything you need to wear ready to go the night before. If not, you will inevitably forget something important.
Make sure you keep your same skin care routine for the week prior. Don't use anything new that could cause unexpected skin irritations or rashes. The guys should come clean shaven if they shave regularly. It's really hard to remove acne and still keep beard stuble. And whatever you do, don't get a haircut in the two weeks prior to your appointment. Things can go wrong and you want to look your best!
For those with long hair, if it is going to be windy, you might want to consider a little hairspray to keep your hair looking the way you want it to look.
Hi there! Imagine your senior year immortalized not just in photos, but in an experience. As your Toledo-based photographer, I don't just capture memories, I style them to fit you and your needs. Think tailor-made portraits, crafted with the same meticulous artistry as a couture gown.
Forget staged smiles and cookie-cutter poses. Your senior year journey deserves more. I create immersive experiences that capture the essence of who you are. Your senior photos are all about You!
This isn't just a photoshoot, it's an investment in your future. Years from now, these portraits will be cherished heirlooms, reminding you of the transformative power of this pivotal year. They'll grace your walls, adorn your graduation announcements, and become a treasured part of your family's story.
Step into the spotlight, not a frenzy. My sessions are intimate, collaborative, and stress-free. I will guide you with gentle artistry, allowing your authentic personality to shine through. Leave the awkward poses and forced smiles behind; with me, genuine laughter and natural moments take center stage.
Remember: You deserve more than just a snapshot. You deserve an experience that captures the essence of who you are, right now, at this extraordinary moment in your life.
Embrace the extraordianry - check out my carefully curated Senior Portfolio . Click here to discover your future memories.
Call me by clicking on my phone number below to schedule Your Senior Portrait Session!
I can also answer any questions you may have now.
Monday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am -5:00 pm
Wednesday - closed
Thursday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am -5:00 pm
Saturday - closed
Sunday - closed
Weekend and Evening hours available by appointment only.
I do everything by appointment only, so even though these are my posted hours, please call in advance to be sure someone is actually in the office when you get there because I may be in a shoot or out on location.
/KurtNielsenPhotography
@KurtNPhoto
