Can you be a Senior Model?

Many senior photographers need senior models to represent their studios in their high schools.  The senior models are usually  juniors going into their senior year who are outgoing, involved with school or after school activities, and have a lot of friends. The cool thing is that you don’t have to be a 6 foot, 110 pound, runway model to qualify. Most studios want a variety of different looks, personalities, and body types for senior models.

Around the country, studios start their senior models program at different times. In the Midwest, they usually begin around December or January of your junior year. Studios may call their models by different names, including “reps,” “ambassadors,” or “crew members.” To find out about these programs, just call studios in your area and, if they have a senior models program, ask when you need to apply.

Although each studio may have a different twist to their program, many use the same basic format. The studio has the senior models come in for a mini-session, taking photos that the studio can use for advertising. The model will be photographed wearing trendy outfits, using the studio’s most contemporary backgrounds. The images are then used in advertising pieces, promo cards, websites, Facebook, and even mall displays. Models are generally required to sign a standard model release, with additional provisions that, for the remainder of their junior and senior years, they can’t model for any other studio. For complete details, check with your local studio.

Benefits to the senior models may include free sessions, free photos, discounts on senior picture packages, and other incentives. More important to you, the studio tends to spend extra time with their models because they want to produce the best images they can for their advertising. This can give you some first-rate advantages. If you are looking to save a few dollars on your senior pictures and are willing to put in a little work, this might be a great opportunity for you. Depending on the programs offered by the studio, hard-working models can reap great benefits from programs like this.

If you are interested, make sure you don’t just take the first offer or the best deal. Treat this process as if you are paying full price: do your research and find a studio whose work makes you go “wow!” Don’t let the discounts make you settle for average photos; many high-end photographers offer the same type of program. Once you find a studio that you like, get with your mom or dad and let them in on what you are doing. You may even score points with your parents for helping them save money on your senior photos. Make sure your mom or dad attend any meetings with the studio and, before you sign anything, have them review any paperwork required by the studio. Help your parents do the research to make sure you are dealing with a reputable studio, because parents are generally looking for different things than seniors are. Parents need answers to questions like: Will the studio deliver what they claim? How long have they been in business? Has the studio previously photographed high school seniors? How does the studio’s program work financially? Your parents may want to talk to the parents of other kids who’ve been in the studio’s model program to see how the program worked for them; at the very least, they’ll probably want to check with parents who have had dealings with the studio you’ve chosen.

After your parents approval, have a great time being senior models for your local photographer your senior year! Now how fun is that?!