Senior Session Guide

Both Marcia and Kim are the photographers and owners at Obscura, and they’ve been working together for 29 years! While one is capturing the photos, the other handles lighting and ensures the senior’s hair and outfit look perfect. This way, parents can sit back, relax, and enjoy the moment!

A session fee covers the photographer's time spent taking and editing your photos.

The session fee is nonrefundable if you're a no-show for your appointment. However, if you need to reschedule due to illness, a scheduling conflict, or weather, we’re happy to move your session fee to a new date!

The session fee is separate from the minimum purchase.

The minimum purchase is the smallest amount you are required to spend on your photos. You’re always welcome to buy more if you’d like! Whether you want extra prints, albums, or digital files, you can choose exactly what you love. It’s all about giving you the flexibility to get what works best for you!

Once you pick a session that works for you, you'll pay the session fee in full to lock in your spot on our schedule. When your photo gallery is ready, you’ll make a payment towards your minimum purchase, giving you access to view your beautiful images online and choose what you'd like to buy. No worries about the final balance – you can pay it all at once or take advantage of our flexible payment plan options. We’re here to make the process as easy and enjoyable as possible!

Booking ahead is always a smart move! Our schedule can fill up quickly, especially in the summer and fall, and evenings are super popular. So, once you’re ready to schedule, it’s a great idea to pick a date!

Think about the season you'd love to be photographed in. Summer is perfect for vibrant flowers, flowing creeks, and blooming fields. Fall, on the other hand, offers colorful leaves and the cozy comfort of wearing sweaters. If you're involved in school sports, activities, or have a job, we can't stress enough how important it is to get your photos scheduled in the summer before practices and games kick in. And marching band kiddos, this goes for you too! Let’s make sure we get the perfect time for your session!

You get to pick the perfect location for your photos, but if you’re open to suggestions, we have lots of ideas to share! We can explore local parks, take a drive down the backroads of Germantown, or even head to your home or a friend's place. The possibilities are endless!

Each location has its own special charm at different times of the day! Some are best in the morning, while others are made for the evening. We’ll help you choose the ideal time for your chosen spot. We typically shoot in the mornings, late afternoons, and evenings. If you're hoping for that gorgeous golden hour glow your session will likely be scheduled just before sunset for the perfect glow.

If you're not feeling your best, no worries at all—we want you to feel great for your photos, and rescheduling is always an option!

We keep an eye on the weather and usually won’t cancel until the day of your session. The weather can change pretty quickly—sometimes it rains in the morning and is perfect by afternoon! Weather apps aren't always spot-on, so we might just have to wait and see. But no stress, we’ll make sure everything works out!

Yes, you can absolutely split your session into two different days! Some clients like to capture photos in both summer and fall, or perhaps they want a mix of city and nature looks, or even a change in hairstyles. Whatever the reason, we can split your session for an additional charge. Want to capture all four seasons? We've got a session for that too!

Absolutely! The first few shots might feel a little awkward, but don’t worry—once we get started, your nerves will disappear, and you’ll be having fun in no time. Plus, we’re pretty good at keeping things light and entertaining, so you’ll have plenty to smile about! And hey, some of the best photos aren’t always the ones with big smiles. A few serious shots can be just as stunning. We’re here to capture every side of you!

The more outfits, the better! We won't use all of them, but we love having a variety of styles and colors to choose from, and it helps us pick the perfect outfit for each location. So feel free to bring lots of options—it's always fun to mix things up!

We also recommend bringing clothes for all seasons, not just the one in which we're taking your photos.

Absolutely, yes to all of it! Feel free to bring your car, horse, or head to your school’s sports fields – we’re all about making your shoot as fun and personal as possible! All of this can be discussed in a consulatation.

1. Get plenty of sleep the night before.

2. Make sure to eat before your session or feel free to bring water and snacks.

3. Don't forget to bring your shirts, tops, and dresses on hangers! Let’s keep them looking fresh—no crumpled clothes in plastic bags, please!

4.If you’re bringing jewelry, it’s a great idea to pick out pieces that match your outfits ahead of time! And pro tip—keep each piece in its own little plastic bag to avoid any tangles!

Yes! We have an amazing team of makeup artists ready to work their magic on your hair and makeup. You can choose to have both done, or just one – whatever you prefer! We schedule this service about an hour before your session starts to make sure you're all set and feeling fabulous!

Makeup and hair will take place at our studio in Germantown.

Super Important info here**

We want your session to be as fun and stress-free as possible, and that includes helping you plan around the weather! If you choose to have professional makeup done and the weather unexpectedly cuts the session short, you'll only be responsible for 50% of the cost to bring the makeup artist back for your rescheduled session.

If the forecast looks a little iffy, it's completely your call whether you'd like to move forward with makeup and keep the appointment. We will always offer advice, but the final decision is up to you.If you decide to proceed with the session, just keep in mind that if the weather takes a turn and we need to reschedule after makeup has already been applied, the full cost of having it done again will be your responsibility.

All of the above applies to hair as well.

We're here to help and happy to talk through any weather concerns ahead of time so you can feel confident about your decision!

While you won't get makeup for both days if your session is split, don't worry! You can always add on makeup services for the second day for an additional fee.

We have an indoor studio located in Germantown, and there are also several other studios in the area available for rent if you're looking for a different vibe.

We don’t put a specific number on it because every session is unique. The amount of photos can vary depending on the location, outfit changes, and how things are flowing. We’ll make sure to capture plenty of beautiful shots for you to choose from!

Yes, you can absolutely buy digital files! We do limit the printing size to 8x10 or smaller, though. This is because we want to handle the printing of your wall portraits and collages ourselves to make sure they look their absolute best – after all, they’ll be on your walls for years to come! We also offer a variety of other fun and unique products like albums, metal prints, and folios to help you showcase your photos in special ways!

It's not necessary to be super tan for your senior photo session! The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and confident in your own skin. If you like a bit of tan, go for a natural glow, but avoid overdoing it to prevent any harsh tan lines or uneven color. Tan lines can be retouched, but at an additional cost to you.

Getting a new haircut can be a fun way to freshen up your look for photos, but it's best to avoid doing it just a few days before your session. If the cut ends up too short or isn't quite what you imagined, it could cause some unexpected issues.

It's a great idea for senior girls to get their nails done before the session, as it can add a nice touch to your overall look. When it comes to style, a clean, classic look usually works best. Neutral or soft pastel shades are always a safe choice, but if you want something a little bolder, go for a color that complements your outfit or theme. Just be sure to avoid overly bright or distracting designs, as you want your focus to be on you, not your nails!

All images are edited by the photographers. Editing has to do with color correcting and density. Retouching such as facial retouching, removal of braces or tan lines is at an additional charge.

Once your session is complete, it will take about two weeks to edit your photos and get your gallery ready to view. In the meantime, we post a sneak peek on our Facebook and Instagram pages for anyone eager to see a preview of their session!

We offer in-person proofing, where you can visit our studio to explore all the exciting options for your senior photos and go over pricing. It's a fun way to see everything we can do to make your photos truly special!

Your images will be available in an online gallery, delivered right to your email

We’re so excited to work with you and can’t wait to start planning something amazing together! Use the contact section or the Let's Schedule a Session button found below to send us a quick message—we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. If you already have a date or location in mind, feel free to include that too!

You can also reach out by emailing us at [email protected], messaging us on Facebook, or texting us at 937-855-3771. We can’t wait to hear from you!