Senior Photography Session Types Explained (Full vs. Half)
Intro
Parents may ask which session should we book? Session types exist to fit different needs, personalities and goals. It isn’t about better or worse. It is about the RIGHT fit!
What a Full Senior Session Is Best For
The full senior session is for those seniors who want variety in their gallery and a full experience! Multiple outfit changes that will give multiple looks and a much more diverse gallery to look through. Multiple locations that increase visual interest and multiple backdrops make for a stunning and unforgettable senior gallery. The extra time helps nervous seniors relax. Lastly, the full senior session is ideal for graduation announcement photos, albums, wall art, and social media.
Senior girl standing in the open with the Franklin mountains in El Paso, TX in the background at sunset!
What a Half Senior Session Is Best For
The half session is for seniors who want to keep it simple and not be taking photos for too long. Think of it as “short and sweet.” One main location with one outfit and their cap and gown. The half session is great for people with busy schedules and seniors who don’t absolutely LOOOOVE photos. The half season is for families wanting quality without a long time commitment.
How Time Impacts Comfort & Confidence
Seniors usually feel awkward at first. Confidence builds as the session goes on. Usually longer sessions allow for more natural expressions to come through. Some of the best images come later on in sessions when the sun is near sunset and the senior has been taking photos for about 30-45 minutes. Shorter sessions rely on quick direction and efficiency to get great shots.
Senior girl holding her cap and graduation tassel that reads “2025”
Outfit Changes & Why They Matter
Choosing outfits that match both your personality and the location are key to getting great images. Each outfit can create an entirely different mood. Think about the differences in dressing casual versus dressed up versus wearing just your cap and gown. Longer sessions means more outfit changes and better chances for storytelling. Fewer outfits means fewer looks. Do not hear me wrong on that…. It does NOT mean lower quality.
Location Flexibility by Session Type
Full sessions allow us to go to multiple locations and have scenery changes. This takes advanced planning especially when we are planning to go to the Rose Garden in central El Paso, or making sure we catch the sun setting over the Franklins in northeast El Paso. The half session is great for maximizing the use of one location. The biggest decision is where exactly do you want to go? Just remember that location variety directly affects gallery diversity.
High school senior girl sitting on ledge wearing white dress and wearing gold cap and gown surrounded by foliage at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, TX.
Why Pricing Differs by Session
Pricing reflects planning, driving, shooting, and editing workload. Full sessions include more everything with less stress and more flexibility. We can retake photos and videos. We have time for creative suggestions from the photographer, senior, or their parents. What I would caution most readers, seniors, and parents, is that a half session, although it is 1 hour, goes VERY quickly. This doesn’t allow for much time to get multiple shots, change, get photos, video, behind the scenes content. We must move much quicker on the half session than a full session.
How to Choose the Right Session
There are a few questions that need to be answered before you choose your photographer and session. How will you use these photos? How many looks do we want? How comfortable is the senior in front of the camera? The best choice matches your expectations.
Closing
Regardless of your choice, both session types deliver professional quality images. The difference is experience, time, and flexibility. The best advice I can give you is choose wisely. Choosing the right session avoids disappointment later!
