Senior Portraits FAQs

First and foremost—I LOVE my job.

Not many people can say that, but I truly do, and my passion comes through in everything I do. If you speak to any of my past clients, they’ll tell you the same—from the very first point of contact to the shoot itself and right through to the delivery of your products.

My Focus: An Exceptional Experience

My goal is to provide a service that goes above and beyond. That means:
✔ Helping you choose outfits—whether by texting me photos while you shop or getting my input as you go through your closet.
✔ Professional, high-end retouching to ensure you look your absolute best.
✔ Inspecting every product and even having my lab remake prints if they’re not perfect.
Depending on the session you choose, we’ll also have a pre-session planning meeting to design everything from your concept to your wardrobe.

A Connection That Lasts

My clients often become friends because I take the time to truly get to know you. I do whatever it takes to ensure you’re thrilled with the entire experience—not just the photos.

Professional Gear + Decades of Expertise

I use the best equipment—Canon cameras and lenses paired with Profoto professional lighting—and I know how to make the most of it. I also have backup gear for peace of mind.
With over 20 years of experience, I know how to pose and light every body type so you look amazing.

This Is My Career—Not a Side Hustle

My business is my baby. It’s what puts food on my family’s table. My mission is to create the most beautiful photographs you’ve ever seen of yourself or your children—through expert lighting, posing, styling, and, most importantly, connecting with you so your true personality shines.

If you love photos, value professional photography, and want something far from cookie-cutter—I’m your photographer.

It’s Not Just the Camera

Most people would say the magic comes from my camera! If I had a penny for every “Wow, your camera takes amazing pictures!” I could retire by now. 😄

Yes, I use the best equipment—Canon cameras and Profoto lighting—but that’s like telling a chef, “Wow, your pots make the best food!” A beautiful portrait takes much more than gear; you need to know how to use it. Manual mode means I tell the camera exactly how to expose and control light to create the mood I want.

While I’ve loved natural light for most of my career, I’ve elevated my skills with off-camera lighting. Now, I use mixed lighting—a combination of natural light and supplemental artificial light. I pair a studio strobe with a softbox to make sure eyes are bright, shadows are flattering, and the image pops.

Off-camera lighting is what makes my images vibrant, crisp, and polished. In my opinion, it’s a game-changer and a key differentiator from many natural-light-only photographers.

When to Book Your Senior Portrait Session
You can book your senior session as early as May before your senior year.

Fall Athletes—Plan Ahead!
If you play a fall sport, I highly recommend scheduling your session before July 31 whenever possible. Here’s why: if we hit a stretch of bad weather later in the season, rescheduling can be tough once practices, games, and work commitments kick in.

Rest assured—I’ve always made it work for every senior—but planning ahead helps us avoid the stress and ensures a smooth experience.

Session Locations & Timing

The location of your session depends on the type of session you choose:

• Destination & Custom Sessions
  You’ll be the only senior I photograph that evening, so you get to choose your location! If the location is more than 10 miles from Walpole (02081), a travel fee will apply.

• Classic Session
  Choose from Adams Farm, Bird Park, or Downtown Walpole.

• Express Yearbook Session
  Locations are predetermined and offered on specific dates set by Leslie.

Timing:

• Outdoor Sessions take place either early morning (around 7:45 AM) before the sun gets too high or in the evening, starting about two hours before sunset.

• In-Studio Sessions are scheduled between 10:30 AM and 3:00 PM.

Scheduling
Sessions are scheduled Monday through Thursday.
Fridays are reserved exclusively for weather-related makeup sessions.
Please note: weekends are not currently available.

In addition to being a photographer, I’ve practically become a meteorologist over the years—always watching the radar! As New Englanders, we know the weather can change in an instant.

My ideal day for outdoor sessions? Blue skies with big, puffy white clouds. I’m not a fan of overcast days. People often say, “I thought photographers loved cloudy skies!” Well, not this one. The light from an overcast day just doesn’t give me the look I love.

Of course, I can’t guarantee perfect weather every time. But if I think for one second that conditions won’t work, I will not hesitate to reschedule. If it’s 90° and humid, dark and gloomy (even without rain), or pouring cats and dogs—I’ll reach out to make a new plan.

I don’t book rain dates in advance, but I keep a few days open each week specifically for weather-related makeups. This system has worked beautifully for over a decade! I monitor the forecast constantly, and if things start looking messy, I’ll be in touch to set a backup plan.

Bottom line: Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered!

Wardrobe Consultation – Included with Every Session

What you wear can truly make or break your session, so every session includes wardrobe guidance to ensure you look your best!

• Dream Session
  You’ll receive a detailed list of wardrobe tips PLUS I’ll come to your home and go through your closet with you! Prefer not to? No problem—you can come to the studio instead.

• Custom Session
  You’ll receive a detailed list of wardrobe tips PLUS you have the option of an in-person wardrobe consultation at the studio or a phone consultation.

• Traditional Session
  You will have a telephone consultation to discuss.

• Mini Session
  You’ll receive a detailed list of wardrobe tips 

Pro Tip:
You don’t have to go shopping, but it’s a great excuse to pick up a few new pieces if you want!

Direct Access to Me:
When you book, you get my personal cell number. I encourage you to text me photos of your outfits—preferably on you—so I can help you choose the best looks!

Yearbook Deadlines
Below are the typical deadlines for the schools I work with most often. Please confirm with your school’s yearbook staff, as dates can change:

• Walpole High School: October 5

• Medfield High School: October 31

• Dedham High School: December 1

• Norwood High School: December 1

• Dover-Sherborn High School: December 1

Important Note:
The following schools require seniors to use the school’s contracted photographer for the official yearbook photo. However, many students choose to book a private session with me for personal portraits—perfect for home, family, and friends:

• Westwood High School

• Xaverian Brothers High School

• Ursuline Academy

Bring a Guest – Optional (or Required if Under 18!)

I encourage you to bring someone who helps you relax and have fun during your session. Usually mom or dad!

• Under 18? I insist that you bring a parent or guardian.

• Parents are always welcome to join a few shots, no matter which session you choose (except Express Mini).

Most importantly, I want your portraits to capture you—your true personality and style.

Professional hair and makeup is not required, but it is highly recommended. A little makeup goes a long way in making your features pop, and you’ll love your proofs even more! I work with an amazing hair and makeup artist and am happy to help coordinate an appointment for you.

Even if you don’t wear full makeup, I still recommend at minimum:

• A base foundation

• Mascara

• A natural lip color

These simple steps help enhance your features while keeping your look natural. My goal is to make sure your portraits reflect you—not a version of someone else.

The number of proofs you receive depends on the session you choose—the longer the session, the more proofs you’ll get.

Your proofs will be delivered in an online gallery with two folders:

• Leslie’s Favorites – a curated selection, all quickly edited for proofing.

• All Others – the remaining proofs that are still wonderful, just not personal favorites.

All purchased images will be professionally retouched to ensure your portraits look their absolute best.

Why a Pre-Session Consultation Matters

If you’re choosing the Dream or Custom Session, meeting for a pre-session consultation has numerous benefits:

• Break the Ice
  We get to talk and get to know each other, so when your session day arrives, I’m not a total stranger—we’ll already have a foundation to build on.

• Align on Your Vision
  We’ll discuss your ideas, how you want to be photographed, and what to expect throughout the entire experience.

• Choose the Perfect Location
  Together, we’ll explore all location options and make a plan that fits your style and session goals.

• Wardrobe Guidance & HMU
  Wardrobe can make or break your portraits! Whether I come to your home or you come to the studio with your outfits, we’ll review exactly what to wear—and what to avoid. We will also go over do's and don't for hair and makeup application!

• Eliminate Homework
  Instead of exchanging emails with questions and outfit options, we get everything covered in one meeting—saving you time and stress.

• Preview Products
  You’ll see the types of products available—canvas sizes, folio boxes, display options—and we’ll discuss what you’re drawn to. This helps me plan the shoot to exceed your expectations and capture exactly what you’ll love.

Yes! I have a beautiful studio in downtown Walpole, perfect for both traditional studio lighting sessions and natural light sessions. 

With the Dream Session, you can enjoy the best of both worlds—time in the studio and outdoors for a variety of looks and settings!

Yes! After your session, we will a time for you and all decision makers to come to the studio to review all the images on my 27" monitor without the watermark. I will help you choose images and products that will best show your portraits. 

You should bring your own comb or brush, extra makeup for touch ups, cold bottle of water especially on hot days!  I always have my own bag of necessities such as safety pins, clips, bobby pins, static guard, hair spray, etc.

Proofs take between 24-72 hours. Depends upon which session.

Products & Collections

I offer a wide array of products to showcase your portraits beautifully:

• Premium imported folio boxes

• Thumb drives

• Framed prints

• Canvas, fine art canvas, and metal prints

• Digital-only collections

All purchased printed products include:

• A matching high-resolution digital file (for printing 8x10 and smaller)

• A low-resolution version sized for social media

• A version sized to meet your high school yearbook requirements

I’ll even recommend the best online printer for your desktop-sized prints.

Important: Wall art must be purchased directly through my studio so I can guarantee your portrait is professionally printed and truly looks like a piece of art.

Special Offer:
When you purchase a Collection at your ordering appointment, you’ll receive 20% off all wall art!

Within approximately 4 days of your session (often sooner), you will receive a link to a watermarked proofing gallery. This gallery will remain active for two weeks, allowing you to view your images, select your favorites, and share them with family and friends.

During this two-week period, we will schedule an in-person ordering appointment at my studio. At this appointment, we’ll review all your favorite images together, and I’ll guide you in selecting the best of the best—ensuring a wide variety of expressions, poses, outfits, and settings.

Please note that all sessions, with the exception of the Express session, include an in-person ordering appointment at my studio.

I have a handy, dandy changing tent that pops up and on the go with us!

This is something I no longer do because most schools provide a link to the seniors to upload directly all things yearbook including your yearbook photo, baby pics, your highlights, etc.

I do provide your retouched yearbook portrait to you in the format your high school requires.  Most schools need 2.5" x 3.5" at 300 ppi and saved with a specific format such as lastname_firstname.jpg.

Please be sure to confirm your yearbook deadline and any specific photo requirements with your school to ensure your portrait is submitted correctly.