Prom guide
Prom photos, planned.
Prom photos go wrong for one reason: time. Here is how to plan them so everyone is in the picture, nobody is late for dinner, and the photos look as good as the night felt.
Start earlier than you think.
Hair, makeup and ties always run late, and one late person holds up the whole group. Work backwards from the moment you have to leave, and aim to have everyone dressed and at the meeting place half an hour before the photos start.
In late spring the sun sets late, so photos before dinner happen in bright daylight. That is fine: we work in open shade, where the light is soft and nobody squints.
Pick one meeting place.
One house, one park, one place. A group that tries to do photos in three locations spends prom afternoon in cars.
- Room for the whole group to stand in one row, with space behind them.
- Open shade: the shadow of a house or a line of trees, with open sky in front.
- A plain background. Hedges, trees and brick are good. Parked cars and garage doors are not.
- Somewhere to sit down between photos, for anyone in heels.
Write the list first.
Decide who needs a photo with whom before the day, and give the list to one organised friend. With a list, a group of twenty is done quickly. Without one, it takes the whole afternoon.
- Everyone togetherFirst, while every outfit is still perfect.
- Each couple or pair of datesOne after another, in the same spot.
- Each friend groupThe ones who will want this photo in ten years.
- Each person on their ownThe one their family will frame.
- Each grad with their familyShort and sweet, then the parents can relax.
A job for the parents.
Give parents five minutes with their own phones right at the start. Then the phones go away, so everyone looks at one camera and the photos are finished sooner.
If it rains.
We go ahead in the rain and bring matching umbrellas for everyone. Rain photos are some of the best ones. The weather plan has the details.
What to bring.
Flat shoes for the walk to the spot, a touch-up kit, spare pins for the flowers, a jacket for shoulders if it turns cold, and water.
Keep reading.
- Prom photos: a session before the dance, for you, your date or your whole group.
- Golden hour, explained: why the hour before sunset flatters everyone.
- The weather plan: why rain does not stop a session, and what we bring.
- High school grad photos: a relaxed session of your own, with family and friends in it.
Want us there?
Tell us your prom date, where you are getting ready and how many of you there are. We come back with availability and a price.
Guelph Grad Photos is an independent photography business. We are not affiliated with any high school or school board.