Prom Photo

Photographing a High School Prom
By Vanessa Honda


By photographing a prom, a photographer can earn money while expanding her presence in the large high school senior market; however, photographing a prom can be a challenge. The following are some suggestions for the photographer who is shooting a prom for the first time.

1. At the prom, have your business cards and other promotional material available. If your personality is a good fit for these young people and they like your work, you will sow the seeds of a number of high school senior portrait session bookings. Offering to put a digital image of the prom on Facebook will also be helpful in getting your name out. Posting the image will allow all of the person's friends to see the images and decide to book a session.

2. When shooting, choose one or two poses and stick to it. The prom only lasts a few short hours and you will need to photograph a large number of couples and groups. There really is no time to experiment. You will only have a couple of minuets or less to spend on each couple.

3. Utilize a dye-sublimation printer. The key to making money when shooting a prom is having an efficient process. Eliminate all unnecessary steps. A dye-sublimation printer allows a photographer to print quality images at the prom (while the couple or group waits). Thus the photographer can shoot, print, deliver, and collect payment while at the prom. When he comes home from the event he is done. He doesn't need to post the images to the web or send out reminder or collect checks. This one step alone can cut the total work time of a prom in half.

4. Bring an assistant. You will need to move quickly to complete all of those couples in a few hours. It is impossible to shoot that many couples and print and collect orders without an assistant.

5. Arrive early. You need time to test your equipment. Have backup equipment available. It can be a nightmare if clients show up and your equipment is not working.

6. If you have to order backdrops, order it well in advance. Don't leave anything to chance.

Shooting a prom can be a profitable and rewarding experience. The above steps will help a photographer sidestep any challenges which might throw him off course.