Frequently Asked Questions

Typically after 5:30 PM M-F. I use professional studio lighting on all locations so I am not tethered to daylight hours. This means we can create stunning portraits in any lighting condition, at any time of day, anywhere we want to shoot.

The ideal time each year for senior portraits is from May 1 - December 1 for the current graduating class.

For example, the Class of 2026 should plan to schedule portraits from May 1, 2025 to March 30, 2026. The incoming Class of 2027 should start planning and booking their appointments March 1 (for May 1 start dates).

We only photograph 100 seniors per year and our schedule can book 3–4 months out. This is your heads-up: plan early or risk missing your ideal season.

Plan to book 3–4 months in advance to secure your preferred date.

Because we limit our studio to only 100 seniors per year, our calendar fills up quickly. The earlier you book, the better your chances of getting the exact date and time you want during your ideal season (spring, summer, or fall).

Absolutely! Reservations are the only way to work with us.

Because my schedule is extremely busy, it is best to make a reservation and keep it. I don't like wasting clients' time, so when I'm booked for a shoot I am 100% focused on creating amazing portraits. I typically do not book any appointments without first meeting the parents and the senior during a consultation.

Most families understand that high-quality fine art professional senior portraits are not typical school-contracted, ordinary, and boring pictures that everyone can get.

The school price is low, impersonal, and identical to every other high school senior—not just at your school but at all the schools they are contracted with in Hampton Roads.

$300 Portrait Session Fee (Includes Everything)

• •2–5+ Hour Portrait Session
• •Location Scouting
• •Unlimited Outfit Changes
• •Fine Art Editing & Retouching
• •Custom Designed Seniors Magazine

We have 3 collections specifically curated for high school senior and parent needs. All of our products are custom hand-crafted in Italy by our partner for over 20 years. You not only get one-of-a-kind images, you get custom-made museum-quality products designed as heirloom and generational pieces.

Our prices start at $1,800 and top out at $4,000. You also have options for purchasing digital files à la carte. Plus, when you purchase a collection, you receive at least 70 fully edited social media files to share online with friends and family (watermarked—we just ask that you tag @SwarzPortraits on Instagram when you use them).

I accept cash or credit card.

We offer three collections that are transparent and easy to understand. When you book your consultation appointment, you will receive our current custom Seniors magazine with 64 pages of information for seniors and their parents. We want you to set your budget before booking your portrait session so you control your price. No surprises, no hidden fees—just straightforward, beautiful art.

Your photoshoot fee of $300 is due before the photoshoot. This covers the photographer's time, equipment, travel, assistant, and insurance.

When you purchase a collection, payment is due when ordering. This is covered during the sales session, or we can send you an invoice. We don't actually order the product until the payment is received. This ensures we maintain quality control and your products are made fresh for you.

Yes, if you book a portrait session and need to reschedule, we can accommodate one reschedule.

The portrait session—this is not a deposit, this is an appointment fee. If you want to cancel, there is no refund. Please be sure that I am the photographer for you before booking. That is why the consultation appointment is so important.

I typically do not book any appointments without first meeting the parents and the senior. This is a collaborative effort and crucial to creating great portraits. We want to make sure we're the right fit for your family before we commit to a date.

Bring a variety of styles: casual, formal, school spirit, and something unique to you.

The reality is your outfits will select the background. We always look to match your sets, backgrounds, and locations to your wardrobe. We ALWAYS invite your preferences as to what you like. That is the purpose of the initial consultation. Once we have an idea of what you like, then we ask to see the clothes that you are thinking about wearing. Once we identify your personality and wardrobe, we then suggest backgrounds, locations, and sets.

We select locations together based on your wardrobe and personality.

During your consultation, we discuss your vibe and what you like. Once we identify your personality and wardrobe, we then suggest backgrounds, locations, and sets that complement your style. With professional lighting, we can shoot anywhere—urban streets, nature, private locations, or studio settings.

If it's cloudy or looks like rain, that's OK—no worries!

We would love to be able to control mother nature! If we have an outdoor portrait session scheduled and it looks like rain, we will call you and reschedule your portrait session. Of course, if you are feeling adventurous, we can always produce a "Singing in the Rain" portrait session. With professional lighting, we can adapt to any weather.

Of course! We highly encourage all of those!

Activities cover much more than mainstream school activities. Maybe it's dance, art, books, swimming, surfing, or rock climbing. If you want to include your car, please ensure it's clean. Unless it's a 4x4—the more mud, the better! If you want to bring your best friends or pets, we love incorporating those into sessions. We are here from the start to help you plan what you might bring during our initial consultation.

We offer both high-quality printed art and digital files.

We believe in the permanence of high-quality printed wall art, albums, and prints. I partner with the world's best production company, GraphiStudio, to produce museum-quality products. But I also recognize that you want photos for social media, phone, and other digital purposes. This is our way of ensuring our clients receive the best of both worlds and that we are not just creating digital files.

Yes, you are given a high-quality file for each print purchased in our collections.

You also receive at least 70 fully edited social media files once you purchase a collection. We understand the world is digital and want you to have images you love. We select the very best images from your session and want you to have them for your social media. The files are watermarked, and we just ask that you tag us @SwarzPortraits on Instagram when you use them!

This is where we truly separate ourselves from school-contracted photography companies, hobbyist photographers, and general photographers.

Before we finish your portrait session, we book a reveal date and time with you so you get to see your edited images. You don't wait months to see your images—you have a reveal appointment within 7–10 days from your shoot. This forces us to put your portraits at the top of our schedule, ensuring you get world-class service and turnaround.

Absolutely! There is never a charge for yearbook photos.

Some schools require you to use "their" photographer so the photos all look the same. If the school allows you to turn in your photo, let us know what they expect, and we will recreate it. There is never a charge for these photos, and we will give you the digital file formatted to your school's specifications.

We don't offer hair and makeup, but I have a list of local salons that we suggest for the best results.

But to be honest, fine art isn't about perfect hair and makeup—it's about telling your story and creating art based on who you are. It's your choice on using a stylist or not. The big advice I have is: don't change your hair color or cut less than 7 days before your shoot. This ensures consistency in your images and the best representation of you.

I use professional Nikon cameras and Westcott and Nanlite professional lighting.

I am a Nikon shooter. I currently use a Nikon Z9 with a D850 as a backup camera. For senior portrait sessions, I typically use an 85mm fixed focus lens because the bokeh and compression is stunning. Depending on the situation, I will change out to other lenses as needed. My lighting is professional-grade, allowing me to create stunning images in any environment.

Of course! I encourage you to do this.

Please tag us @SwarzPortraits on Instagram when you use them so we can share your experience with our community. Behind-the-scenes content helps other seniors see what a Swartz Portraits session is really like!

Swartz Portraits is located in Chesapeake, Virginia.

I travel extensively around the United States and overseas for destination shoots along with educational travel programs with students. For all of our portrait sessions, we incorporate up to a 100-mile allowance for each senior. We charge for anything over 100 miles.

We have seniors fly in from Texas, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, California, and other locations throughout the United States. We also, with planning, schedule travel to clients. The fees are simple: the regular portrait session fee, and you cover transportation and hotel. This allows us to serve families nationwide without geographic limitations.