High School Proms have been a tradition for generations.  Professional prom photographs have been a tradition forever, also.  Nowadays, with everyone wielding a smartphone camera, there is the temptation to skip the professional photo and just take selfies and candids.  However, each method has its place. 

A good professional prom photo features several things that many people forget about.

1. When a pro sets up to take prom photos, he generally gets to the venue early and scopes out a great spot to take the photos.  That background is well thought out to provide a classic look.  Or it may be a carefully created set to follow the theme of the prom.  

2. Professional portraits, including prom portraits, are carefully posed to bring out the good features in the person and the clothes that they are wearing.  A good prom photographer also discretely hides features that are better off unseen.  Minor details are also carefully checked.  Things like making sure ties are straight. And making sure flowers and boutonnieres look right.  Minor adjustments to hand, arm and foot position often make the difference between an awkward contrived pose and an elegant natural portrait.  If you are going to spend hundreds (or thousands) to buy a dress, flowers, shoes, hair and makeup you might want to spend a bit more to show off all of those things to their best advantage.

3. Professional lighting brightens up faces, makes eyes sparkle and gives the portrait a timeless look.  

4. Professionally printed photographs last for ages, and won’t become obsolete (and un-viewable) as technology changes.  You only need your eyes to see a photographic print.  Most people need a device to see their digital images because they never print them.

Cell phone Pictures are important, too

Cell pictures are ubiquitous and fun.  Their quick and easy qualities make them a perfect accessory for nearly any event.  They can be shared instantly via text and social media.  However, while they they have an important place at any event, they aren’t the same as a professional image.

1 Cell phone pictures are great for quick candid images, but often that spontaneity makes a snapshot instead of a well crafted portrait.  Lighting, posing, and small details are usually not factored into the picture.

2 Unless the picture is printed, and the vast majority of cell phone images are never printed, a device is required to view it.  That becomes a problem as the pictures age.  Digital pictures that were created just a few years back often cannot be viewed because their technology is now obsolete.  For example, a few years ago many people stored their pictures on CD’s or DVD’s.  If you buy a new computer, chances are good that it won’t feature a DVD player.  So you can’t see those pictures on your new computer.  Another example is if the images on your phone aren’t properly backed up.  If your phone fails, or is stolen, or lost your pictures are gone.  We hear that one regularly.

When considering prom photos we think you should do both.  

Get your professional prom portraits taken.  In a sense, they are like the formal pictures taken at a wedding.  Everyone is dressed their best and the photographer fine tunes it and captures it.  The prints last forever.  And then enjoy the prom!  Take your own pictures with your smartphone camera and share them.  At the end of the event you will know that you have the best of both worlds!