Awesome senior pictures in Plymouth/Canton, Michigan

Nope! But schools do make it seem that way. Be happy that you live in Michigan — a law passed in 1986 gives public school students the right to go wherever they want for their senior portraits. The school may strongly suggest that you be photographed by a certain studio, but it's just that, a suggestion.

You can bring me the yearbook guidelines provided by your school, or you can go to your school's photographer for just the yearbook shot, and then come here for your real senior pictures. This approach has the additional benefit of freeing you from your school's early yearbook deadline. That way, you can schedule your pictures for when you want them... in the fall for great outdoor shots, in the spring when you are closer to graduating, or even in the winter if that's when you'd prefer.

Remember... it's your choice, not your school’s!

There are a whole bunch of reasons! But one of the most important is individual attention. You may think you have to go to your school's contract photographer, but you don't (see above). They photograph everything from babies to kids to seniors... and lots of them. With that type of diversity and quantity to deal with, you practically get snapshots that are convenient and easy for the photographer (or in some cases, “camera operator” is actually a better term!) and end up with pictures that are ordinary and look just like everyone else's.

I think that is the wrong approach for seniors.

Being a senior in high school is major milestone in your life — a special time that deserves special images. I may only photograph a small fraction of seniors compared to other studios, but that's fine with me. I'd rather get to know you individually, have a great time creating your photos, and actually remember who you are next time I see you!

OK, how about these:

You want photos that are unique and different from everyone else... you want your photo shoot to be fun... you want to jam to your favorite tunes on your iPod during your photo shoot... you want to work one-on-one with a photographer instead of being part of a group... you want lots of variety with a bunch of outfits... you want fashion poses that remind you of what you see in magazines and modeling portfolios... you want lots of pictures to choose from... you want designer composite images.... you want TrueYou Personalization™ on your wallets... you want color, black-and-white, sepia and other toning options... you want your wallets to stand out with the cool new metallic paper...

The list goes on and on!

Nope.

While some studios force you to pick from and charge for a bunch of different sessions or photography styles (such as for black and white photos, modeling-style poses, being photographed in and around your home, outdoors, with your car, etc.), everything is included in my Elite Experience photo shoot!

There are no hidden charges. Prices are clearly listed in my brochure, and your investment includes artworking, professional mounting and coating of your prints.

No way! Getting your senior pictures done should be fun and exciting... you shouldn't have to stress about whether you should wear this outfit or that outfit... bring them all... including your prom or homecoming dress if you want.

It is actually better to bring too many choices so that I can better coordinate your clothing with various backgrounds. We may not use all of them all, but it's better to bring them rather than saying “I have an outfit that would've gone perfect!”

Definitely bring that stuff along! Also bring along glasses, sunglasses, your letter jacket, a jeans jacket, your leather coat, hats, stuffed animals, umbrellas, parasols, scarves, boots... anything that helps portray who you are and what you do... clothing is a big part of awesome-looking senior pictures, and the more stuff you bring, the more variety there will be in your poses!

After you schedule your photo shoot, I'll send you recommendations on what to wear (and what not to wear!), how to pick out your outfits, make-up tips, etc.

There isn't really a set number since my Elite Experience is not “cookie cutter“ and varies from client to client. Each photo shoot is tailored to each individual person, the clothes they have, the props they brought with them, etc. If I see something I like, or if I have an idea, I may spend more time on it.

Typically I'll show over 100 poses during a client presentation, but often it is up to 150, especially if sports or other hobbies can be incorporated into photos. Basically, it all just depends on your outfits, props, attitude, personality, energy, etc.

Definitely!

I actually require that somebody accompany my clients during their photo shoot. They are a second set of eyes to help me make sure you are looking your best. And if you bring a friend and want them to be with you in a few of your pictures, that's no problem.

However, one thing I don't recommend is having your boyfriend around for your photo shoot. They tend to be a distraction and can prevent a natural expression of your personality.

In most cases, this is not a problem at all!

It is probably best to have somebody bring your dog to your photo shoot for the limited time that we'll need to work with him or her instead of being there the entire time.

Contact me to discuss what you had in mind and tell me a little about your dog, and we'll work out the details.

Not to worry! Almost everyone has days with less than perfect skin. Proper make-up application is very important and can help immensely in making sure your images look as good as possible. But after you've selected your final poses, part of the artwork process I go through with each image involves removing minor skin blemishes. This is often referred to as “retouching” and is one small part of what is involved in creating my finished prints. (Note that severe acne problems and other time-intensive retouching does incur an additional charge.)

Eddy Gurney Photography is located in Canton, Michigan a short distance from the PCEP campus.

Due to the individual attention given to each of my clients, all hours are by appointment only (including photo shoots, ordering sessions, pick-ups, etc.) Travel for outdoor and on-location work (such as in and around your home) is included within a 20-mile radius, so contact me for rates beyond that. (I am always up for new places to capture cool senior pictures, especially if they are meaningful to you. If you have some ideas in mind, just let me know.)

Yes.

And for what it's worth, if you are interested in outdoor images during the summer, early in the morning and the early evening present some of the best natural light, so keep that in mind!

Well expensive is a relative term. I am the first to admit that I am not the senior photographer for everyone. At the same time, it is important to remember that senior pictures are truly once-in-a-lifetime, and the investment you make in them will last forever. For most people, this will be one of the only times they can work one-on-one with a professional photographer!

To use a pair of jeans as an analogy, I am more “7 For All Mankind” than “Levi's”. Don't get me wrong, Levi's are great, but every now and then (in the case of senior pictures, once in your life!) you splurge and get something really special... and it's totally worth it!

Many clients love their photos and will invest a lot in them. But it's really up to you. My “Create Your Own Package” approach allows you to get exactly what you want — without being restricted by pre-determined packages. For a detailed price list, go to the Contact page and request pricing information.

Yes... Visa, MasterCard and Discover are all gladly accepted.

There are some guys in there, just not many. I think most guys freak when they find out that with my Elite Experience photo shoot they are going to be posing in front of the camera for five hours!

Well, you could... but I can pretty much guarantee you won't be happy with the results! It takes much more than just having a camera to be a photographer (just like buying a sweet guitar doesn't make you a rock star!) I've had years of training and won awards for my images. Applying what I know about proper portrait lighting, posing and digital artworking, I can make you look your best. And although great photographers can take fantastic pictures with just about any camera, the right equipment definitely helps. My camera, lenses, strobes and lighting modifiers are high-end, professional-grade tools — the same things you see being used on the sidelines of sporting events and on TV shows like America's Next Top Model.

No. Unlike some photographers that may print their own pictures using a color printer or the local warehouse club one-hour photo kiosk, I send all of my images to a highly skilled, professional photographic lab for processing. Just like high-end wedding photos, my prints are made using the highest quality professional photographic paper, developed using traditional darkroom chemistry. The lab then mounts each photo to a thick backing board and sprays it with a protective satin coating so it is ready for framing. This provides the quality and true archival life that you should demand for any professional portrait.

Feel free to use the Contact link to send me an e-mail, or call the studio at 734-667-1500 or toll free 888-94-EDDYG if you aren't a local call to the Plymouth/Canton area. I'm more than happy to discuss whatever questions you still have.