What Actually Happens on Your Senior Session Day with MBP

If you are searching for a senior photographer in Lawrence KS, you probably have questions about what a session actually looks like. Most seniors have a general idea: show up, take some photos, go home. A session with Megan Bowers Photography looks a lot different than that. Here is a full, honest walkthrough of exactly what your session day looks like from start to finish.

Quick Answer: A senior session with Megan Bowers Photography in Lawrence, KS starts with about 1.5 hours of professional hair and makeup at the MBP home studio. Then you head out for up to 3 hours of fully guided shooting at multiple Lawrence locations. Your outfits and locations are planned ahead of time. About 2 to 3 weeks later, you see your images at your in-person Gallery Reveal.

It starts before we ever pick up a camera

By the time your session day arrives, we have already done a lot of the work together. You have your outfits planned, your locations chosen, and your prep guide reviewed. You know where to go and what time to arrive. The day itself is not the planning phase. That is already done. Session day is just about showing up and enjoying it.

Your day starts at the MBP home studio with about 1.5 hours of professional hair and makeup. Come with clean, moisturized skin and fully dry hair. You do not need to do your hair or makeup before you come. That is the whole point.

Hair and makeup: the time that changes everything

Every MBP senior session includes professional hair and makeup. This is not a bonus or an add-on. It is part of the experience, and it is one of the things that makes the biggest difference in how the photos actually turn out.

You will spend about an hour and a half in the chair. This is honestly one of the best parts of the day. It is calm, it is fun, and by the time the artist is done you will look in the mirror and feel completely different than when you walked in. Not different as in unrecognizable. Different as in the best version of yourself.

That shift in how you feel matters more than most people expect. Confidence is not something you can fake in photos. But when you genuinely feel good, it shows up in every single frame.

Parents, this hour is also a great time to relax, grab a coffee, and let your senior have a moment. Your senior is in good hands.

Lawrence KS Senior Photographer tip: how we use locations

Once hair and makeup is done, we head out. As your senior photographer in Lawrence KS, I plan every session around multiple locations, and most seniors get to 3 to 4 in their session. You get real variety without the chaos. Downtown texture, KU campus classics, wide open natural spaces, all within a short drive of each other.

If you want to see some of the specific spots I love most in Lawrence, I have a full guide on the blog.

You will be with me the whole time. We move together, I carry the gear, and you just follow my lead. It is not stressful. It honestly feels more like a fun afternoon out than a photoshoot.

What the shooting portion actually feels like

Every senior photographer in Lawrence KS does things a little differently. At MBP, you will never be standing there wondering what to do with your hands or whether you are standing right. I tell you exactly where to put your weight, how to angle your shoulders, where to look, and when to move. The direction is simple and it works: no modeling experience required.

We will move through your outfits at each location, and I will keep things moving at a pace that feels easy. Most seniors hit a point about halfway through where they completely forget the camera is there. Those are usually the best shots of the day.

Laughing is allowed. Feeling a little awkward for the first few minutes is completely normal. Having a real personality is actually the whole point. That is what I am here to bring out of you, not pose out of you.

Wrapping up and what comes next

When we finish shooting, that is not the end of your MBP experience. It is really just the beginning of the next phase.

I will go into editing: culling through hundreds of images and carefully editing my favorites in my signature bold, expressive style that still looks like you. This process takes time because I take it seriously. Every image that makes it into your gallery has been worked on intentionally.

About 2 to 3 weeks after your session, you will come into the studio for your Gallery Reveal and Purchasing appointment. This is a 60-minute in-person session where we watch your slideshow together, choose your favorites, and decide what to do with your images: wall art, albums, prints, or digital files. I walk you through the whole thing. No pressure, no guesswork, and no digital gallery that disappears into a folder you never open.

If you want to know more about what the ordering appointment looks like, I have a full post on that too.

Frequently asked questions about MBP session day

How long does a session take?

A senior session with Megan Bowers Photography in Lawrence, KS takes up to 4.5 hours from start to finish. Hair and makeup at the home studio takes about 1.5 hours. Then shooting runs up to 3 hours, starting about 3 hours before sunset. The time goes fast because every outfit and location is planned ahead.

Do I need to bring anything?

For a senior session with Megan Bowers Photography in Lawrence, KS, bring your outfits steamed and on hangers. Add any accessories you plan to wear and a bottle of water. Arrive with clean, moisturized skin and fully dry hair. Professional hair and makeup is included, so you do not need to do your own. Everything else is taken care of.

What if I am nervous?

Feeling nervous before a senior session with Megan Bowers Photography in Lawrence, KS is completely normal. Most seniors have never had a professional photo session before. Megan tells you where to stand, where to look, and when to move, so you never have to guess. Most settle in within the first few minutes, and the best shots usually come after that.

Can my parents come?

Your parents are welcome at your senior session with Megan Bowers Photography in Lawrence, KS. They can join you for hair and makeup at the home studio and stay for part or all of the session. Some parents love seeing the whole experience. Others give their senior a little space. Your comfort comes first, so you and your parents choose what feels best.

What happens if it rains?

Megan Bowers Photography in Lawrence, KS watches the forecast closely before every senior session. If rain is likely, you get an early heads-up and another check-in closer to your start time. Rainy sessions move to the next available weekday, with no fee. On windy or cloudy days, you choose whether to shoot. If rain stops a session partway, you get a continuation.

How do I book?

To book a senior session with Megan Bowers Photography in Lawrence, KS, fill out the inquiry form on the contact page. Megan replies within 24 to 48 hours with everything you need to get on the calendar. A session retainer reserves your date. Most seniors book 3 to 4 months ahead, and each class is limited to 35 to 40 seniors.