How to Decide if a Senior Model Team is Right for You?

Let's talk about the basics of a Senior Model Team also known as a Senior Rep Team. If you're in the greater Joplin area including Webb City and surrounding high schools, you've likely heard of a model team. With the right information, you can decide if this is a fit for capturing your senior year memories.

Let's get to the details! A Senior Model Team or Senior Rep Team is a group of incoming high school seniors who apply and are selected to be a part of a team to represent a photographer for senior year. There are many variations to the programs as each photographer decides how they want to run their senior rep program.

The key to making sure a rep program is a fit for you is seeking lots of information first and making sure you understand not only what is required of you, but what perks you get too. Since there are so many programs out there, let me share about my program for April Hurst Photography so you'll know if it might truly be something you'd enjoy for senior year.

The best part of my senior model program is the photos!

Hands down, being a part of a senior rep team should be about the beautiful images your photographer can take for you. The number one perk I offer as part of my model program is the bonus shoots. Bonus shoots are just what they sound like, they are the team's photo sessions where we meet up on-location to capture just one or two team shots and then individual photos of the team members. These bonus shoots are a perk to the team. For my program, the session and a set number of images are gifted to you! Our first bonus shoot will be spring of your junior year as we announce the team. Then they'll continue summer, fall, and spring of senior year.

In addition to bonus shoots, you get you still get your own personal senior session.

The bonus shoots are amazing, but in addition you still get to dream up your own senior session. There's still a perk here too. My senior schedule fills so quickly (especially for fall), but all senior team reps get first access to book their personal senior session. I open up my calendar to Senior Team before giving anyone else the opportunity to book. This is a great perk for senior year as I know how extremely busy seniors and their families are during your last year of high school. Your own personal session is one that is paid for by your family, but all bonus sessions are my gift to you.

You get my expertise in planning locations, schedules, wardrobe, and posing all year long.

Your photographer should make your session fun and stress free. That's what I aim to do. I ask for the team's input on what you really want for the look of our sessions, but then I do the rest. I schedule the best Joplin area locations for senior photos and make sure the weather cooperates (and move things around if it doesn't). I communicate what outfits would look great and help by providing senior posing guides. I'll deliver fun sneak peeks and galleries to you all year long.

We'll also strive to make sure the team shoots are efficient, but still fun. Your time is valuable and so is mine. Sometimes, we'll all show up to a session together but at other times, I'll make time slots available to make the most of your schedule and mine too.

Shouldn't senior year include your best friends?

I'm pretty sure friends are a big part of your journey. So when you've got some best friends on Senior Team, I always get a few shots of the gang together during at least one of our sessions. Not only do you get to make some great memories planning and hanging out together, but then you also have the most beautiful images to remember this final year of high school.

What's your responsibility as a part of the team?

I do ask that you help me by sharing your images and sneak peeks on social media throughout the year. The team is my best source of referrals and advertising. I also ask that you weigh if you can really commit to being a part of the rep team. It doesn't take a huge amount of time from you, but I do know seniors are extremely busy. You have to decide if senior photos are a priority for you and if you truly want to spend some of your time planning and preparing for sessions.

If you're a senior from a Joplin area school including Webb City, Carthage, Carl Junction, Joplin, Neosho and you can't wait for senior photos, then consider joining a senior rep program. If this sounds like the program for you, get on my VIP list here to get your app for senior team.

Get on the List to Join Senior Team