"How Much Do Senior Portraits Cost in Vacaville?"


Let’s be honest: you’ve probably already asked Google this question. And if you did, you likely found a price range that swings harder than a freshman trying to pass PE — from $100 quickie sessions in someone’s backyard to full-blown $3000 productions with makeup teams, mood boards, and a pure white horse.

So where do I land in all this? Somewhere in the middle. Intentionally.


Let’s talk numbers

With me, senior portrait sessions start at $550 and go up to $1200, depending on how much time, variety, and creative freedom you want. (More details on that here, but in short: 10 to 35 images, 1 to 3 locations, and zero sneaky upcharges like “golden hour fee.”)


But here’s the real question:

What are you actually paying for?

Not just photos. Not even just good photos.

You’re paying for a moment of clarity in a wildly transitional time.

  • A guided experience where your senior gets to feel seen, not staged.
  • A gallery that reflects who they actually are, not who Instagram says they should be.
  • Images that don’t just document a milestone, but somehow capture a whole personality arc in five well-lit frames.

It’s less “just smile and hold this prop,” and more “let’s create something that makes you say, ‘oh wow, that’s really me.’”


But can’t I find something cheaper?

Yes. Always.

You can find someone who’ll shoot 100 images in 30 minutes for $200 and call it a day. And hey, if all you want is one decent headshot for Grandma’s fridge, that might actually be fine.

But if you want storytelling, intentionality, location planning, coaching, a painless prep process, and professional editing that doesn’t turn your teen into a plastic mannequin? That’s a different tier. And it’s worth it.


So why does pricing vary so much?

  • Because not all photographers do the same work.
  • Some specialize in quick turnover and volume.
  • Some book 3 shoots a day and email your gallery 12 hours later.
  • Some spend 10+ hours on every client experience -- planning, editing, and making it actually enjoyable -- and are continually investing in learning, improving, and refining their craft.
  • (Hi. That last one is me.)


💡 How to know it’s worth it:

  • Your senior feels relaxed, confident, and even excited.
  • You get a gallery full of real expressions, not forced smiles or copy-paste poses.
  • You look at the photos and feel something. Not just “they’re cute,” but “oh my gosh, I’m going to miss this version of them.”

If you walk away with that? It’s not just a photo shoot.

It’s a time capsule.