The tall grass moves in the breeze that’s cold on Chanci Hall’s skin as she poses for her senior photos taken by Madeline Hand at the Belvior winery. A single click captured a senior’s history. A cool breeze shifted through Chanci Hall’s hair as the 2007 Nikon D40 camera shuttered. Several students have a passion for photography, and they take their hobbies beyond the school walls.
There are different options to get senior photos taken, such as student photographers. Liberty has student who have started their own photography business.
There are several benefits of using a local business in a hometown for pictures. Many professional photography businesses often charge upwards of $200 to $600 for a single session, according to Kileyannphotography.
Comparing these prices to what student photographers charge is much less. Senior, Madeline Hand, says her prices can vary. Generally, her prices can vary, charging around 150$ for a photoshoot, depending on how many outfits, locations, and the number of pictures.
“For my business, personally, prices are much cheaper than most photographers, and you’ll get more photos out of it than you usually would,” said senior Madeline Hand.
Hand runs a small business in her free time to highlight graduating seniors. She provides a welcoming and positive session to her peers. She provides high-quality images for her models.
She has always been drawn to photography, as she recently took up her camera again when her friend Cora Price, who graduated in the class of 2025, asked her to take her senior pictures. Hand finds an enormous amount of passion in her camera. She learned from trial and error, while also taking a class at UMKC.
“My biggest piece of advice is to find what is best for you. Your photos do not need to look like anyone else’s. If you have a vision, be unique and go for it,” said Hand.
Hand has photographed several students, involved in theater and choir. More specifically, senior Chanci Hall. Hand-photographed Chanci for her senior photos.
“Not only was she super flexible, but also everything was fun and easy. It wasn’t just a photoshoot; it felt like a hangout. I knew I could count on having good photos from her, as I’ve seen her previous photoshoots and know her personally, which made me feel confident in the final product,” said Hall.
Senior, Troy Petty, says his prices can vary. Generally, he charges 30-50$ for a photoshoot with 20 photos, depending on the editing, lens & equipment requirements.
“The stylistic choice I’ve made recently is shooting with a film-like look. Another choice I’ve made is to focus primarily on posting portraits, as they seem to attract the most attention & bolster collaboration with other artists,” said Petty.
Petty first started his business with a commercial/commercial-like photoshoot in July 2025. He had his Instagram since April of 2023 and started posting in July of 2024. Though Petty’s Instagram is rarely new, he faces AI regularly, affecting him and other creatives.
“With the advent of Artificial Intelligence, creatives face an extinction-like scenario for their employment. Photography is partially shielded from this mass extinction event, but if I wish to pursue this business in the future, it is likely that competition (from humans and robots) will be higher,” said Petty.
As of now, Hand runs her business through Instagram under @Mads_lens; to see her photos or if interested, she uses direct message to her for availability/scheduling. To see more about Troy Petty, visit his Instagram @pettyintervention.
