Prom Photo Checklist

Aside from the “formal” photograph that many of us take at the Prom, there are plenty of memories made during the night that we want to keep fresh through pictures. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the night and the excitement that we actually forget to take our cameras out and the night seems as if it will never end. It is important to live in the moment and enjoy yourself during the Prom, but keep in mind that the next day and in the future, you will want to look back and reminisce.

With this thought, there are a few “standard” ideas for your photos that you will want to capture to re-live your Prom night:

• Getting ready: Bring a camera to the hair and/or nail salon, and take photos of you and your friends during the “before” stages, as well as doing your makeup. A lot of girls get ready together, and the memories are priceless—be sure you capture them!
• "Walking down the stairs" -- This is always a favorite of parents. While it will take more than one camera, you may want to get not just a picture of your daughter walking down the stairs, but also a picture of the look on her date's face (as long as the two of them don't mind the paparazzi effect).
• Photos of the boutonniere and corsage being pinned on/or put on are monumental in terms of the Prom.
• Pictures with Parents are always nice ways to incorporate your family into the son or daughter’s special night. With many students now having Pre-Prom parties at friends’ houses, there are plenty of people around to capture the Prom partier and his or her family.
• Friends: Getting the entire “group” together at the Pre-Prom party is an essential keepsake. This is a night shared with friends, and often the favorite picture of many.
• Driving off in car/limousine: you want to remember going to the Prom in style!
• A picture of the restaurant or club of the after party: This is increasingly become the biggest part of the night, often even more of a focus than the actual Prom. You don’t want to get so distracted that you don’t get a shot of the venue!
• Plenty of photos of you and your date dancing: What kind of Prom album would it be if you don’t have any of these?!
• And a prom picture checklist wouldn't be complete without a reminder about your prom royalty – the prom king and queen!

Be sure that you have plenty of film on hand, even as a backup to a digital camera. There is no part of Prom that you’ll want to forget, and although it will seem at the time that everything is memorable, time will erase images from our memories. This is a remarkable time in all of our lives, so be sure you don’t leave any second of it out!