Behind the Lens at Ruby Van Meter's Senior Portraits

For students about to graduate, having a senior portrait taken is part of the ritual of the last year of high school. It is no different for students in their last year at Ruby Van Meter School. For the past several years, the communications staff at DMPS has taken portraits for students about to complete their education at Ruby Van Meter. Our photographer Jon Lemons was at the school this week, and shares his thoughts on taking these special portraits.

One of my first photo assignments when I started at Des Moines Public Schools was to take portraits of the graduating class at Ruby Van Meter School. Before I did it, our graphic designer Adam Rohwer, took the portraits and would design a banner for the graduating class. And before Adam’s time, Larry Castek shot the portraits and laid out the class banner.

Back then, I was fairly new to studio lighting. The ‘remember list’ for elaborate set ups is longer than just a charged battery and memory card. On Wednesday, after a few trips from the car into Kathy Phillip’s Home Living Skills classroom to unload light stands, strobes, umbrellas, soft boxes, radio triggers, extension cords, the backdrop and my camera, I would set up the lights and begin to test my exposure. Then students would arrive with their aide, and Kathy would take measurements for their future caps and gowns. Students at Ruby are like students at any other school with varying levels of focus, motivation and ability. Some students are really excited to have their portrait taken. Others are nervous and don’t like the bright lights.

Once each student sits in the chair or rolls to the “X” marked on the floor, my challenge of connecting with them and clicking the shutter at the right moment begins. And that’s been my job for the last five years – to show each student at their best.

Pop go the strobes. “Say cheeseburger!” says the student aide behind me. I usually just try to laugh and smile with the students. Sometimes I’ll adjust the lights a bit for the reflection on their glasses or ask them to straighten their posture. Click, click, just a few more, I’ll say. And then it’s finished. Hopefully the result is a nice portrait for their parents and family. These will be among their last photos as RVM Vikings. Graduation is just around the corner.

Graduation is always a busy year for seniors, and it’s no different at Ruby Van Meter. Some highlights of the year include: