Lemmon High School Prom 2021: A Tale As Old As Time

Event Photographer: Brittany Schnell

Do you remember the underwater photos I was taking in January? I was pumped about them and thought they would make the coolest after prom party perk. I reached out to the Lemmon High School to pitch the idea to the gentleman in charge of the school’s prom. I had to leave a message and didn’t receive a call back for a few weeks.

He thought I was crazy. There was no way he was going to include a pool photoshoot in after prom. But, he wasn’t calling to shoot me down, he was calling to inform me the junior class had voted me as this year’s prom photographer. If I was available, was I up for the job? You bet.

I drafted a contract and emailed it to the school contact who had never signed a contract for a prom photographer in all his years of prom coordination- he has over a decade of experience. After negotiations, the date was booked.

After confirming the timeline & video script with the school contact, I created my handout with Canva Pro- completely redesigning a template that stood out to me. The handout featured an infographic style with a monochromatic color scheme, complete with a QR code. I also filmed, edited and published a video explaining in detail the photography process and prom schedule.

I created the prom gallery request form that asks specific questions to give the best client experience to anyone looking for a couple’s gallery. The form is linked in the QR code on the infographic and in the video description. Many people signed up before prom and a handful after. I’m still accepting requests.


Formal Prom Photos

Tayte Kohn & Max Mollman

Tayte Kohn & Max Mollman

Kole Reede & Burke Lauseng

Kole Reede & Burke Lauseng

Bailey Peterson & Jacob Hetzel

Bailey Peterson & Jacob Hetzel

Lauren Weishaar & Kristopher Maher

Lauren Weishaar & Kristopher Maher

Martina Berretti & Justin Schopp

Martina Berretti & Justin Schopp

Tia LeBeau & Matthew Mollman

Tia LeBeau & Matthew Mollman

McKaelyn Zuehlke & Cody Thompson

McKaelyn Zuehlke & Cody Thompson

Zayda Dirk & Arthur Harrison

Zayda Dirk & Arthur Harrison

Stormi Hulm & Eusabius Yalowizer

Stormi Hulm & Eusabius Yalowizer

Lexi Johnson & Braden Kopren

Lexi Johnson & Braden Kopren

Julianna Encinas & Will Stevens

Julianna Encinas & Will Stevens

Madison Weishaar & Brock Stevens

Madison Weishaar & Brock Stevens

Tally Katus & Brandt Ducheneaux

Tally Katus & Brandt Ducheneaux

Bethany Anderson & Isaiah Portwood

Bethany Anderson & Isaiah Portwood

Toree Maher & Isaiah Portwood

Toree Maher & Isaiah Portwood

Madi Bucks & Jim Klein

Madi Bucks & Jim Klein

Savannah Hibberd & Blake Erlenbusch

Savannah Hibberd & Blake Erlenbusch

Abbie Hulm & Conner Andress

Abbie Hulm & Conner Andress

Tya Peterson & Ezra Wiechmann

Tya Peterson & Ezra Wiechmann

Ian Riesinger

Ian Riesinger

Megan Nehl & Hank Kraft

Megan Nehl & Hank Kraft

Averie Johnson & Tanner Miller

Averie Johnson & Tanner Miller

Michaeila Alley & Kaden Zentner

Michaeila Alley & Kaden Zentner

Shay Kraft & Tell Mollman

Shay Kraft & Tell Mollman

Macy Schiley & Landon Severson

Macy Schiley & Landon Severson

J

Jecoliah Anderson & Avery Peterson

Sonni Maher & Tytus Bachmeier

Sonni Maher & Tytus Bachmeier

Megan Baumeister & Jake Archibald

Megan Baumeister & Jake Archibald

Carlie Lawrence & Talon Trogstad

Carlie Lawrence & Talon Trogstad

Tevyn Lutz & Cameron Erlacher

Tevyn Lutz & Cameron Erlacher

Allie Kohn & Riley Tennant

Allie Kohn & Riley Tennant

Kyrstal Jordan & Jacob Wood

Kyrstal Jordan & Jacob Wood

Dara Bauer & Andrew Dirk

Dara Bauer & Andrew Dirk

Kameron Traversie & Austin Aufdenkamp

Kameron Traversie & Austin Aufdenkamp

Rosie Storm & Tyler Ellingson

Rosie Storm & Tyler Ellingson

Sarah Hetzel & Gavin Mathis

Sarah Hetzel & Gavin Mathis

Jared Riesinger

Jared Riesinger

Senior Class

Senior Class

Junior Class

Junior Class

Sophomore Class

Sophomore Class

Freshmen Class

Freshmen Class

I’m often slightly anxious to attend social events in Lemmon where I’m expected to know the people I’m interacting with. Many people have met me, sometimes quite a few times- and I still have no idea who they are, who they belong to or how we are connected. It’s embarrassing and I try to avoid it as much as possible. When we are out together, I’m always asking Carson who people are, silently quizzing myself.

Prom was actually way less anxiety inducing than I anticipated. I have photographed many of the Lemmon students and even photographed a few of their dates.

Parents were extremely respectful, giving me all the space that I needed to take pictures. The couples were equally respectful, posing just how LaQuita Shockley directed. LaQuita posed couples and groups and kept track of who we were photographing with a clipboard. She live streamed grand march on The Dakota Herald’s facebook page. She’s such a great asset to this community and I’m happy to call her a friend.

I want to say a big “THANK YOU” to the Lemmon Junior Class for requesting me to photograph prom.