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| A dynamic photography style was chosen. Photo: GenZ Yearbook |
In the final days of April, the atmosphere of farewell seems to gently fill every corner of the schoolyard. From familiar hallways to riverside lawns, groups of students can be seen everywhere, radiant in the traditional ao dai, graduation gowns, or creatively themed outfits, creating a unique rhythm of their school days.
Many studios such as HueFace Photography, Like Hue, and GenZ Yearbook, etc., are now almost fully booked, constantly moving from one session to another to meet soaring demand. Current yearbook photography prices are quite flexible, depending on sizes of the groups, the duration, and concepts of the photo sets. For more elaborate photo sets involving drone filming, and photobooks,… the prices can exceed 10 million VND.
“Right after the Lunar New Year holidays, classes already start preparing for their yearbook shoots. The period from March to June is the peak season. Some days, our team has to handle two or three classes continuously. But each class has its own style, so no session feels repetitive,” shared Tran Bao Thang, a photographer. He also noted that yearbook photography trends have changed significantly in recent years. While students previously focused mainly on posing for photos in ao dai or suits within the school grounds, many classes now invest more boldly in concepts, ranging from historical costumes and vintage themes to picnics and outdoor travel styles.
With a wider variety of photography packages available, classes are also approaching yearbook photography services more flexibly. Rather than relying entirely on studios, many groups now proactively develop their own concepts, choose their locations, and work with the photography teams to create their tailor-made photo sets.
Choosing to shoot at his school, Tran Huu Phuoc, from Le Hong Phong Secondary School (Kim Long Ward), said: “We wanted to preserve familiar spaces like our classroom and the schoolyard, where we have spent years together. Our photo set follows a dynamic style, so I am really happy because it is both meaningful and beautiful.”
Sharing the same mindset, Do Tran Minh Chau, from Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted, said that the class spent a great deal of time preparing for the photo set: “We brainstormed ideas together and discussed them with the photography team to determine the style we wanted. We also assigned classmates to prepare suitable props. On the day of the shoot, everything went smoothly, everyone was excited, and it was easy for us to express our personalities.”
For a change of scenery, Tran Vu Minh Anh, from Nguyen Chi Dieu Secondary School, and her classmates chose to shoot at Truong Tien Bridge. Their group chose a youthful style featuring white shirts, neckties, and sneakers for easier movement and posing. “I wanted a photo set that felt a little different from the one taken at school, so we chose this location. It both offers beautiful scenery and allows us to have fun together. The outdoor atmosphere helps everyone feel more natural and less constrained,” shared Minh Anh.
Whether carefully staged concepts or simple moments captured in the schoolyard, what remains in the end is emotion. With familiar arms thrown over shoulders, bursts of laughter, and lingering gazes, they know that their time together is coming to an end. Yearbook season is therefore bustling not only because of the photography services themselves, but also because memories are being gathered and preserved in every frame so that years later, when looking back, each person can still touch a piece of his/her youth.