Yearbook services are in high demand during peak season.

Creative ideas

Nguyen Hoai An, a 12th-grade student at Thanh Chuong 1 High School in Dai Dong commune, said that she had started thinking about a truly special graduation photo album for her final year of high school from the beginning of the school year. For Hoai An, this is not only an opportunity to preserve memories of 12 years of schooling but also a milestone as she turns 18, the most beautiful age of her student life.

Besides photos taken with friends in the classroom and on the school grounds, Hoai An also created a separate concept photoshoot. After discussing with the photographer, she completed the photoshoot at a cost of approximately 1 million VND. “That money was my birthday money. This photoshoot marks my 18th birthday and the end of my student life, so I don't regret it and I'm very satisfied,” Hoai An shared.

It's not just Hoai An; many graduating high school students nowadays also spend a considerable amount of time developing ideas for their class graduation photos. Nguyen Thi Minh Anh, a 12th-grade student at Ha Huy Tap High School (Thanh Vinh ward), said that before the photoshoot, the whole class spent weeks discussing and agreeing on the concept (the main idea of ​​the photoshoot, which includes the arrangement of the setting, costumes, props, and the way of expressing oneself to create a unique style and message for the photos).

"We wanted our graduation photos to be not just memories, but also something truly special. Therefore, our class chose many different concepts to capture the most memorable moments of our school days," Minh Anh said.

According to Minh Anh, in addition to photos taken in the classroom or on the school grounds, the photo collection is structured as a small story about school life, recreating moments of meeting, getting to know each other, joys and sorrows, and even moments of anger. When looking back, each member can remember a beautiful time of their school days.

In fact, the trend in graduation photos has changed significantly in recent years. While previously classes mainly took photos in a traditional style with ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress), suits, or uniforms, nowadays many classes are boldly choosing concepts with their own unique style, such as school-themed, historical, rural, retro, or even staging them like a short film.

Many photo shoots are quite elaborately planned, from the setting and costumes to the props. Some classes even choose characteristic locations such as fields, villages, beaches, or historical sites as backdrops for their photos, creating a unique touch while preserving images of their hometown.

Yearbook services capitalize on the trend.

Changes in graduation photo shoots have also led to the vibrant development of related services. At many studios in Nghe An province, the graduation season usually starts around February and lasts until the end of April, becoming the busiest time of the year.

With nearly 10 years of experience in providing graduation photo services, Mr. Ho Tuan Anh, representing a photography team on Nguyen Duc Canh Street (Truong Vinh Ward), said: "Previously, many classes often chose traditional concepts with ao dai, suits, or graduation gowns. But nowadays, students prefer photo sets with a youthful, cheerful, and natural school vibe," Mr. Tuan Anh shared.

To meet this trend, studios are constantly updating their costumes and accessories each year, while also investing in modern lighting systems and filming equipment to create settings suitable for each concept. Beyond just photography, many classes are now requesting video shoots in the form of music videos with a storyline, instead of simply capturing individual moments as before.

According to Mr. Tuan Anh, classes usually schedule photoshoots from the end of January to the end of May. During this time, the studio team is quite busy advising on concepts, preparing costumes and props, and developing shooting scripts for each class. The cost of graduation photos is currently usually calculated as a package deal, including photography, costume support, and post-production.

Prices range from approximately 299,000 to 600,000 VND per student, depending on the number of concepts and the specific needs of each class. "We always strive to invest in the best equipment to improve the quality of the photos, but we still have to ensure reasonable costs because our customers are mainly students," said Tuan Anh.

Sharing this view, Mr. Nguyen Duc Thien, the owner of a studio in Dai Dong commune, believes that nowadays, students are very focused on creating unique and original graduation photos. "Many classes develop a documentary-style script with 50-60 photos telling the story of the entire group. They invest in costumes and choose locations not only on campus but also at local historical sites and scenic spots. Besides taking photos, many classes also want to shoot videos to preserve memories," Mr. Thien said.

Along with photography services, areas such as makeup, costume rental, props, and bouquets also become bustling during peak season. Ms. Le Thi Thu Tra, owner of a costume rental shop on Vo Thi Sau Street (Truong Vinh Ward), said that the number of customers increases significantly during graduation season compared to normal days. "Many classes not only rent ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) but also rent additional outfits according to different concepts. Some classes rent 2-3 different outfits to take photos on various themes," Ms. Thu shared.

According to assessments from businesses in this field, although the peak season only lasts a few months, the yearbook season still generates significant revenue. Not only does it help studios increase their customer base, but it also provides an opportunity for many related services to develop. From simple photos by the blackboard or schoolyard, yearbooks today have become more elaborate and creative "pictures of youth." And behind these emotionally charged photo sets lies an increasingly vibrant service market, contributing to the unique charm of this season of farewells to school life.