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Washington Evening Journal
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Prom pictures are worth a thousand words
Washington photographer and parent Rachel Fishback donates her talents to give every WHS prom attendee a professional photo to remember the evening
WASHINGTON — Washington High School students showed up for the 2024 prom dressed to the nines and thanks to Rachel Fishback, they will have professional level photos to remember the special occasion.
As a proud parent to Washington High School students and a professional photographer, Fishback did not hesitate when the school reached out to her a few years and asked her to capture prom photos at grand march for WHS.
Now, Fishback is a staple at the WHS Grand March. Each year, the day before prom, Fishback meets with the student body and their adviser Joan Hippen as they decorate.
“We pick out where I’m going to set up my lights and where I’ll be standing and then we decided where the kids should stand,” Fishback explained. “This year we decided to have them stop with the arch behind them with the flowers because it went with the theme.”
Fishback then places a piece of tape to mark the spot and students are instructed to stop for two photos before continuing.
“Some kids are really good about remembering that, some kids either don’t remember or are too nervous and I will direct them to move to that spot for my picture,” Fishback said. “Then I snap two pictures and they go on their way and walk out. Easy peasy.”
While Fishback does have a photography business, she does not charge the school or the parents to take snapshots of their students. According to Fishback, it is not easy for parents to get good pictures in the gym during Grand March due to lighting and placement, but with her set up, she can snap photos that she then shares.
“I don’t charge money for it,” she said. “I just take them at the end of the Grand March or wherever they put me that year and I post them to Facebook so the parents and kids can download them and use them themselves.”
As a parent, Fishback says she understands just how much the students and parents are already putting into prom and that’s why she does it.
“I know people have already spent a lot of money on this day for their kids,” she said. “And I know that some kids maybe can’t always afford to buy a picture. So, it’s just my way of giving back to all the kids in the student body.”
While her youngest, sophomore Tessa Fishback, only has a couple more proms ahead of her, Fishback anticipates continuing the tradition in years to come.
“I love seeing all the kids dressed up,” Fishback said. “They’ve worked so hard to put their prom outfits together and have their hair done and people help them with their makeup. Then they pick out their flowers and they have their meal planned. I don’t know about you, but when I was in prom, I just felt so pretty and it was probably one of my favorite things to wear a fancy dress like that. I just love it. I love it for them.”
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
