What are the best tools and techniques to use while taking senior pictures?

I'm just starting out in photography. I have taken a few senior pictures with a Canon Rebel SLR and I really like using the telephoto lens while doing so. However, I'm obviously no expert and need some advice. What would be the best way to set up homemade backdrops in my home to make a 'yearbook' looking picture? What are the best lenses to use? Should I consider using a filter? Also, I take sports pictures and gyms are the hardest places to take pictures at. What is the best way to get clear action shots that aren't dark, and blurry? Any other words of random advice would be wonderful! (Especially things that helped you when you were starting off)

I'm just starting out in photography. I have taken a few High School senior pictures with a Canon Rebel SLR and I really like using the telephoto lens while doing so. However, I'm obviously no expert and need some advice. What would be the best way to set up homemade backdrops in my home to make a 'yearbook' looking picture? What are the best lenses to use? Should I consider using a filter? What is a good company to develop pictures from- whether it be online or locally? Also, I take sports pictures and gyms are the hardest places to take pictures at. What is the best way to get clear action shots that aren't dark, and blurry? Any other words of random advice would be wonderful! (Especially things that helped you when you were starting off)

Filters are not required unless you want to use a soft filter and I would say don't. Strobes or two off camera flash units will do the best for you. Use a clean background and if you must change it's colour in photoshop later.

Low light indoors sports you need a fast lens like a 85mm F1.8, also use 400iso or higher. A monopod is a must.

My advice would be to go and buy the 50mm f/1.8.. I think it's around $70 now and is a very good lens for portraits because it has such a shallow depth of field. I have also just started senior photography and use a 50mm. You can see some of my work here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandonwick...
If taking pictures indoors you may either want to buy a speedlight that fits on top of your camera or you can get creative and use natural light coming in from windows.

the 50mm 1.8 is an excellent inexpensive lens, great for poitraiture.... I'd suggest shooting senior poitraits in various outdoor locations. For backdrops indoors, muslin makes a good background or crushed velvet of different colors.

As for indoor sports, yes, the lighting is incredibly bad. I would suggest getting the Canon EF 70-200 f2.8L lens, you can get one without IS for about $560.00 .. or with IS (image stability) for $1700.00, from Adorama.com ... (refurbished and used lenses, are less) ..... shoot with the widest possible aperture f2.8 or 3.5 (whichever is fastest on your lens), and set your ISO at 400, this will help you maintain a faster shutter speed but, you will find some grain in the photo, because of the ISO.

good luck :)

When I started teaching many years ago, I always invested in the fastest lens. All my staff are doing the same. As an editor-in-chief, i am always looking for good shots and don't have much time anymore so I pass my tricks to the younger generation but I have final say in all shoots. Period.
For sports and gym, etc... you need a lens that shoots fast. Filters are good for daytime effects like taking a Sunset at 3 pm and making it look like 8 pm .
To take senior pics, I gather you are talking about old folks? Side lighting is important to get the wrinkles to show. (grin) Use solid backdrops like white , black or wtv.. but don't let the light shine directly on them but rather, to the side.

Too many questions, so I'll address one only. The formal senior yearbook shot requires a painted canvas background and four lights, main, fill, hair and background as a minimum. You want to gain a good understanding about what constitutes a full face and 3/4 shot and how to use short side, broad side, Rembrandt and split lighting as a minimum. Of course, there's much more to learn, but this is really what you need to have and know to approach formal work properly.