Grad Photos and Hairstylist Dillemma

I have wavy, thick brown hair. I had it past my shoulders length and then I got the courage to try a new hairstylist in January. I asked for a slightly layered chin length cut but that's not what I got. She cut it so that I had a long layer that was nose length and then she used thinning shears on the back and sides. My hair had never been short before so this was a bit of a shock. Basically, the cut looked OK but I wasn't used to not being able to at least make a pony tale in the back. My dilemma is: I need a trim or something now because it's been growing out and has been harder to style. I want to try this stylist again but I don't know what to ask for. Another problem is that I have to get my grad photos taken and I don't know whether to try and make my hair look decent enough without getting it cut, or get it cut before the photos and risk looking really different. Any advice?