So you’ve finished your junior year… congratulations! It may be hard to believe, but senior portrait season starts NOW! This is the time to starting doing research so you can choose the right photographer for you.
Once you have settled on a photographer, you may wonder when you are actually supposed to have those pictures taken.
When I was a senior, I decided to get my senior portraits taken during my spring break because I would be “relaxed.” The problem was, when April rolled around, it was still 30 degrees outside, but it was too late to push my photos back any further!
I want to spare you the stress (and photos with watery eyes and frostbitten cheeks) that I had! If possible, it’s best to schedule your photos for either the summer after junior year or the fall semester of senior year.
Why choose summer or fall portraits?
Schedules. Your senior year is one big whirlwind, and it only gets busier the closer you get to graduation. Summer and fall give you the chance to enjoy planning out your session before life gets crazy with classes, college visits, testing, college or job applications, and graduation festivities. As a bonus, booking early means you will beat the rush and ensure you can get on the calendar with your first-choice photographer.
Weather. Most seniors prefer the look of outdoor photos rather than studio photos, so it’s important to take weather and climate into consideration. From blooming trees to autumn colors, summer and fall weather give a gorgeous and carefree vibe to your photos. If you live in a warmer climate, this may last well into November or December. However, if you wait to book spring portraits, you may be faced with unpredictable weather, especially if you are in a cooler climate, and things may not be looking green again until early to mid-April! Talk about stressful!
If you live in an especially hot climate, you be concerned about booking a summer session because of the heat. But you don’t have to sweat it! Ask your photographer if morning sessions are an option. Morning photo shoots are one of the best-kept secrets— you get beautiful golden light, cooler temperatures, and almost no one is out and about!
Deadlines. The advantage of taking summer or fall portraits is that you won’t miss any deadlines and will be able to get the most mileage out of your photos. Of course you will want to give yourself enough time to design and print graduation announcements with your portraits. And don’t forget about making the deadline to get your pictures in the yearbook. But did you know there is so much more that senior portraits can do for you? Including a professional photo of yourself when you apply for colleges, scholarships, or jobs can really give your application the extra “wow” factor. But too many seniors procrastinate on booking and miss some of these deadlines. By booking a summer or fall session, you will be able to enjoy and use your photos over and over again!
Senior pictures are one of the most fun parts of your senior year. By planning ahead and getting your session on the calendar, you can make sure your portraits don’t become a point of stress but instead are a creative outlet in the midst of your crazy schedule.