Starting senior year is an exciting milestone!
it’s the final stretch of high school with so many exciting things happening on the horizon. final dances, pep rallies, the final sporting events, prom, and we can’t forget graduation!
Senior year is also a busy time of a lot of planning and doing!
From college visits & applications, to scholarship essays, AP exams, and standardized testing. It can be a lot to remember and manage. I’m here to help you check one very important task off of your list - your Senior Photos!
Taking senior photos is an important tradition that captures the essence of a significant milestone in your life.
Senior photos are often used in graduation announcements and family albums, making them a cherished keepsake that marks the transition from high school to the next exciting chapter of life. They provide an opportunity for students to express their unique personalities and styles, creating lasting memories that they and their families will treasure for years to come.
It can often be confusing on WHEN exactly is the right time to schedule your Senior Photo Session. I am here to help! There are a lot of options and each season holds some specific pros and cons. So, I’m going to spell them all out for you to make scheduling your Senior Session very easy!
Summer
After your Junior year ends, and before Senior year begins
June
July
August
Summer Senior Sessions Pros:
The summer before your Senior Year officially starts is probably my most popular time to schedule Senior Photos. And there are plenty of reasons why!
The warm weather and longer daylight hours provide beautiful lighting conditions, resulting in vibrant and well-lit photos. Summer's green landscapes and colorful blooms offer beautiful backdrops, enhancing any portrait. If florals and vibrant pops of color are what you are after, a summer Senior Session is the way to go!
Scheduling a session during the summer allows for greater flexibility in choosing dates and times, reducing the stress of fitting a photo shoot into a busy senior year schedule. Early planning ensures plenty time for selecting outfits, finding the perfect location, and allowing for any necessary weather related reshoots. And by having senior photos taken in the summer, students can relax and focus on their final year of high school with one major milestone already accomplished.
The warm weather also allows for a wide range of clothing options, from light and airy sun dresses to casual shorts and stylish tops, without the need for bulky layers or outerwear. Most of my Seniors have a vision for how they want their photos to look. And if sun kissed skin and warm weather clothing are your vibe, a summer Senior Session is for you!
Summer Senior Session Cons:
Honestly, there aren’t many. But one concern can be the hot and humid weather, which can sometimes lead to sweat and hair frizz. I combat a lot of this by only scheduling my outdoor sessions at the coveted golden hour - which is right before sunset - when the day is starting to cool off. A little hairspray and a quick makeup touchup is usually all that’s needed to still look your best during the summer heat.
For some people, summer can be a busy time between college visits, work schedules, and family vacations. There is no need to worry if summer is typically too chaotic for you to want to try to plan your Senior Session. Or maybe, you want to actually start your Senior year to officially feel like a Senior. it’s all good - After all… we have 3 more seasons to go!
Another thing to consider is what will and won’t be available to you to bring to your summer Senior Session. If you play a sport and want that jersey included, you may need to contact your coach and ask to borrow it for the session. Also, a summer session will often be too early to include a college/uni choice shirt or graduation cap & gown. Not to worry though - every year during May of your Senior Year, I do host Graduation Mini Sessions where we can get some additional updated photos of you with those special items.
Fall
September
October
November
Fall Senior Session Pros:
FALL COLOR! This seems like the obvious, but one benefit of a fall Senior Session is the picturesque backdrop provided by the autumn foliage! With colors of red, orange, and yellow creating a stunning setting for the portraits. The month of September can also leave us with plenty of summer bloom color as well!
Fall can also bring a different vibe to your Senior Session as far as clothing is concerned. If layers, knits, denim, and plaids are your vibe, fall may be the perfect season to schedule your session! The cooler temperatures of fall can often make outdoor shoots more comfortable. But beware - fall in the midwest is often unpredictable - we can have heat and humidity though the beginning of October some years and we can also have plunging temps and overcast skies for weeks. If you do have your heart set on a specific outfit, there is never any guarantee that the temps will cooperate through the season. . With all fall sessions, I always suggest having multiple outfit options available and ready depending on how the weather cooperates that day.
For some Seniors, fall can be a less hectic and busy time once the predictability of the school schedule sets in. If summer is just too chaotic for you, waiting for fall may be your best bet. Fall can also work out well if you participate in a fall sport and you want to be able to include your team jersey in your session.
Fall Senior Session cons:
With ALL fall photo sessions, one main concern is the unpredictability of weather conditions. Fall weather can vary greatly from day to day and may include rain, overcast skies, or early snowfall, potentially disrupting or canceling outdoor shoots. Which brings me to the shortening time table. IF bad weather is an issue on your scheduled date and we need to reschedule, we may run the risk of running out of time. That’s not to say your session won’t happen…it just may not happen with the coveted fall color you had your heart set on.
With the unpredictable weather comes the need to be flexible with clothing options. If you absolutely have your heart set on a specific warm weather dress, it may not be best to wait until mid/late October to book your Senior Session.
Fall can also be a hectic time for some students between class schedules, testing, college applications, and sports. Only you know when your schedule will accommodate a session best.
Winter
December
January
February
Winter Senior Session pros:
SNOW! The winter landscape can provide a stunning backdrop, with snow-covered scenery offering a picturesque background for portraits. I have had a handful of Seniors over the years who really really love winter and want snow for their Senior Photos. Maybe skiing or snowboarding is your sport of choice and you want to showcase that in your portraits.
With the low angled sun, winter light can be so beautiful and soft!
A winter Senior Session also affords the possibility of having Holiday lights and decor in the backdrop of your photos. With the lack of leaves and greenery, often times urban locations are our best bet for a winter Senior Session. The charm of holiday decor around the local shops of a small downtown area often create some of my favorite backdrops for Senior Sessions.
Scheduling a winter session may be more convenient for you as you may have fewer academic commitments compared to the busy fall semester or the uncertainty of summer plans! Plus, there is also the added benefit of coming to my studio for a winter Senior Session!
Winter Senior Session Cons:
No shock to anyone residing in the Midwest, but…..COLD! Temperature and weather are the biggest drawback to a winter Senior Session. Also, snow is never a guarantee. If you REALLY want your Senior Session to feature some gorgeous snow, I am down for it! We are just going to have to be very flexible with our scheduling. Most of my snow sessions are scheduled the day or so before the snow actually falls…. often times, the morning of is when I’ll send the final “we are on!”.
But if you are up for layering up and hoping in and out of a coat between photos, I shoot outdoors year round! And I LOVE snow sessions!
Spring
The last few months of your Senior year
March
April
May
spring Senior Session pros:
Spring blooms! Spring season brings about a renewal of nature, with blooming flowers, lush greenery, and vibrant colors providing a stunning backdrop for outdoor portraits. The often mild and comfortable weather of spring allows for versatile outfit choices, from breezy dresses to casual attire, without the extremes of summer heat or winter chill. If you love tulips, cherry blossoms, and lilacs….spring is the season for you!
Spring seems to be the second most popular tine for scheduling Senior Sessions. Spring is also a very exciting time for Seniors! With prom and graduation on the horizon, most of my spring Seniors arrive to their session so excited for the end of the year with so much anticipation for the future. Most of the work of essays, tests, finals, and applications are done and a spring Senior Session can be the perfect way to cap off your school year!
A spring Senior Session also means that usually plans for the future are made… so you can easily include a college/uni shirt as well as a graduation cap & gown if you so choose.
One other small thing to consider: some boys are still doing a lot of growing and changing up through the end of High School. Spring is a very popular time for the guys to schedule their Senior Sessions. Some may look completely different from the start to the end of the school year.
Spring Senior Session Cons:
Unpredictable weather can be a concern, with spring often bringing rain, gusty winds, and fluctuating temperatures. Often in the Midwest, spring doesn’t seem to warm up until mid April, and sometimes later. Spring blooms don’t typically arrive until the beginning of May. Some of the same location and weather concerns that hold for winter, follow into a spring Senior Session. If you end up booking in the earlier part of Spring, an urban location will be your best bet.
The time crunch. By the end of your Senior year, we are on a little bit of a time crunch. While it is not absolutely necessary to have your Senior Session complete before you graduate, often times that is the goal. So, if you wait to schedule your senior session until mid spring, and we happen to get hit with a lot of unfavorable weather, we do start to run out of time to get your session in before graduation.
That being said - I routinely DO take Senior’s photos after they graduate! I currently have 2024 grads on the books though the end of June this year. So absolutely no worries if we end up cutting it a bit close to the end of Senior Year. It’s just something to keep in mind.
Most importantly, your senior session should showcase You and what makes you special!
At Sarah Jean Photography, I open up my shooting schedule one season at a time. So I am currently booking outdoor sessions through the month of August. And while the summer months seem to be the most popular choice, it’s never too early to start considering WHEN you would like to have your Senior Session take place. My fall outdoor schedule will likely open in July. Winter outdoor sessions I will usually book as they come along as the temperatures can be so unpredictable.
