Decide which season is best for your senior session by asking yourself these questions:
- What type of locations suit my personality for senior photos?
Rural/Farm (open fields, grassy areas, barns, etc.)
Natural (flower fields, water, etc.)
Urban/Downtown (iron fences, brick textured walls, etc.) - How sensitive am I to cold or heat (you’ll need to consider that when choosing outfits as well)?
- Is there a particular season I love more than others?
- When do I have to submit my yearbook photo?
- Do I need to plan around extracurricular activities?
SPRING (March-May)
Often, spring is overlooked, but it is one of the best seasons of the year! Spring photos can be taken BEFORE your senior year (while you are a junior), or they can be taken during your senior year right before graduation! Doing your senior photos early in your junior year will prevent you from having to think about them later when you’re already in your senior year! If you prefer not to do them so early, do them right before graduation!
Everything begins to bloom in spring, so you have lush greenery and flowering trees! The scenery is absolutely gorgeous for pictures because everything’s so green! And spring isn’t bitterly hot or bitterly cold, so you can comfortably wear jeans and a short-sleeved shirt/tank top! However, the spring weather can also be very unpredictable. Though it may be getting warmer, it’s inherently a wet and windy season — so keep your expectations reasonable in case bad weather forces you to reschedule.
With each passing day, the days are getting longer, and we have more and more daylight. During this time of year, outdoor sessions can start around 4:30 to 6:00 pm.
Now comes the tricky part… It is not uncommon for spring schedules to be hectic. With spring sports, performances, AP/SAT/ACT exams, and everything else that comes with the end of your high school career, your schedule can fill up quickly. The events of your senior year can be overwhelming, and a senior session can become just an addition to the list of things you are trying to fit in. Senior sessions are usually about 1-2 hours long, so don’t rush if you’re hoping to have fun!
For spring sessions, book by January!
SUMMER (June-August)
Photographing in the summer is one of my absolute favorites!! Summer is the perfect time for golden, sun-filled photos! There is plenty of green grass, the trees are full of leaves, the days are longer, the air is warm, and flower fields are blooming! The colors in your photos are sure to be stunning!
I highly recommend scheduling a summer session in the summer of your junior year (even though it seems really early). You can enjoy the summer flowers, lightweight and flowy clothing, warm weather, and longer days without the stress of attempting to schedule a session when you’re really busy during the school year. We still have plenty of time to find another date if the weather doesn’t cooperate! Summertime also brings a break for many sports and school activities, so your schedule will be more flexible! Your tan will be fresh, and you’ll feel like a goddess!
Booking a summer session also means you’ll meet the deadline for the yearbook! Yearbook photos are usually due in the fall, but the deadline can vary by the school (expect a 2-4 week turnaround from session to gallery delivery).
August and July are usually the most popular months for senior sessions, therefore they are busier. In the middle of the summer, the temperature can reach the 80s or even 90s. You may experience hotter and more humid weather during these months, so be prepared to touch up your hair and makeup and to sweat during your appointment.
For summer sessions, book by April!
FALL (September-November)
It is no secret that fall is one of the most popular seasons, and it’s my favorite time of year for golden hours! The light is just so beautiful! The red and orange leaves always make for stunning photos. Fall colors are usually at their peak at the end of October. Grass begins to lose its color toward the end of September, so tall grass will take on a tan/gold or reddish hue. There’s still a chance to see wildflower fields in early September, but as October fills in, trees lose their leaves, and by late October, things look more lifeless.
Summer may be too hot for you, but fall is a great alternative. Jeans and a sweater, or even a tank top and a cardigan, will be comfortable! Fall is usually pleasant in terms of temperature. Still, in these months, the temperature can vary drastically – it might be 80 degrees one day and 50 degrees the next.
Fall colors are perfect for wall art in your home! Because fall colors are usually a match for any wall color, you can easily display your photos throughout the house!
If you love fall colors (red and orange leaves), know that it can be challenging to predict when the peak will be the most colorful each year because the color peak changes slightly every year in York County. Some years, the leaves turn in the first week, and some years, it takes until the third week for the colors to peak. A windy day can also knock down a lot of leaves. It is challenging to reschedule, so you will end up with the backdrop you have on your session day unless the weather is bad. I recommend the second week of October, but since we lose light at about 6:30pm, scheduling on weekdays can be challenging (because everyone is also back in school).
As fall progresses, the sun sets earlier. As daylight savings time begins, sessions start in the afternoon in November, which means students may miss a bit of school. It can also be challenging if you participate in sports or after-school activities.
If your yearbook photo is due before November 1st, you don’t want to book in September or October. If you choose to anyway, you should expect that you likely won’t have a senior photo from your session to use. Due to the busy schedule that I have in the fall, rush requests may not be honored. I hate having to let clients down with this news, so please plan accordingly!
For fall sessions, my fall dates fill up EXTREMELY fast, and I have less flexibility. If you want a fall date with me, you will need to book early!
Winter (December-February)
I’m not going to lie; winter senior sessions aren’t my favorite. It can be pretty when there is snow on the ground, but here in York County, we don’t get a ton of snow each year. And let’s be honest: it might not be the most enjoyable hour or two of your life. Watching the sunset on a 70-degree day is far more pleasant than hanging out in the park in 15-degree weather. If you have a photo session during the winter, you might end up freezing!
Winter is generally dreary and dark, so you’re not likely to get golden photos. Plus, you won’t be as tan, and we’ll need to plan for possible red, runny noses because of the cold. If you book a winter session, you’ll also miss the yearbook deadline because most senior images are due in the fall.
In the winter, sessions usually begin around 2-3pm since it gets dark so early, which can be challenging for students, but I do have more weekend availability in the winter. If your session date arrives and there’s no snow on the ground, we can most likely reschedule until we get a good amount of snow.
The Best Time of Day
I’m a natural light specialist. I believe that natural light, from the sun and its reflections, creates photographs that feel fresh, timeless, and truest to you. All senior sessions begin one or two hours before sunset to take advantage of the golden hour when the light is most beautiful. You will get the most out of your session if you arrive a few minutes early to your session and arrive ready to start on time. I’m only able to shoot when natural light is still in the sky, so we’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together before the sun goes down!
Conclusion
In the end, the best time to take senior photos is during whatever season suits you best! Just make sure you’re going to get your photos to your yearbook by the deadline if you want your senior pictures in it!
If you would like to book a senior session with me, click here!
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