The Best Time Of Year For Senior Portraits

The Best Time To Shoot Senior Portraits

Senior year can feel like there are million things happening at once and the number of deadlines to watch can pile up fast. Taking senior portraits is one of the few stress-free activities that you actually get to enjoy during this time. But when should you actually book your photo shoot? Most photographers will say you should take them the summer after junior year, but that’s not always the best time. There are really only a few things to consider when booking your shoot and I’m going to break those down for you below.

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What Season is Best For Senior Photography?

Yearbook Deadlines and Seasonal Sports

Cap and Gown Photos

What Season is Best For Senior Photography?

Asking what season is best is the same asking what is your favorite season. This is entirely up to you. The main things to consider are the weather and the sunset times, if you’re shooting outside.

Summer

Summer is great because the weather is warm and the days are long. We have more flexibility when it comes to choosing locations and times of day to shoot. It can get hot (no surprise there) and no amount of photoshop can save us if you’re sweating in 100 degree heat. Plus, most people feel miserable in that kind of heat, which will show up in the photos. Depending on where you live, most outdoor areas have started turning brown and you won’t get the same green landscapes. If you want to do your shoot in the studio, none of that matters! Any time of year/day is great.

Fall

This is the most popular time of year for outdoor photography because of the leaves changing color and the cooler temperatures. The sun is still up into the evening and that gives us flexibility with scheduling. Because it’s the most popular season, it might be tougher to book a photographer if you don’t plan ahead. It’s no impossible though. You should definitely reach out!

Winter

Winter is generally the slow season for photographers, so you’re likely to have the easiest time booking your favorite photographer. That being said, it gets cold and the sun sets really early, limiting what we can do in an outdoor shoot. If you’re shooting in the studio, enjoy the heater and hot chocolate!

Spring

Spring is a great time to shoot because everything is green and blooming. It’s warming up and the days are getting a little longer. This time of year can feel a little hectic with graduation coming up. As long as you’re scheduling everything appropriately, you should be just fine.

Yearbook Deadlines And Seasonal Sports

The yearbook isn’t the only school-related schedule to consider. If you do want your senior photos to be in the yearbook, check with your school to find out when that cutoff date is. This is why most people schedule their senior portraits the summer before senior year. I’ve seen deadlines as last as October though. If you’re not concerned about the images being in the yearbook, then that won’t matter. Another thing to consider is when each team sport is in season. Seniors often want to be photographed in their uniform or jersey, which are only available at certain times of year. However, there are other options if you don’t want to wait until that sport is in season to get the actual uniform. You can wear any kind of clothing related to that sport, OR, and my personal favorite, dressing up in fancy clothes and with the sports equipment. Think: prom dress with a field hockey stick. That kind of juxtaposition makes for really fun photos.

Cap And Gown Photos

You DO NOT have to wait until the end of the year to get your cap and gown for your photo shoot. Thanks to the magic of Amazon, you can order a set to wear for your photo shoot any time of year. I usually recommend just wearing the cap with another outfit anyway. The gown is one of the least flattering things someone can wear. Wearing the cap with a cute dress or jeans and a top will be a great way to incorporate your graduation into the images while still looking great!