Rainy College Senior Photo Session at Lee University

The campus at Lee University in Cleveland is becoming one of my favorite locations for college photos! I recently had a December college graduation session with Savannah to celebrate her receiving a bachelor’s degree in business and music. I check the weather in advance before any photo session, and I noticed that it was going to be really rainy for her shoot. However, Savannah was heading back home the next day and couldn’t reschedule. We decided to go ahead and keep her scheduled session for that day and work around the rain. We started with the driest options first, then moved outside more as the rain subsided. Along with showing some amazing photos from Savannah’s shoot, I’ll be sharing tips on how to plan for a rainy photo session.

A Rainy Photo Shoot

There aren’t many times where I have a client who can’t reschedule due to the weather. However, due to previous engagements or a client going out of town, I will end up keeping the original session date. We had scheduled Savannah’s college session on the same day as her graduation. She lives eight hours away and was moving back home the following day. Therefore, we couldn’t move her shoot to a later date. I walked around campus a few days beforehand, making notes of where we could take photos, but still be dry at the same time.

Covered Walkway

One of the best solutions I found was to use a covered walkway. We still had access to as much as light we could get, but we and my camera equipment stayed dry. A big plus is if the walkway has light-colored concrete, as it acts as a natural reflector. This covered walkway was one of the prettiest spots for photos! We also took some photos of her at the front doors which were under cover as well. In addition to being one of the nicest buildings on campus, Savannah was a business major so it made sense for us to shoot here. However, even if a client isn’t a business major, this covered walkway is still one of the best spots for photos when it’s raining!

Bring a Clear Umbrella

When I learned that Savannah couldn’t reschedule her session, I said to not worry, that would we have fun with the rain! Savannah received a minor in music so she wanted some photos in front of the music building. I own a set of clear umbrellas for when it’s raining at a wedding. I brought one of my umbrellas for Savannah to use, and we got some cute photos! If you don’t have a clear umbrella, they are really easy to find either on Amazon or Target. Using a clear umbrella is a great way to stay dry from the rain, but only if it’s lightly raining or drizzling. If it’s pouring, then this may not be the best idea because your client may get really wet.

Be One With The Rain

Fortunately for Savannah’s college photo session, the rain did eventually stop and we were able to venture outside. However, if the rain will just not let up and the client absolutely can’t reschedule, then see if your college senior will be OK with fully taking pictures in the rain! Make sure you have the appropriate covering for yourself and your camera gear so you don’t get wet. Ask your senior to bring a change of clothes for when the session is over, but also clothes that she doesn’t mind getting wet for photos. These types of photos can make some really cool pictures!

By following these helpful tips, you can strategically and successfully plan for a rainy photo session! Even though it was gloomy and overcast, I had a great time capturing these fun memories for Savannah at her college graduation session! My spring dates are quickly getting booked. If you’re graduating in May and want a photo session, send me your info so we can schedule a date!