The Best Season for Senior Photos

One of the most common questions I get asked from potential clients is which is the best season to schedule my senior photos? There are few things to consider when determining what season is best for you:

• Your favorite season that fits your personality
• What season’s clothing you like to wear the most
• Your schedule and what season works best for everything you have going on
• When you’re sending out graduation party invitations or announcements

Think about all of those things above and then keep reading to discover which would be best season for senior photos!

Summer

You are officially a senior!! The last class just graduated and you’re now stepping into their shoes. One of the first things you can do as a senior is have your senior photos taken the summer before you start your last year of school. June, July and August leading into your senior year are all great months to have your senior photos taken. The weather is hot in Tennessee in the summer, so keep that in mind. However, with the warm weather comes green grass, flowers and long days with beautiful sunsets.

If you are someone who wants to show off your tan, love summer looks such as sundresses with sandals or shorts and cute tops, then summer could be perfect for you! Since summer is less scheduled than the school year, you will have plenty of time to prepare for your session and you won’t feel overwhelmed with school activities. In addition, by having your senior photos taken during the summer, you can complete your session and won’t have stress when it comes time to graduate! You already have it done!!

If summer is the perfect time for you, then be sure to contact me to book your session in May before the summer starts so you have options for available dates!

Fall

School has started and you’re getting the hang of being a senior! Fun school activities such as homecoming, football games, other fall sports and more are in full swing! The days are getting shorter and the air is getting cooler. September and October in Tennessee can still be a bit warm, which allows more variety for your session by bringing an outfit that is more geared toward summer and an outfit that is more fall. Two season looks in one session!

By the third week of October and early November, the temperatures are cooling off and the fall colors have officially arrived. If you love the orange, gold, red and green of fall leaves and want that look for the background of your photos, then fall would be the perfect time to book your senior session. Think golden light, rustic settings and vibrant colors as your backdrop.

If you love the idea of cozy sweaters, jeans and boots paired with hats and scarves then scheduling your session in the fall is a good choice! Texture and layers are key elements to fall looks and look amazing in photos! If fall sounds like the perfect time for you, be sure to book your senior session in the summer so you can get available dates for sessions.

Winter

While winter may not be the most popular season for senior photos, it could still be the perfect season for you! Depending on the look you want, you can do something very urban during the winter time or you could come up with a fun winter-themed concept for your senior photos! Shooting with buildings in the background or in a downtown area is better during this season so there aren’t dead trees in the photos.

You can also set up your senior photos in a studio! I don’t currently own a studio, but if it’s cold outside we can plan on shooting indoors. If these ideas sound good to you, then let’s book a winter session for your senior photos! Be sure to contact me during the fall, so you can get all the available winter dates!

Spring

This is definitely one of the busiest time for senior photos since seniors need to get photos done before graduation. However, the spring season is when seniors have a full schedule! During the spring, you will be busy with spring break, prom, getting ready for graduation and so much more. So if you choose spring, be mindful of calendar and make sure that the spring works best for you.

March and April in Tennessee can be unpredictable as far as weather. Some days are warm and sunny and others are chilly and rainy. Just know that we may have to reschedule so you get the best possible day during the early spring months. But with the rain, comes beautiful flowers and green grass! The backdrop during spring could be exactly what you want for your senior photos! Parks and similar locations are great for spring sessions because they provide green grass, leaves on the trees and colorful flowers.

Keep in mind your timeframe for sending out graduation party invitations or graduation announcements. If you are having a graduation party, you will need to send out invitations three to six weeks before the party which means you would need your photos taken before then to use on those invitations. Make sure to book your session about eight weeks before your graduation party to give yourself plenty of time to get the photos and send out invitations.

If you are doing a graduation announcement, you have a little more time. Announcements are generally sent out much closer to graduation and in some cases even on the same day you graduate. Because you are not inviting people to the ceremony, but rather just letting them know you graduated, you can send them out all the way up until the day you graduate. So your photos should be taken a few weeks or more before then.

Let’s talk about spring fashion! If you are someone who loves to wear sundresses, sandals, rompers, shorts or other fun spring clothing, then this season is the right one for you. Think white jeans with a fun colored top or a boho sundress and sandals – all look great in the spring! If spring sounds like the season for you, then be sure to contact me during the winter months to get the available dates before they are booked.

I hope this helps you decide the best season for your senior photos! No matter what season you choose, I look forward to creating the perfect senior photo shoot that is all about you!! To book your senior photo session, email me at erinbancroftphoto@gmail.com or send me a message from my website!