When should I schedule my senior photos?
This is a great question from the class of 2025 soon to be seniors and the parents of the upcoming seniors!
When is the best time of year to schedule senior photos?
I have been helping parents and juniors make this decision for 25 years and here are some of the things to keep in mind when trying to decide when to book a senior photo session.
First, senior photos in this area (Minnesota) are typically taken in the summer before senior year so that you have the photos done and you can submit your senior photo to the yearbook before the deadline. For example, Waconia High School has a deadline for the senior photo submission of around Oct 30th and so does Chaska High School and Chanhassen High School, but Shakopee High School is usually due around the beginning of March and a few other schools have later deadlines as well. Make sure you know when your school’s deadline is for photo submission and also what the photo requirements are.
My personal favorite time of year to do senior photos as a photographer is June and here is the reason why. June is still cool, less humid, and not so buggy. The great thing about getting your photos done in June is then you are done and you can enjoy the rest of your summer! If there is bad weather and we need to reschedule there is plenty of time to get the session done without worry of running out of dates.
Picking a day for your senior photos
If you have a job, activities, sports, or any other commitments over the summer you need to start looking at your schedule to get your session on the photographers calendar. If you are going out of the country on a mission trip schedule your session before or 3-4 weeks after your return so you are feeling back to normal for photo day. Are you getting braces on or off? Are you having surgery over the summer for wisdom teeth or anything else? These are things to consider when scheduling senior photos.
Most of my session are going to be in the morning because you can count on cooler temperatures and consistent light so if you need afternoon for a specific reason please ask. You will look fresher in the morning! Do you have a job outside like construction or working at a county park? If you are light skinned consider how your skin will look by the end of summer and decide accordingly.
Are you going on a medication like accutane that will make your skin red and very dry? Find out more about how long the side affects last and schedule before or after you have been on it a while. I have seen lips so chapped from medication that a senior boy or girl could barely smile. That is not the look you are going for!
Avoid the rush!
Waiting for fall may seem like a great idea but it really does not look like “fall” until the 2nd or 3rd week in October and that is prime time for me and my studio. Also that is cutting it tight for a few school deadlines to get your photos back. Waiting until after Labor Day and school has started is not a good idea for scheduling a senior photo session. Now you have to take time off of school because you have after school activities, sports after school, or a job and the only time to do it is during the school day.
The best time to schedule a senior photo session is June, July and August before school starts. Have a unique situation or specific question? Reach out and start a conversation! Lynnlaumann@gmail.com
