The only guide you might ever need for WHEN you should do senior photos…. This is Probably the #1 asked question I get besides “What should I wear for senior pictures?”. This information works best for seniors in the South {read Seniors who don’t have snow, and who have HOT summers} but some of it is applicable for everyone! I hope this helps you find your perfect season!
First step – Let’s start with some questions
- Does you photog have to do your yearbook photo? or is this for your personal session? The biggest issue is knowing when that yearbook photo is due, getting it done, and then taking the time to plan and enjoy a session for you. Generally yearbook photos are done by a contracted facility. They usually involve a drape {for ladies} and suit {for guys} and are a factory type setting. Some offer a custom session, but its usually not truly custom, and often is a copy and paste type thing. BUT if your photog can do your yearbook photo, you definitely want to plan in advance for that, and get it done the summer before your senior year. Most yearbooks have a deadline for the main senior photo for the fall.
- What is your favorite season? Do you love the summer sun? Can’t get enough of all things fall and snuggly? Do you live for winter and the cooler temps? or are you loving spring with flowers {sometimes} and the bright blue skies? All things to think about… but head down to the next section to get the highs and lows of each season!
- Are you always freezing? always sweaty? If you are ALWAYS cold then maybe that deep winter session wont truly work for you…especially if you envision yourself in sleeveless dresses, and shorts! Always feeling HOT blooded! then I wuld skip the mid July bake fest, and aim for some of the cooler months!
- How do you envision your outfits? This is important… and why I think shoulder seasons are the true MVP! Dying to wear your fabulous sundresses, and sport that summer tan? or maybe you want to wear sweaters and boots, or layered looks, like jackets and shirts? Having an idea of your outfit ideas helps plan which season is best for YOU!
- Do you play a sport? or have an extra-curricular activity that is specific to a season? This is HUGE! if your have a fall sport, I won’t lie, it makes shooting in the fall that much harder. I get it, coaches don’t want you to miss. It also adds planning stress that you may
- When do you graduate? If you graduate early May, you don’t want a late April session, unless you don’t need photos for announcements and grad parties. The later in to summer you gradaute, the later into spring you can have photos done!
- College application process So this is an odd one, but I advise you to think about it. Applications are usually due mid to late fall and if you are applying to heavily weighted essay schools, or a lot of schools, then fall may be a stressful time. If you are an athlete going on Official visits, and know you are already missing days of school for that, you platter may be too full in that season. I find the more schools you are submitting, and especially if they are Ivy’s {or the new Ivy’s} waiting until that process is all done really helps you to feel RELAXED!
First of all, no season is the ANSWER for everyone! There are benefits {and issues} with every season! So starting with the answers to the questions above will point your in the right direction. The other things is what works for you, may not be the same as everyone else you know, so its ok to find the plan that is right for YOU!
First some definitions…so what is a shoulder season? A shoulder season is a “because winter and summer are considered “head seasons,” fall and spring are the shoulders since they fall on each side of the head months, much like how literal shoulders are located on each side of a head”. For Florida, I like to think they are seasons where you get to “blend” your clothing choices. In fall, its still warm{ish} so you can wear that summer dress, but add a jean jacket, or a light weight sweater. This gives you the ability to showcase your fave season {summer} but with layers {a great design addition}. You also get to add in fall colors, which lend a bit of warmth to your session. It’s the same thing in {early} spring. A good blend of winter trends, but maybe in brighter colors {spring shades}. Now, in Florida, we know its never really COLD… but it sure is HOT, so planning around that is a great place to start! And that leads us to defining Florida temperatures, we are very mild in North Florida a majority of the year, so nothing is really off limits {except maybe big heavy jackets}!
What season is best? Let’s do a month by month analysis
I said this would be the best breakdown ever… right?? So now, the seasons and the pros and the cons…
Lets start with SUMMER {June, July and August} since its the first season of your senior year. In Florida summer is HOT, especially anything after mid June. And when I say HOT, I mean the ground actually feels like you might be on the face of the sun…and perhaps are sticking your face in your oven. Personally, I just don’t love it. It’s a common photography period in the north for senior pics, but that’s because they can’t shoot in the winter. I also don’t think the sun is as soft, and I don’t think the skies are as pretty, and of course, there is usually some kind of rain storm. As you can see, I just don’t love the summer. I also don’t think you are quite feeling like a senior… yet. And I will say as a parent of two recent seniors, I dont think they LOOK like they will in a year when they graduate. There is so much change that will take place between October and March, with the way they carry themselves, and how they feel about themselves, and as a parent, I loved seeing ALL the changes!
Now, the benefits of summer.. our schedules are usually more open, and free time makes planning easier! Sports are {usually} on a hiatus, and activities slow down. If you have a kiddo who loves the heat, this works well too! If you ended up on my lil’ Blog, and you like North of the Carolinas, then summer may be just the thing for you! But Down here in the sweaty south, unless you are vacationing here, I think we have other seasons that offer something just a bit more magical…
Ahh that brings us to September… the month of hurricanes, rain and still crazy heat. Late September is usually showing signs of breaking humidity {yeah} but it also brings the dreaded Hurricane time frame. I generally feel later September is better if you want a “summer shoot” because school has settled down, and the aforementioned humidity is getting better. September is the beginning of our shoulder season. If you don’t mind heat, and being tan is the priority, this is your winner! But I do suggest later in the month because its still pretty sticky. I also suggest this is you don’t mind being warmer. If you feel miserable in summer please swing right on by this gem, and meet me in December 🙂
October- Florida Fall…. now that is a season I can get behind! She gives us a break in the heat, sometimes that break isn’t until late October, or even November though! If you are feeling like summer clothes are the right fit for you, then October may be the winner. It allows you to blend the two seasons. If you want your summer tan to still be glowey, early October may be best. In October we still have grass, and the sun is getting a bit softer. If fall colors and sweaters speak to you, then this is your season!
So, the bad… see above… college applications and sports are in full effect. Its a BUSY time of year {but heck, the whole year is busy}! If you stress about those applications, then fall may not be a good fit. Also, if you are a bit of a procrastinator, October is the month that sneaks up on my clients THE MOST! If you pick this month, get a head start on those clothes choices, your anxiety can thank me later 🙂
November and December can be a bit better because college stuff is coming to a close. So are football and other fall sports! December brings us night of lights {so does January!} and holiday vibes. If you LOVE all things Christmas lights, this can be a beautiful time of year! It’s usually just starting to cool off, and is still a bit of a shoulder season. The sun starts to be so much softer after the time change, and so do the sunsets!
Of course these two months do bring holidays, so do take that into account! They can be busy as well {see a common theme here with Senior year} but the absence of humidity makes it feel better all around. I wont lie, late fall is my happy season for all the things, so I do love it!
January… in the BIG year! this is it, its your graduation year, and you are starting to FEEL It! Winter in Florida is mild, so honestly, you can get away with these months and still skip the heavy jacket…most days. january and february are what I like to call Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde. they can be 80 one day and 30 the next! If its warm, plan on some rain somehwere. And truthfully, if its colder, plan on blue skies, and pretty sun. Thats the best part of these months, the cooler the weather, the prettier it is! I have learned its not the temps that make it tough {our sun overrides that} its the wind. Winter is also our windy season {but thats still relative, our wind is generally minimal}. So, if sunlight drenched images are important to you, this is a great season!
I gnerally find sports are not as stressful this time of year as well, I am not sure why! Maybe winter sports coaches are more laid back! I also find this time of year to be the “honeymoon phase” of senior year. Applications are submitted, and the stress level is down. They feel like seniors, but arent slammed with loads of end of the year events. But the best part, their plans are coming together. They see college out there, but it feels WAY off {spoiler alert, its not}, and there is this feeling of the “world is the oyster” and all things are possible, and isn’t that the point of this session. I love the optimism and joy this time of year for my current seniors. They are EXCITED and ready for the adventure, but far enough removed from it that they can relax.
The downside… it can be a bit bipolar! warm one minute and cold the next! So outfit planning is essential, with a back up choice going in the opposite direction. But, if you know your want lower humidity and cooler temps, plan on January and February… just also plan a few summer options!
March… this used to be decision month, but that ship has sailed. So, i feel that march has some of the same optimism as those winter months. The senior-itis feelings have set in, so they feel a little agitated by that, but overall, they are excited about spring break, and graduation, so being a senior feels REALLY real! March is still cool enough to enjoy, but has some warmth that summer staples can come out in the session. March is the beginning of the end for us parents too. We FEEL that the big stuff is coming, so it feels real for us as well. Besides Fall, spring time is my second favorite season, and I think it photographs beautifully as well!
The downside… we are getting closer to graduation, so planning is starting to feel more stressful. I wont lie, it is also hard to fit it all in the later you get in March. I always tell my spring clients be ready to make choices… in all areas, but even in your photos! You want to order what you need so you have it in time for graduation. You are about 2.5 months out at this point!
April…. the BEST month of all… but also, cutting it close. It’s warmed up, but no humidity. Florida is literally SHINING in its glory in April. If you know you need announcements, plan to come in and make those choices because for many graduation is less than 6 weeks away. If you dont care about any of that, then enjoy the beauty that is early spring! I will say, I have clients that do early April, and have all their goodies in plenty of time. So if warmer weather matters, and {maybe} some flowers, this is a winner for sure. After April, senior photos for the current class are all wrapped up! We are doing Cap and Gown, boomerangs and you guys are enjoying all those end of the year events! I do have a few clients who find me late in the year, and are ok with not having stuff for graduation, and we can use May or early June. So much depends on what YOU need!
For us here at KHP, we book up the best months by late spring of your Junior year. The last two years the calendar has been sold out by August. Every now and then we have a random opening in the late fall or my schedule allows a couple more than my set amount of sessions each year, but that varies from year to year. And if that happens, I am booked to capacity by December/ January of the current seniors year. Use this guide as a tool to plan in advance for your Florida senior session, you will be glad you did!
And to show our seasons, Mia from the class of 2024! She was a January date, and I won’t lie it was windy and cold, but we had such a variety, who could tell! The light is was so beautiful, and that sun did warm her! She was such a trooper! There is usually one of these crazy days each year, and Mia was the winner in 2024! Don’t worry, 3 days later it was almost 90, and that poor senior about had a heat stroke! Ahh bipolar Florida!
