When is the best time to get your senior photos taken?
Do you have a high schooler who is going to be entering their senior year soon? Let's talk about when is the best time to get their senior portraits taken. Simply put - it is best to have them taken before the school year begins. This means summer. You can get away with having them taken in the early fall, but most high schools have a yearbook deadline for each student's photo in October. This does not mean have them taken in October. You want to have them taken well before this for a few different reasons. Let me explain.
Why should you have your senior session before the school year even begins? It takes time for plan a session - reach out to the photographer, decide on a date, decide on a location, decide what to wear. Then your session happens - standard turn around time for most photographers getting your images back to you after your session can take up to about 4 weeks. Each photographer is different, so it's always a good idea to ask them this before your session even happens. During busy months - which is usually summer and fall - it can sometimes take longer.
Another reason to have your photos taken in the summer is because your schedule is usually much more flexible before the school year and sports/club/extra curricular schedule starts. Trust me when I say you don't need to add any more stress to your life by trying to frantically squeeze in a photo session once the busy schedule begins. It's always better to have it done ahead of time so that by the time senior year starts, you and your kiddo can take in their last year being in college and enjoy it all!
Now let's say summer ends up being really busy with family vacations, work, other life events...and next thing you know the school year is starting and you're thinking, "shoot we didn't get photos taken this summer like we meant to!" Is it too late? Of course not! There are lots of photographers who still have availability and can definitely get your photos back to you in time. So don't worry, I'm sure you'll be just fine. Do make sure you communicate any upcoming yearbook deadlines to your photographer if you're going to be having photos taken this late in the game. There may be rush delivery options available to make sure you get them back in time! But my advice is that if you can avoid that last=minute stress and be able to have more choices on photographers with more availability and in the price range you want - early summer is definitely the time to start this process.
Hi there! If you're new here, welcome to my blog! I am Katie Holm, owner and photographer of Katherine Luisa Photography. I am a family and lifestyle photographer based out of Dexter, MI, serving Ann Arbor and the surrounding area. Learn more about me in my about me post here!
