There is a lot to consider when it comes to the question, “when should I have my senior photos taken?”

Truly, this is a very personal question, and it’s important to note that the “right” time will vary from senior to senior for lots of different reasons.  My goal for this blog post is to share a few ideas when considering a season to schedule your session for senior photos.


Here are a few things to consider before scheduling:

1. FIND OUT WHEN YOUR SENIOR PICTURE IS DUE.

Do you go to a school that requires you to submit your senior photo to your yearbook? If not, feel free to skip to point number two! 

For those who this does apply to, it is very important question to think about when it comes to the timing of your senior photos! No one wants to have a generic school picture or worse...a gray box next to their name in the yearbook, especially their senior year. 


Most seniors I photograph who submit their photo to their yearbook need to have them submitted anywhere between October to February, but this can vary significantly from school to school. Most schools will send this information out at the end of junior year, over the summer between junior and senior year, or at the beginning of senior year - but I would encourage you to get that information no later than the Spring of your junior year, so you can begin planning!


You will also need to see if there are any requirements for the submitted photo.  Some schools require things like an image with no hats, no hands in the image, etc.  I have had other schools that have no requirements, and you can submit anything you would like.


Knowing when your senior photo is the first hurdle, but from there, you need to consider booking your photographer, and knowing how long the turnaround time will be for your full gallery of photos. Every photographer has a different turnaround time for a full gallery of photos - some in a few days, some in a few weeks, and some in a month. Make sure you ask for this information before you book your session date, so you know that you will have time to have your shoot, get your photos turned around, and choose your favorite shot for the yearbook!


2. CONSIDER WHAT ELSE THE PHOTOS WILL BE USED FOR  (i.e., Graduation Party Announcements)

Do you plan on using your senior photos on graduation announcements or invites that will need to go out at a certain time? Consider choosing a graduation party date, then working backwards from there. This will give you time to order, mail out and get responses from your guests.


3. CONSIDER WHAT THE WEATHER WILL BE LIKE.

This one might sound obvious, but it’s worth stating here - if you struggle with heat or maybe your hair doesn’t do well in the humidity, I would not recommend having your photos taken in the middle of summer. If you are not a fan of the cold, I would not recommend having your photos taken early Spring or late Fall when the temperatures are lower.  Maybe summer is your favorite time of year though and that’s what you want in your senior pictures, or maybe you prefer the fall leaves.  All of this is important in your choice


Thinking ahead about personal preference, possible outfit choices, and/or hair & makeup situations can be helpful with further nailing down when the best time could be for your senior photos!


4. CONSIDER SCHEDULES AND ACTIVITIES.

Senior year is a very busy time, with extracurriculars, college visits, special recognition ceremonies, not to mention all the fun things that come along with it being your senior year! For some seniors, it’s easier to plan to have their photos taken the summer before their senior year, before their sports season starts. To other seniors you may want to wait until you are in a certain season so you can get into the gymnasium for basketball or volleyball pictures or need to wait until you can get your jersey.


5. CONSIDER HOW YOU WILL LOOK.

This might sound like a strange one, but for some seniors they prefer to wait until their official senior year to have their photos taken… sometimes near the very end. Some seniors want to remember that specific time - what they looked like and what their style was their senior year. This is one that matters to some, but not to others - some people change significantly from the beginning of their senior year to the end, and some don’t! 


I hope this post is  helpful for narrowing down a timeframe to have your senior photos taken in! If you are looking for a senior photographer in the Washington, Floyd, Harrison or surrounding counties, I’d love to connect with you! Feel free to reach out via my Contact form (click here) or email me directly at info@rebeccajonesphotography.com. I hope to hear from you soon!