As a parent of a high school senior, you might be feeling a range of emotions: pride, excitement, and perhaps even a bit of anxiety. There are so many memories to be made in the coming year, and one of the most important is capturing your child's senior portraits. So, when is the best time to schedule it? As a Chesterfield, VA area senior portrait photographer, I have a few tips for you to consider:
Book Early for Flexibility
We recommend booking your senior portrait session early, ideally in the spring of your child's junior year for a summer session before their senior year. Most families have a more flexible schedule in the summer. With no school and not as many sports and club activities, you will have the luxury of scheduling your session whenever you want and avoiding the stress of squeezing it in during a busier time.
Booking early also provides you with more flexibility to choose a time that suits your family's schedule without the added stress of trying to squeeze it in during a busy time. By contacting a photographer months ahead of time, you will likely get a wide variety of dates and times to choose from. Plus, you'll have plenty of time to review the portraits and choose the perfect ones for the yearbook.
The Yearbook Deadline
Most high schools require seniors to submit their portraits for the yearbook early in the fall of their senior year. Scheduling the session for the summer ensures that you'll have plenty of time to review and select the perfect portrait for the yearbook.
Other Uses for Senior Portraits
Senior portraits are not just for the yearbook. They're also great for college applications, holiday gifts, and graduation announcements. By scheduling the session early, you'll have plenty of time to get creative with the photos and use them for all sorts of special occasions.
Avoid Last-Minute Chaos
Senior year can be a hectic time with college applications, exams, prom, and other activities. Scheduling your child's senior portrait session during the summer before their senior year means one less thing to worry about. It's a great way to check something off the to-do list before the chaos begins.
Rescheduling in Case of Emergencies
No one wants to reschedule a session they're excited about, but scheduling your senior's portrait session early provides you with some wiggle room in case of unexpected illnesses or emergencies. The weather can also be unpredictable. By planning to do the session early, you won't be rushing to squeeze it in at the last minute, and you'll have more flexibility to find a new date that works for you and your senior.
Beat the Busy Season
Senior photographers tend to be in high demand during the summer and fall months. Booking early means you'll avoid the rush and stress of the busy season. You'll have more time to plan and secure a date and time that works best for your family.
Plenty of Time to Prep
By booking early, you and your senior will have plenty of time to plan outfits, shop, and come up with fun session ideas. Most photographers will work with you to plan outfits, so you can send along some ideas and get feedback on what looks best in portraits.
Your senior can decide if they want to incorporate a sport or activity, and you’ll have time to ask to borrow a uniform or equipment for the session. You’ll also have time to look into, and talk to your photographer about, great locations for your session day. You can schedule hair, makeup and nail appointments well in advance, to make sure there is availability on the day of your session, if that’s something you want to do.
Late Summer Nights
The longer days provide more daylight for your senior’s photo shoot, which means you can schedule the session for later in the day, taking advantage of the beautiful sunset lighting. This will also allow for cooler temperatures later in the day. With summer sunsets being around 8 p.m. in the Richmond, VA area, the warm, golden tones can give the photos a glowing, dreamy feel. Summer is also the season when nature is in full bloom, which means your teen can take advantage of the natural beauty of the environment around them. Also, the comfortable weather of summer means that they can wear a wider range of clothing options for their senior portraits.
There you have it! The perfect time to schedule your child's senior portrait session is during the summer before their senior year. But, if you've missed the timeline, don't worry! I’m here to help you plan an amazing RVA senior session, even if you didn’t think to schedule ahead. The most important thing is that you have beautiful portraits of your teen on your walls and in an album to enjoy. So, contact me as soon as possible, and let's start planning your Richmond, VA senior portrait session!
Also, don’t miss my Planning Guide for Your Senior Year of High School to help you get organized for your teen’s big year!
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