Graduation is a once in a lifetime occasion. With that, so are senior pictures to commemorate it. It's a chance to capture your personality, achievements and excitement for the future. You may be asking yourself though; "When is the best time to have them done?". Living in Phoenix, Arizona, the timing is even more important given the extreme heat we encounter. Other factors are school activities, family availability, whether you want the photos printed and sent out to friends and family and more.
Let's get all this cleared up for you so you can best decide when the right time for you will be to schedule your senior pictures.
Pros & Cons of Each Season
I know what you might be thinking; "Seasons? What seasons? This is Arizona." And you are not wrong. Breaking it down seasonally simplifies it and simplicity is always key.
SUMMER (June - August)
Pros:
Because school is out, there is much more flexibility with scheduling
Due to the heat (more on that in a bit), locations will not be as crowded
It's a great way to prepare for your senior year and think about what you want to accomplish with it
Cons:
The heat. There's a reason it wouldn't be too crowded at locations, because no one wants to go out in it. The heat could make for an uncomfortable time, better chance of you getting sweaty, looking red, etc. It also can be dangerous going out in that kind of heat. For this reason, if you do choose to have your pictures done during the summer, I suggest having them done in the morning so it's not as hot or an in studio session with my many backdrops.
In the summertime, everything is dead here in Phoenix. So, if you're looking for vibrant plant life in your photos, you'll want to choose a different time of the year or consider travelling up to Sedona or Flagstaff.
If you want to implement something from school into your photos, you may be limited to accessing the necessary props or outfits. For example, if you are a football player, you may not be able to get ahold of your uniform or pads, stuff like that.
FALL (September - November)
Pros:
Temperatures start becoming more manageable during this time (I would still stress for morning sessions though)
Whether you are playing football, volleyball, run cross country, are on the debate team or any other extracurricular activity that you are participating in, having your senior pictures done during this time allows for you to better implement them
If you're up for an adventure, Flagstaff has some of the most gorgeous fall colors possible.
Cons:
Your senior year is in full swing, and it can be busy. School work, sports, a part time job and many other things can make scheduling a time for your session difficult and could feel like you're just cramming it in and not really enjoy the experience
Locations may start getting a little more crowded during this time. Still shouldn't be too bad as it will still be warm enough to keep some people away but if you are more introverted and have anxiety taking pictures in front of others, it is something to consider.
WINTER (December - February)
Pros:
Winters in Arizona are very mild. This is the perfect time of year to have your senior pictures done and not worrying about the heat beating down on you, looking sweaty or getting dehydrated.
Holiday break offers flexibility for scheduling your session.
Like fall, you can implement your extracurricular activities during this time such as basketball for example
Cons:
Expect places to be pretty crowded. Everyone has been cooped up in their air conditioned homes for months and are itching to get out of the house now that it's nice and cool. Not only can this make for a logistical problem trying to work around them but if you are very shy and introverted, you may not feel your most confident
Depending on the school, you may miss the deadline for submitting the photos to be used in the yearbook as they do usually need the photos by the end of fall
SPRING (March - May)
Pros:
This is the one time of year where you can find a good number of wildflowers in Arizona. From Superstition Mountains to PIcacho Peak, depending on how much rain we got, there are numerous spots to choose from that are abundant with plant life.
Because your senior year is coming to an end, having your senior pictures done at this time is a perfect opportunity to really reflect on your high school career and where you plan to take yourself from here
Like fall and winter, whatever crazy passions or activities you have going on can be easily thrown into the mix
Cons:
This may very well be the busiest time of your year. Planning for the future, getting in that last bit of studying, prom and enrolling into colleges are just some of the lists that could be on your agenda. Finding the time to schedule your session may be difficult
Because it is crunching time, if you are looking to send graduation announcements to family, this may not allow for much time to do so
Spacing Out Sessions for More Variety
You may be thinking "I play football and baseball; how can I implement both of those aspects into my photos if I have them done during, say, football season?" or "I can't decide to have my photos taken during the fall in Flagstaff so I can have fall colors or during the spring to take advantage of wildflowers. I'd like both!"
Good news is you don't have to choose between the two. Some photographers, me included, allow for multiple sessions throughout the year so your photos can truly embody everything about you. Bring this up to your photographer so they can tailor the session(s) to best fit your wants and needs.
One Size Does Not Fit All When Getting Senior Pictures Done
The pros and cons mentioned above are just general guidelines that have a good chance of applying to you. But just like your senior portraits themselves, I encourage and respect individuality so what may be a pro to someone, could be a con to another. The truth is, if you haven't graduated yet, there's no wrong time to have your senior pictures taken. Some even have theirs taken during the spring of their junior year. What's important is what works best for you and if you're not sure what does work best for you, your photographer can help you decide.
Are You Ready Now?
If you're ready now to schedule your senior photo session or have any questions or concerns pertaining to anything mentioned above or not mentioned above, feel free to reach out and I'd love to get you scheduled or just answer your questions.
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