Do you have a yearbook submission to think about?

This is an excellent question and it's going to differ depending on what part of the country you live in and whether or not your yearbook has a deadline for submitting a picture.  Also, many high schools don't require you to submit your own senior picture as they use the ones taken by the official photography company contracted by the school.  As a senior, if you do get to submit your own picture to the yearbook, it is wise to find out that date as soon as possible and get your session scheduled.  Your photographer is going to need plenty of time to photograph your session and edit the pictures before he or she gets them back to you.  At that point, you will choose your favorite and your photographer will go by the guidelines from the school regarding what size image needs to be submitted.  All this should be done way before the deadline in case there are any issues with the picture getting to your high school yearbook department correctly.  

What if you want your session after yearbook submission due date?

Did you have your heart set on a spring session but need to turn in your yearbook photo by October?  Simple.  Separate your session into two time slots.  Do a shortened session in the summer or early in the fall so you can get your yearbook photo chosen and submitted in time and then have the bulk of your session the following spring. But...if you are currently going into your junior year you have time on your hands, my friend!  Your senior session can be done in the spring of your junior year.  Voila!  You get your yearbook picture chosen super early, you get to cross that task off your list AND you have the spring session you were hoping for...all at the same time!!

You might have no yearbook submission to worry about!

If you live near me where most students attend Wake County schools, the majority of the high schools do not require or allow a yearbook picture to be submitted by the seniors.  In this case, it is entirely up to you when you want to have your senior's portraits taken.  There are some who prefer summer and some who prefer spring but I will say, by far, fall is the most popular time to have them done. Be sure and check with your child's school to see what requirement they have for the yearbook pictures!

The Choice of the Four Seasons

Summer is lovely if you are wanting to head to the beach for portraits or maybe your high school senior is a swimmer and would like some pictures taken at the pool.  That's great and summer is perfect for both of those! 

Springtime can be tricky because of storms that we have to work around here in the south and don't forget we always want to avoid "pollen season".  (If you know, you know!)  Most families want their images back in time so they can use them for graduation announcements and, of course, however you choose to have your senior's images printed (be it an album, a canvas, an enlarged framed print or many images in a folio box) you're going to want them back in time for that graduation party!!  Springtime is a beautiful backdrop for pictures but you'll want to get your session scheduled early enough so you can get your final products back in time for graduation festivities!

Love the idea of a winter session?  It can certainly be done!  You will need to be flexible and so will your photographer if you are wanting to get that gorgeous shot taken after a fresh layer of snow.  Here in Cary, NC we don't get enough snow to be able to count on and so it would be a rare occurrence.  I'm up for the occasion, though, if the situation presents itself!

Now for fall.  We are famous for fall here in North Carolina.  The leaves begin changing, it's cooler (sweater weather, anyone?) and it sure is lovely sitting out on the deck with a cup of coffee in the morning...or the evening...I won't be picky!  Wait, that doesn't really have anything to do with portraits, does it?  Well, it's important in MY book so Ima gonna leave it in there.  Seriously, though, fall is the most popular time of year for sessions, so if this is the season you have your heart set on you will want to book with your photographer well in advance.  Fall fills up pretty quickly in my neck of the woods.

If you can, choose your photographer early!

Really, the moral of the story is: regardless of what time of year you want to have your pictures taken, it is important to begin discussing things with your photographer sooner than later.  You might think you want a spring session but your photographer might bring up some ideas which make you decide you'd like a summer or fall session instead.  So, the earlier you can choose your photographer, the better.  Get your date booked so you have one less stressor during your child's busy senior year.

College Apparel Pictures

One thing to add:  some high schoolers plan to go to college and others do not.  And that's ok!  Many of those who decide to further their education by attending a university like to have a picture or two wearing some "gear" from their future school so they can share the excitement with others by posting on social media or including a picture in their graduation announcement.  The majority of seniors won't know where they are attending until the spring of their last year in school.  What do you do, though, if you want a summer, fall or winter session?  At Brittany Cross Portraits, we solve this problem by doing your senior session during the time of year that you would like.  Then, once you hear back from all the schools you apply to and decide where you will be attending, you and I can get back together for a quick "college apparel" session.  Just grab a t-shirt, sweatshirt or hat from your new school, we will get you photographed in it and you will have those images ready to use when you're ready to announce your future plans.  There is no extra fee for this "mini session"; it's just a part of the service you receive when you book a session with Brittany Cross Portraits.