This senior session took a few tries to get on the calendar, and I’m so glad we stuck with it. We rescheduled several times because of weather, and she had one big request: flowers. That’s a tricky one, because Mother Nature does not check my calendar. We were watching the forecast and the fields, trying to land on the right week.
It worked out this past week, and she picked South 40 for her session, so she got her flowers. The farm looked gorgeous, and there were plenty of them.
I’ll be honest, though: I love South 40 even when there aren’t any flowers. I’m drawn to tall weeds with just the right sunlight coming through, and this place delivers that every time. It’s also full of variety. This senior wanted to focus on flowers and nature, but South 40 also has several vintage cars that I love photographing when they fit a senior’s vibe.
If you’re thinking about South 40 for your session, here’s my advice: book two hours. There is a $75 per hour booking fee for the location, and I know that adds up, so I want to explain why I recommend it.
My senior sessions are listed as an hour, but that doesn’t include the time I spend arriving early to walk around and look at the light and landscape. Every location changes with the season and even from week to week, so I like to scout before we start. I also let seniors change outfits, and I build in time for that, so we’re still shooting for about an hour.
South 40 is big, and a single hour on site feels rushed to me, especially with outfit changes. I like my sessions to be laid back and relaxed, not rushed and frantic, and that’s the exact reason I rarely do minis. Booking two hours gives us room to walk between spots, change outfits, and take a breath without watching the clock. It isn’t two hours of non-stop shooting, just enough time to keep things easy. For this session, it worked out perfectly.
If you really want South 40 but only want to book one hour, we can make that work. We’ll just need to decide ahead of time which spots matter most and keep the changes quick.
Thinking about South 40 for your senior session? I’d love to hear what you have in mind. Book your session today, and we’ll pick the spots and the timing together.
