I spent yesterday evening with this amazing senior guy at Yahanali Park in Columbia – one of my absolute favorite natural spots for senior pictures. The park put on quite a show for us with these gorgeous patches of yellow and red wildflowers (weeds? I don’t know, but I love them anyway) creating the perfect natural backdrop. And that newly paved road? What used to be a quiet gravel drive has transformed into what looks like a major highway with fresh paint and all. It made for some surprisingly cool and unique backdrops that really pop in his images!
This session was extra special because we also captured a few shots of his little sister during our time together. This is something I’m always happy to accommodate! Sometimes I even combine senior sessions with full family sessions – it’s really up to you how you want to use your session time. These moments of siblings together during such a milestone year are often some of the most treasured images from the session.
This past week has been filled with senior sessions, and my calendar for next week is just as packed, even though we’re already into May and just weeks away from graduation day. All these families had perfectly good reasons for scheduling their sessions this late in the year, and the photos are turning out beautifully, but I’m noticing something too – there’s definitely an added layer of stress when we’re working this close to the wire.
The biggest challenge? Weather. Since my sessions are exclusively outdoors, we sometimes need to reschedule for rain or storms. This is normally no big deal, but when you’re already down to your last few weeks before announcement orders need to go in, having to reschedule can create some serious stress. Plus, these seniors have so much happening right now – prom, awards banquets, final exams, graduation preparations – finding another time slot that works can be like solving a complex puzzle!
While spring senior sessions are absolutely beautiful and I’m happy to accommodate them, I want to make a gentle case to those of you with rising seniors (yes, parents of juniors, I’m talking to you!): Summer is actually the perfect low-stress time for senior portraits.
I know what you’re thinking – “But Crystal, it’s so hot in Tennessee summers!” And you’re absolutely right. But here’s my promise: I’m completely open to rescheduling for extreme heat within reason. We won’t be shooting on those 100-degree days, and we schedule for evenings when the light is magical and the temperatures are more bearable.
Booking your senior’s session in the summer means:
- No competition with busy school schedules
- Plenty of time for any weather reschedules
- Zero stress about meeting announcement deadlines
- More flexibility with dates and times
- A relaxed experience rather than one more thing on an already-packed senior year to-do list
When your teen comes back from their summer session with me, they’ll have their entire senior year to enjoy their images, share them with friends, and you’ll have all the time you need to thoughtfully select announcement photos without rushing.
While I’m absolutely loving these May sessions (those spring blooms are worth it!), I just want to plant that seed for those of you with juniors at home. Let’s make your senior’s portrait experience as stress-free as possible by planning ahead!
And now, I can’t wait to share some of my favorite images from this recent Yahanali Park session.
