If you have an incoming high school senior, or one that is graduating soon, you may wonder when the best time for senior portraits is. It really just depends on what you want! As a chicagoland senior photographer, I love each season for different reasons. I made this visual guide to help clients visualize the best time of year and what to expect.
Winter
Winter is beautiful but cold, obviously. The big benefit is epic snow shots and most outdoor locations will pretty much be empty. This is also good timing for when people are less busy before spring sports and obligations start up. Start times in the winter are earlier before sunset, so clients can still have evening plans after the session. This first session was technically end of March, but I’m still calling it winter!
Spring
A very popular time for senior portraits is in the spring before graduation. Spring can be beautiful with the daffodils, crabapple trees, and tulips blooming, but all of that growth is on it’s own timetable. When it does work out and it isn’t too cold, it’s beautiful! April and May have lovely flowers and bright, happy greens that are not prettier any other time of the year…you just may have to wait until they emerge!
Did I mention Lilacs?
Summer
My favorite time to photograph seniors (especially girls) is in the summer when the wildflowers are everywhere. You just can’t get a more beautiful landscape than Illinois forest preserves in the summer! The downside to summer is how busy students are with social and sport obligations, vacations, and all the other fun stuff summer offers. It can also be very hot and humid, and did I mention the mosquitos? I guess I’m not making a very good case for summer here! But these photos will show you why I love it.
Fall
Undoubtedly the most popular time of year for ANY photo session, is fall. Fall is beautiful, but it is also cold, often rainy, windy, and it gets dark fast. If you have your heart set on fall color, be prepared to possibly be disappointed because we never know when it will make it’s appearance! Even without beautiful fall color, your photos will still be amazing.
Are you ready to book your own senior portrait session? Contact me here or email me at hello@sarahiltonphotography.com!
* Sara Hilton is a Chicagoland senior photographer who offers sessions all year long! Sara is known for beautiful and dramatic outdoor photography, but also offers lifestyle sessions inside client’s homes. Sara currently lives in Palatine with her family: a husband who loves UFC fights, a 10 year old son who loves to make funny videos of himself, and a 7 year old son who is in love with Lego sets. Sara is currently booking family, graduating senior, engagement, in-home sessions, personal branding sessions, and events in Palatine, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Wheeling, Lake Zurich, and all of the surrounding suburbs. *
