“Which season should I book for my senior pictures session?”


I get this question a lot, and my answer is usually, “It depends on your vision for your session!” There is a lot to consider when thinking about in what season your photo session should occur. Below is some seasonal information that should help you make a decision on which season is best for you.

Summer Sessions


Let's start with the summer before your senior year. If you want to get an early start on senior portraits, this is the time of year to start. Summer is the second most popular time of year for photos. Here are 4 things to consider when booking a summer session for the months of June, July and August.

Smiling blonde teen girl in a white tank top leans against a tree trunk in a sunny outdoor setting.
Close-up portrait of a young woman with curly brown hair smiling softly among sunflowers outdoors.
Blonde woman in pink tank top and white shorts laughing while leaning on a railing in a sunny park.
Smiling teenage girl in rust top and denim skirt posing among tall green trees on a forest path.
Smiling blonde woman in black top and floral skirt sitting in wooden gazebo surrounded by green trees.
Smiling teen girl with wavy hair wears an orange ruffled off-shoulder dress in a sunflower field.
Smiling blonde girl in a white lace mini dress sits barefoot against a teal diamond-patterned wall.
Smiling blonde teen girl in a black crop top and floral pants poses outdoors near a wooden fence.
Smiling young woman with short blonde hair in a red floral dress and denim jacket in a sunflower field.
Young woman with curly hair in a beige halter dress poses in warm golden sunlight outdoors.
Young woman in white dress twirling joyfully between tall trees in a grassy outdoor setting.
Young blonde woman in pink sundress smiling brightly while seated outdoors with lush green trees behind her.

1. Weather


I'm sure you already know how unpredictable Ohio weather can be. Ohio summers average in the 80's with increased humidity and temperatures in August. If you sweat a lot or have long hair that gets sticky in the heat, June or July may be a better choice for your session. There is always a chance for rain in Ohio. Rescheduling doesn't happen often but is always something to keep in the back of your mind.

2. Fashion


Summer is the season for shorts, skirts, and strapless mini and maxi dresses. I would avoid long pants and sleeves or heavy fabric. Try opting for lighter materials like linen, chiffon, and sheer fabrics in fun patterns like gingham, stripes and floral. Consider the humidity when deciding on a hairstyle. Humidity can flatten curls and the body in your hair. If your session is on an extra humid day, consider a cute updo or braid.

3. Colors


You can expect your senior photo location to have many lush shades of green. Summer in Ohio is full of beautiful vegetation. In the summer months we may be able to find some fields of Ohio wildflowers. My personal favorite is called Queen Anne's Lace. Summer is also the perfect time of year for photos in or near bodies of water, which add rich blues and silver to your images. If you desire sunflower photos, they usually bloom in August.

4. Considerations


If you choose to book your session for the summer, you will need to keep in mind that your photos will be shot a significant amount of time prior to graduation season. While this will give you months to plan your prints, albums and grad announcements, you may find that you look a little bit different by the time of your high school graduation. But if you have a very full schedule in the fall and spring months with sports, etc., then a summer session would be perfect for you. 

Fall Sessions


Fall sessions are by far the most popular in Ohio, especially in October. Because of this, I recommend you book your session a few months in advance since space is limited. Here are 4 things to consider when booking a fall session for the months of September, October and November.

Smiling blonde woman in colorful striped sweater sitting on stone steps with fall leaves around her.
Blue-eyed blonde teenage girl in mustard yellow sweater posing among tall golden grass in a field.
Smiling Asian woman in black top leaning against a wooden post with colorful autumn foliage behind her.
Young woman with long blonde hair in white dress poses outdoors among tall grass.
Smiling blonde teen sits cross-legged in golden field wearing cream fringe sweater and jeans.
Smiling brunette teen poses against brick wall in ruffled blue and white off-shoulder top.
Smiling brunette teen in white eyelet dress leans on stone wall in autumn garden.
Smiling blonde teen with wavy hair poses on stone steps in denim jacket outdoors.
Smiling young man in navy polka dot shirt leans against tree in autumn forest.
Smiling young man in plaid shirt and jeans poses against rustic brick wall outdoors.
Smiling teen girl with auburn hair in olive top poses among green autumn foliage.
Smiling teen girl in plaid vest poses against rustic red barn wood background.

1. Weather


Although September can still see some hot and humid days, for the most part, fall is not too hot and not too cold. The humidity of summer is usually gone, taking the hazy skies with it. This results in some gorgeous sunsets! Temperatures range from 70's in October down into the 50's in late fall. If bugs are not your thing, the good news is that most insects are not as active this time of year so you can leave the bug spray at home.

2. Fashion


Boots, scarves and jackets are the perfect fall senior session outfit. Layers make an outfit super dynamic and the season for a perfectly layered wardrobe is definitely the fall. Remember that if you shoot in early fall, you can still wear transitional pieces like short dresses and shorts since it won’t be too cool for those types of outfits. If you want a range of summer outfits and fall outfits, then this is the perfect time of year for that.

3. Colors


Warm tones and falling leaves, whimsical fields of wild grass and flowers are abundant this time of year. The tall grass fields are usually a beautiful wheat color and the trees will be covered with shades of orange, red, and yellow. It is no mystery why fall is the most booked time of year for photos. Ohio is especially beautiful when the trees reach their peak color, which is usually in October.

4. Considerations


This is the perfect season to book your session if you don’t want to wait until the last minute for your images and would like to get them done ahead of time. Just remember that the days start to get shorter quickly this time of year. This means that the available session time changes drastically from the beginning of fall to the end in order to shoot during that perfect golden hour.

Winter Sessions


Winter is the third most popular time of year for senior sessions.

Here are 4 things to consider when booking a winter session for the months of December, January and February.

Smiling young woman with curly black hair in black top poses among tall dried grasses.
Young woman wearing a black cloche hat and floral blue dress posing outdoors in a forest setting.
Smiling young woman with highlighted hair wearing a white knit sweater leaning against iron railing.
Smiling young woman in a fur-trimmed brown winter parka posing outdoors in falling snow.
Smiling young woman in jeans and navy jacket standing on a snow-covered metal bridge walkway.
Young man in a North Face fleece jacket gazing thoughtfully in a snowy winter landscape.
Young woman with platinum blonde hair wearing a gray sherpa pullover sitting outdoors in winter.
Smiling young man in a gray knit sweater sitting cross-legged in a snowy outdoor setting.

1. Weather


Winter in Ohio has become more unpredictable in recent years. It could be unseasonably warm or so cold it could make you feel like a frozen popsicle on your session day. It is hard to tell! On days when it is freezing cold, we will take extra steps to keep you warm and comfortable, while getting those beautiful winter shots. The hope for winter sessions is that we have some snow to make your photos extra special.

2. Fashion


A lot of seniors like booking their session during these months because they can wear coats and scarves, cute winter hats and super cute boots. If you want to capture the nostalgia of winter in your senior session, opt for cable knit sweaters & cardigans with matching beanies and holiday tones like ruby red, snow white, emerald green, and holiday metallics. My favorite is gold! 

3. Colors


If there is no snow on the ground you may find yourself in a setting with warm tones from bare trees and fallen leaves. If it snows, you can expect silver, white and grey tones. Winter is a great opportunity for holiday themed photos. From Christmas tree farms to holiday lights and decor, there are many opportunities to add a bit of color to your photos.

4. Considerations


The winter months are perfect for the senior who does not want an ounce of sweat on their session day and doesn't want any chance of running into bugs during their session. If you dread the thought of going out in the cold, an indoor session may be more your style. While indoor studios come with an additional cost, they are a great way to get photos in a more comfortable environment.  

Spring Sessions


Spring is the least popular time for senior photos in Ohio. Even though spring is largely avoided, it may still be the perfect time for you to book your session. Here are 4 things to consider when booking a spring session for the months of March, April and May.

Young man in a gray hoodie with arms crossed sitting against a red brick wall.
Smiling young woman in a red lace blouse sitting outdoors against a stone wall background.
Smiling blonde young woman in a white polka dot top posing on outdoor stone steps.
Smiling young woman wearing floral gold crown and lavender dress poses outdoors in natural setting.
Young woman in yellow off-shoulder top poses outdoors in golden sunlight with soft bokeh background.
Smiling woman with short platinum hair and glasses sits on bench wearing white dress outdoors.
Blonde woman with long wavy hair smiles wearing white top and black ripped jeans outdoors.
Brunette woman in floral off-shoulder top and denim shorts poses on bench with heeled sandals.

1. Weather


Spring season in Ohio is usually the least dependable when it comes to weather. In my lifetime I have seen everything from a snow storm to temperatures reaching almost 90 degrees in the spring months. Another weather issue to consider for the spring is the rain. This can cause a need to reschedule or consider moving your session indoors. Or if you are the adventurous type, a rain themed session!

2. Fashion


Spring may be my favorite season for fashion due to all its fun and flirty trends! I love the spring colors and dreamy dresses that are so popular for this time of year. Chambray, ruffles, tiered panels, and lace in colors of all your favorite pastels like lemon, blush, sky blue, lavender, and pistachio. Rompers and mini dresses in floral patterns or short and maxi dresses in gingham or paisley.

3. Colors


You know the old saying, "April showers bring May flowers"? This is one of the perks that comes with a spring session. All of the plants are coming back to life. Spring in Ohio is especially aglow with wild blossoms and tulips. The beautiful blooms of the dogwood tree, magnolia tree and cherry blossoms makes this season worth the risk of bad weather.

4. Considerations


Spring is a very busy season of pre-graduation, college visits, prom, spring break, etc. This can make scheduling a session tricky. If you choose to book your session in the spring, you will need to keep in mind that your photos will be around nine months prior to graduation. The way you look may change slightly by the time you graduate. If this is a concern you can book a Cap & Gown mini session just before your graduation for more recent images.

So there you have it!

If you’re still not sure which season is right for you, I would be happy to help you make that decision! If you have any questions after reading, please feel free to connect with me through my contact form and I will be in touch!