Summer SENIOR Portraits

 Most parents and seniors are so confused as to what season they should book senior pictures in?  If you are one of those people, this BLOG POST IS FOR YOU!  READ AHEAD AND SEE THE PRO'S AND CON'S OF THE 4 SEASONS we are lucky enough to have in Kentucky. 

1. WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE FOR SUMMER SENIOR PICTURES:  

It will come as no surprise the weather in the summer months in KY are HOT!!!! On any given day the temperature is between 85-97 degrees!  Our studio provides AC relief for some of your outfits but just know that your outside pictures may include sweat on your upper lip and you might have a true "JLo glow" . . . The HUMIDITY IN KENTUCKY IS FIERCE, the sun is high in the sky and the days are long. 

2. WHAT TO WEAR FOR SUMMER SENIOR PICTURES:

If crop tops, mini skirts, short shorts and long flowy maxi dresses are your jam then these may be the months for you! Consider linen, chiffon, polyester, for your fabric because jeans are going to be HOT. 

3. PROS OF TAKING SENIOR PICTURES IN THE SUMMER:

• you don't have to miss school or get out of school early
• you can get in or take pictures in the water
• your backgrounds will be the lush green mountains of Eastern Kentucky
• your days and times are flexible if it rains, there are more session times available and more available times to reschedule if weather is a factor
• if you have a full calendar in the fall with extra-curricular activities summer is perfect for you
• you will be one of the first seniors of the new grad year, be able to post #seniorsunday posts early in your senior year
• you will be able to use your images longer and post them all year
• you will be able to check off your list one of the MAJOR events of being a senior

4. CONS OF TAKING SENIOR PICTURES IN THE SUMMER:

• weather can be a factor with pop up thunder storms, extreme humidity, and rain, rain, rain, flash flooding is also a factor. So, if you are totally inflexible about a date, do not schedule a summer session. 
• your grad announcement pictures may be taken up to 9 months before you actually graduate
• you may not have your letterman jacket perfectly complete with every patch so if this is important to you please consider

5. WHEN TO BOOK MY SESSION IF I WANT TO COME IN THE SUMMER:

JANUARY-MARCH OF YOUR JUNIOR YEAR!!!!!!  Summer Season is the most popular and we only photograph ONE SENIOR per day in order to create a LUXURY senior experience so there are only 25 available for summer.  If you want a summer date, consider booking your junior year after Christmas! 

1. WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE FOR FALL SENIOR PICTURES:

If you come alive when you smell the crisp Kentucky fall air, this is your season!  Temperatures cool around the end of and beginning of October. The leaves turn in Kentucky around mid to late October, depending on rain fall.  I always say there is COLOR on the trees in OCTOBER and on the GROUND in NOVEMBER! 

2. WHAT TO WEAR FOR FALL SENIOR PICTURES:

If scarves, sweaters, boots are your jam then this is your season!  You can ADD SO MUCH TEXTURE to your images with fashion in fall. Think leather, suede, tweed, and prints like plaid, herringbone, saw-tooth, etc.  Animal prints are also popular with cheetah, cow hide, leopard, etc. and HATS HATS HATS!!!!!!!!  and BOOTS BOOTS BOOTS, cowboy, over-the-knee, ankle, rain, YOU NAME IT, boots are a go-to! 

3. PROS FOR TAKING SENIOR PICTURES IN THE FALL: 

• rain isn't as much of a factor
• warmer colors are flattering on most people
• you wont sweat
• transitional pieces can be used in fashion, such as skirts with boots, crop tops with a long cardigan, hat, etc.

4. CONS FOR TAKING SENIOR PICTURES IN THE FALL: 

• you will have to get out of school 
• you will potentially miss a practice after school of your sport
• you will be at the mercy of a potential cold, rainy or bad weather, so if you are rigid about your exact date, please take this into consideration

5. WHEN TO BOOK if i want to shoot fall senior pictures:

Summer before your senior year, like June. 

1. WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE FOR WINTER SENIOR PICTURES: 

It's typically Cold and dreary outside and inside. If you want a winter session please know your backgrounds will be mostly studio, earlier in the day because it gets dark earlier and my window light is gone around 4 pm. THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU AUTOMATICALLY GET SNOW PICTURES!  If you are thinking of booking a senior session in the snow please know that you will be in charge of coming to get me because I do not have a 4-wheel drive and you must know that your wall portraits in your home will be of you in a coat.  Now, do I love to create during the WINTER, YES YES YES!!!!  THEY JUST MAY NOT LOOK LIKE "SENIOR PICTURES"  with fields of flowers and dreams of green. 

2. WHAT TO WEAR FOR WINTER SENIOR PICTURES:  

Just about anything goes, sequins, leather, and all things glam and bling

3. PROS FOR TAKING SENIOR PICTURES IN THE WINTER:

• the schedule is very open to just about any day and time M-F
• you don't really have to worry about weather because most backgrounds will be studio related concepts
• chances are you could be out of school anyway for inclement weather
• fall sports are over
• if you LOVE fashion, model like photo shoots, minimal backgrounds with a high fashion look this is your season
• we will take our inspiration from fashion model shoots with fun makeup, textured clothing, layers, mix matched, outside the box vibes

4. CONS FOR TAKING SENIOR PICTURES IN THE WINTER: 

• If you are dreaming of beautiful, lush surroundings this isn't the season for you
• the time has changed so it gets dark at 5:00 pm so you will for sure have to leave school early
• colors aren't as vibrant unless you really plan for this in your outfit, then anything is possible, in other words, these sessions are all about fashion
• you will need to plan fashion looks, not just jeans and sweaters because we will be getting creative with model-like settings 
• natural light is gone around 4-5:00 every day so remember this will be studio lighting for the most part

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE FOR SPRING SENIOR PICTURES:

It starts warming up middle to late March! Gone are the bla's of winter and the first signs of spring bring new life and energy to the landscape and, ESPECIALLY,  to my photography. PLAN ON BEING FLEXIBLE with spring rain! Your session will be best on a pretty, sunny day.

WHAT TO WEAR FOR SPRING SENIOR PICTURES: 

Think bright, bold colors, floral prints, light jackets, layers of color, etc. You can bring your prom dress, cap and gown, and college commitment T-shirt!  Beautiful shades of yellow pink, chambray, lilac are perfect colors, along with radiant orchid, 

PROS OF TAKING SENIOR PICTURES IN THE SPRING: 

• Your grad announcements will have more updated pictures of you
• You can bring your prom dress, cap and gown, etc

CONS OF TAKING SENIOR PICTURES IN THE SPRING:

• April rain WILL bring last minute schedule changes so be warned if you are on a time deadline with an already hectic End-of-the-Year Senior schedule with senior trips, graduation, prom, college visits, spring sports, honors night, etc. 
•  You will definitely get photographed before graduation but there is no guarantee all your products will be printed by graduation. Keep this in mind if you want to display your products, so book earlier in the season

WHEN TO BOOK:

• Before Christmas of your senior year or early January right after the New Year