When to Schedule Senior Pictures In Atlanta

“I’ve got plenty of time,” you say to yourself. And then all of a sudden, deadlines are a week away, finals are coming up, college applications are due, and all that time just disappeared in the vortex of that magical time called Senior Year. Senior year goes by FAST. So, when should you schedule your senior pictures in Atlanta to hit all those deadlines, minimize stress, and get amazing images you can enjoy for years?

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atlanta summer senior picture girl sitting in field white dress

When To Schedule Senior Pictures

atlanta senior musician picture on steps

Deadlines for Atlanta Senior Pictures

The school year is full of deadlines and hundreds to consider! The big ones significantly influencing when to schedule your senior portraits include the school yearbook submission deadline and college applications.

Besides, there are also graduation invites and announcements, midterms & finals, prom, plus extracurricular activities like sports, concerts, and theater.

School Yearbook Submission

Usually timed around late fall or winter break, when to take your senior photos is a big deadline. The school will typically require you to go to a contracted photo studio to get a school graduation photo (these should be free), which they will submit to the yearbook.

Outside of that, if you want other images included in the yearbook, you’ll need to either book with that same studio or find another senior photo photographer in Atlanta and submit those images yourself.

Try to take your senior portraits at least one or two months before the yearbook submission deadline. That would give your photographer time to edit and deliver your images.

Graduation Invites & Announcements

Most graduations are in May. If you’d like to get those graduation announcements with your photo sent out to friends and family in time, you’ll need about two weeks for a print lab to create all those cards and then mail them.

On top of that, you’ll want to give your senior portrait photographer one or two months between the shoot and the lab deadline to get your images edited and delivered.

Midterms, Finals, and College Applications

become your primary focus. Midterms, finals, IB, and AP testing happen near winter break and before graduation, respectively, while college applications are typically due in the fall.

There’s nothing more stressful than trying to knock out senior pictures with college applications and major tests on your mind. So, give yourself some wiggle room and try to schedule your senior photo session a few weeks before these dates.

atlanta high school baseball senior picture

Sports, Concerts, and Theater

If you want to have images with your uniform and on the field, you’ll need to consider your school’s practice and game schedule. Talk with your coaches and see if they can help you find time during the week or even weekends. Also, ask if you can use the facilities during the off-season.

These tips also apply to concerts and theater performances, though these have a bit more wiggle room. I’ve had extraordinary drama teachers with their students let me shoot in their black box theaters over summer and winter breaks. It is worthwhile to cultivate strong relationships with coaches and teachers.

What Background Do You Want for Senior Pictures?

If you’re interested in multicolored leaves and red and brown tones, then you’ll want to schedule for the fall season. Like greens and blues? Aim for summer. Colors are crucial for senior photos; that includes the background and the color of your clothes!

Think about your style and how you want your senior pictures to look. Use that to help determine which season to schedule your session, which leads to my next point!

What’s Your Personal Style?

If you’re a jeans and sweater type, your target should be late fall, winter, or early spring. Shorts and a T-shirt? Summer is your best bet. Figure out your favorite clothing ensemble and season to help determine when to take your senior photos.

Your senior pictures style should be the ultimate reflection of your personality — be proactive with scheduling so you get exactly what you want.

Also, be aware that different seasons have different challenges when changing clothes and picking what to wear for your senior photos.

Studio vs. On-Location

Pretty much the ultimate cheat code. You can photograph your Atlanta senior pictures at a studio and eliminate the worry of timing the seasons and your clothing style.

I have a few articles you should check as part of your planning process. They discuss the pros and cons of shooting pictures in a studio vs. on location, especially since we all know Atlanta weather is a joke.

Which Season to Schedule Senior Pictures in Atlanta

I’ve assembled a list of pros and cons of shooting senior portraits each season to help you decide which works best for you!

portrait of atlanta senior in cherry blossoms

Spring

Pros

  • Super flexible for clothing options. Spring is usually pretty cool, so you can comfortably wear a sweater with jeans or shorts and a T-shirt.
  • Cooler weather means less sweating and bugs.
  • Spring usually has some fantastic green colors and, if you’re lucky, cherry blossoms.
  • Major college deadlines have passed. Applications were due in the fall, which makes early spring less stressful.
  • You can shoot senior pictures during your junior year when it’s way less stressful, and you’re ready for a year in advance.

Cons

  • Rain is unpredictable in the spring, especially in Atlanta.
  • If you shoot in the spring of your senior year, you’ll probably have missed the yearbook deadline.
  • If it’s spring of senior year, you’ll be rushing to get grad announcements out.
  • This semester FLIES by with prom, finals, AP and IB testing, spring break, senior days, etc.

Summer

atlanta high school senior portrait walking down decatur street

Pros

  • It’s easy to schedule senior pictures because the days are longer, so we can shoot until 8:30 PM in Atlanta and still have some sunlight!
  • You would normally have fewer school commitments to worry about and schedule around.
  • Outdoor parks and natural scenes will have greenery in full bloom.
  • If you do it before your senior year starts in the fall, you’ll have enough time to submit them to your yearbook.

Cons

  • It’s sweltering and humid in Atlanta. As a result, you’ll most likely be sweating, and your hair will get frizzy quickly.
  • Mosquitos. Enough said.
  • Most families plan summer travel and vacations, so scheduling senior portraits could be tricky.
  • It can be challenging to access sports equipment, facilities, and performance spaces because most teachers and coaches take the summer off and the school is closed.
atlanta senior picture urban ballet dancer

Fall

Pros

  • Cutting it close, but you can submit your senior pictures to the yearbook and have enough time for grad announcements and invites.
  • Fall colors are gorgeous.
  • You can double up your senior portrait session with family photos for the holidays.
  • It has easy access to sports equipment, facilities, and performance spaces.
  • It’s super flexible for clothing options because it’s cooler weather.
  • It is a great time for urban locations.

Cons

  • Most yearbook deadlines are in late fall.
  • SAT and ACT testing may be in full swing.
  • Sports schedules are at their peak intensity.
  • The weather in Atlanta can be unpredictably hot vs. cold.
  • Fall colors are unpredictable. Sometimes, they pop late; other times, they pop early.
  • College applications are generally due later in the fall, leading to significant stress and scheduling issues.
atlanta senior picture in snow

Winter

Pros

  • Winter in Atlanta doesn’t get super cold until after December. So you can get the winter aesthetic without freezing!
  • Winter break is an excellent downtime if your family isn’t traveling much.
  • You can take advantage of holiday lights for cool backgrounds.
  • There’s a slight chance you may still make the yearbook deadline according to your school.
  • You’ll have plenty of time for graduation announcements.
  • Outdoor locations will be less packed with crowds!
  • The winter season is the best time for senior photos at urban locations.

Cons

  • Shorter days mean it gets darker earlier, and there’s less time to shoot during daylight hours.
  • Atlanta winters are usually cold, cloudy, and wet, which can be great for lighting but uncomfortable to shoot.
  • Family holidays and travel plans are common this time of year.
  • Midterms and college applications are either wrapping up or in full swing, adding a lot of stress to your schedule.

Wrap Up

As you can see, planning and thought should go into scheduling your senior photos, not only into the wardrobe but also the locations and the time of year. Being proactive is the best way to ensure you get the best possible senior pictures in Atlanta.

Most Atlanta senior portrait photographers are happy to book months in advance to help plan details, create concepts, and work with you to get incredible pictures. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask lots of questions.

Speaking of questions, are there other factors to scheduling madness that other seniors looking for pictures should know about? Anything else you’re dying to ask an experienced Atlanta senior photographer? Let me know in the comments below!

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