4 Reasons to Book Your Senior Session EARLY

I get calls from moms all the time asking “Am I too late for senior pictures?” And while I think that any time is a great time for a senior session, it’s always best to plan ahead and book senior pics early. 

It really never is TOO early to book your senior session. I mean, many schools are scheduling yearbook pics in June before senior year even starts! Planning ahead always pays off, so I recommend getting your senior portrait experience on the books about 3-4 months in advance (YUP, that far – check out my Senior Session Timeline HERE).

With senior year being such a monumental one, it’s going to fill ups quickly with so many things: the school musical, football games, sports, college tours, clubs, prom, ACT/SAT/AP tests, etc. Don’t wait until the end of the year when you’re scrambling around like a hot mess!

Here are four reasons to book your senior session early:

Better Choice of Dates 

Naturally, if you’re early to the process you’ll have the best selection of available dates.  There are only so many Saturday slots available in a given year, and they tend to book up first. If a weekend date is important to you, you need to plan far ahead. Thinking about the calendar well in advance also allows you to consider which season you’d like to have your session.

More Prep Time

It can take a little time to complete your Senior Style Survey, create a Pinterest board, have a pre-session consult, and determine the general styling of your custom-tailored session.  Then you need to consider all of your different outfits (complete with accessories, shoes, jewelry, proper undergarments, etc.) and whether you’ll plan to do some shopping.  Amazon Prime may have 2-day delivery, but most online retailers take a little longer. You don’t want to be waiting by the mailbox for the dress of your dreams to arrive on the day of your session!

Included in your session with me is a fashion consult to help you strategize your wardrobe. I’ve held these these via text, Zoom, FaceTime, and even inside client closets! This helps you to cover all the details to ensure that you don’t forget to bring anything important to your session. You definitely want to schedule in enough time to take advantage of this helpful service.

Rescheduling Flexibility

Sometimes even the best-laid plans go awry. A sudden illness or pop-up thunderstorm can require a postponement of your session. If you wait until May of your senior year to book, that doesn’t give us much (if any!) breathing room to reschedule you before graduation. Portraits may not be turned around in time to create graduation invitations or announcements, and that would be a huge bummer! 

Making Hair/Makeup/Nail Appointments

If you opt to book professional hair & makeup for your session, you need to get on THEIR calendar early, too. The best artists in town book up fast (especially on Charleston wedding weekends).

You’ll also need to consider your regular hair maintenance – you want your cut and color to be fresh (not drastic!) for your senior portraits, even if you’re not choosing a pro to style you on the day of your session.

Reasons to Book Your Senior Session EARLY

As you can see, there is a LOT of pre-session planning the goes into a smooth and successful senior portrait experience, and many reasons to book your senior session EARLY. You don’t want to be stressed out and trying to cram this into your schedule at the very last minute. Let’s chat today to get the ball rolling on a unique senior session, customized just for YOU!