One of the first questions I get from excited (and sometimes overwhelmed) seniors and their parents is:

“When is the best time for senior pictures and when should I schedule them?”

Great question—and the answer depends on a few things: your schedule, your style, when yearbook submissions are due, and how you plan to use the photos. Let’s walk through the options so you can find the best time for you.

🌸 Spring Sessions (March–May)

Best for:
Fresh florals, soft light, and a light, airy vibe.

Pros:

• Flowers and greenery are starting to pop, which makes for a beautiful, cheerful backdrop.
• Great option if you didn’t get photos done in the fall and want to squeeze them in before graduation. Equally as awesome – if you take them the Spring of your Junior year, you’re ahead of the game!
• The weather is starting to warm up, but it’s not too hot.

Things to consider:

• Spring can be unpredictable with rain and allergies. I always keep a few backup dates open just in case!

☀️ Summer Sessions (June–August)

Best for:
Golden sunsets, lush greenery, and no school to worry about!

Pros:

• Your schedule is likely more flexible without school and activities.
• You’ll be ahead of the game—plenty of time to use photos for yearbooks, announcements, or party invites.
• Gorgeous golden-hour lighting and full, green landscapes.

Things to consider:

• It can get hot, especially in July and August, so evening sessions are best.
• Popular time for sessions, so it’s a good idea to book early!

🍂 Fall Sessions (September–November)

Best for:
Warm colors, cozy outfits, and that classic autumn glow.

Pros:

• Vibrant leaves and soft sunsets make for stunning backdrops.
• Sweaters, boots, and fall vibes always photograph beautifully.
• It’s early enough in the school year to stay ahead of deadlines.

Things to consider:

• This is a busy time with school starting back up and fall sports, so booking ahead is key.
• Leaves change quickly—if you want peak fall color, let’s plan it just right! Also, leaves are unpredictable, so we may get color…and we may not.
• The weather can flip on a dime. It could be as warm as summer, rainy like spring, or frigid!

❄️ Winter Sessions (December–February)

(*Ahem, Maybe March and April too)

Best for:
Moody, minimalist vibes or a snowy dreamland.

Pros:

• If you love coats, scarves, or a more dramatic look, winter sessions can be magical.
• Locations are often quieter, and you might get lucky with a snow day.

Things to consider:

• Outdoor sessions can be chilly, so we’ll plan around that or keep it short and sweet.
• Daylight is limited, so sessions are usually in the early afternoon.
• Finding evergreens is a must if you want color. Other trees will look like…well…dead sticks. However, even dead sticks can look awesome after a new snowfall.

🎯 So… When Is the Best time For Senior Pictures and When Should YOU Schedule?

It all comes down to your personality, schedule, and how you want your photos to feel. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Most of my seniors book 4–6 months in advance, especially for fall and summer dates, which tend to go first.

📅 Ready to Book?

If you’re not sure what season is best for you, I’m happy to chat and help you figure it out. Whether you’re aiming for cap-and-gown moments or something more creative and styled, we’ll make sure it reflects you.

Senior year is a big deal—let’s make sure your photos are, too.

📩 Reach out today to reserve your session date!

If you need help deciding who to photograph your senior session, here are Three Tips on How to Choose Your Senior Photographer.

The post When Is the Best Time for Senior Pictures? first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

Gorgeous Downtown Ann Arbor Senior Session

We were SO LUCKY! November second turned out to be warm enough that it looked like we were doing a session in the middle of summer. Always so grateful for it. However, it was super windy. Way past your – small gust of wind for model hair – type of wind. We had to pause a lot to let it settle down so Lee didn’t look like she was running or being blown away.

Other times, it was the perfect amount of model hair wind. We used her hands in her hair quite a bit just to keep it where we wanted it and I’m not sad about it! It’s not always easy to make that pose look natural, but she is amazing at it!

By the amount of photos I culled and posted here, it’s obvious to say that it’s super hard to choose favorites. I think every new photo we took was a new favorite and now it’s just a long list of beautiful! On the podium are the column photos. Those were instantly favorites when we looked at them.

Lee, I am so excited that we got SOOOO MANY great ones! You need a whole book just to look back at your senior year and think, “Oh yeah, that’s me!” Thank you so much for hanging out with me, getting to your pizza date a little late….cause we just had to get those last ones! I hope your senior year is the best year yet and I can’t wait to see where your future takes you!

Enjoy this little peek into this gorgeous senior session!

See another senior session HERE!

The post Gorgeous Downtown Ann Arbor Senior Session | Lee first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

Casual Fall Senior Photos | Chelsea Clocktower

Even after years and years of knowing Haley, new things keep popping up. For example, mom had to cart around a large bag of props to potentially use. She was the mom version of Mary Poppins. Let’s pull out a field hockey stick, and a tennis racket; next up some musical instruments and…oh…”no one knows I’m a drummer” so we go pictures of that too. Amazing!

Haley has grown up with the advantage of having and incredible photographer as a Dad, so she is not camera shy at all and is instantly a natural at…well…everything, so all those beginning session nerves weren’t even there. She was so easy going, so much fun, and we had lots of good laughs with her crinkly nose laughing pictures being some of my absolute favorite. They’re just so…her!

She can pull some of the very best and most hilarious faces I have ever seen. I think it’s a family trait because her sister excels in this area as well. I promised I would never show them, but they are so fun for me to look at. 🙂

Haley, I just love you! Like one of those old mom’s that you get sick of hearing say, “I can’t believe how old you are”…..I can’t believe how old you are! It happened so fast and you’re such an incredible and loving person. I love seeing how inclusive you are to those around you and what a big heart you have. (Insert many heart emoji’s here).

Enjoy this little peek into this beautiful and super fun senior session!

See another senior session here!

The post Casual Fall Senior Photos | Chelsea Clocktower first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

Downtown Ann Arbor Senior Session

When I first met Brianna, I kind of felt like a sixth grader walking into the room full of tall, beautiful people. She is so much taller than I am (let’s be honest, who isn’t) and I instantly was so grateful I have a two-step small ladder that I bring with me every session.

The transition between the beginning of sessions to the end is one of my favorite things. Most sessions start with some nerves and maybe being a little shy, but by the end we get some fun stories coming and really have such a fun time together. Getting ready to leave in the parking lot definitely had the best ice skating chin accident story! She wasn’t even phased by hitting her chin on the ice and needing stitches! I am seriously amazed at this girl!

Ann Arbor was so busy during our session! Our first location went pretty smoothly and we got some killer shots that I was just so excited about! We tried to hurry to campus to get some great shots at the Museum of Art, but holy cow…traffic was SO BAD!

We lost some time trying to find parking and then running a few blocks to where we needed to be. Honestly, we could have spent HOURS downtown getting more, but we also wanted to get to Island park. We spent 10 minutes on campus and ran back to the cars. It was a super cloudy week – a race against the sun, really.

Island Park is so beautiful and…thank goodness for additional lighting that we can bring in when the weather is a bit tricky. You also can’t even tell how cold Brianna was. I don’t know how she didn’t turn red or shivery, but she was flawless til the end.

Brianna, can’t wait to see what this next year brings you! You have so many fun things going on and I know it’s going to be amazing!

Enjoy this little peek into this beautiful senior session!

See another senior session here!

The post Brianna | Downtown Ann Arbor | Senior Session first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

Stunning Dexter High School Senior Session

We had so much fun on this photoshoot together! It is so normal for everyone to feel totally awkward in front of the camera, but I don’t think Sydney had a single second of that. from start to finish, she was on fire! We had incredible weather and we have really been lucking out with having the Chelsea Clock Tower all to ourselves during our sessions. I am not complaining!

Lucky for us, Michigan dumped a high humidity on us and it was so hot! My mascara was all over my face by the end and Sydeny was still perfect. I’m not sure how that was accomplished, but I would like some secrets to be shared.

Honestly, if it weren’t for some hunger setting in and some low light coming on, I think we could have gone all night! There were endless possibilities and Sydney is just so good at this model business! It’s taking every ounce of self control not to go and buy that insanely beautiful white dress she wore! (I may not hold out). 🙂 Two of my favorite spots with some of my favorite people made for a really amazing night.

Sydney, thank you so much for such a great night and sharing your senior year with me in this way! I can’t wait to hear which school you choose to go to and see all the fun along the way! Xoxo!  

Enjoy this little peek into this gorgeous senior session!

See another senior here!

The post Stunning Dexter High School Senior Session first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

Enjoy this little peek into this beautiful senior session!

Sunflower Senior Photos at Schell Family Farm

Kaylie is so much fun to be around. Her smile is contagious, she’s so easy to talk to, and was willing to try anything. She doesn’t like bugs, but braved the end of summer/sunset bugs to get all of these beautiful shots. We tried really hard to swat gigantic mosquitos away in order to avoid rapid and enthusiastic swelling since she doesn’t respond well to such bites.

I loved hearing about her plans for after high school (which totally seem crazy given that it’s less than a year away) and also hearing about what’s coming up in her last year of high school. Just talking about the football game fun brings all the nostalgia back for me.

Some of of absolute favorite shots were the ones we decided to do “just because we’re here”. We were about to have a wardrobe change, so we’re hiding behind this large barn. Lots of garden tools, a patch full of mums (on black landscape fabric), and nothing all that exciting to be standing there. We moved a few things out of the way, and I am SO glad we did a few snaps before the moment passed us by.

I love the clean walls and texture of the barn. I love the tops of the mums at the bottom of the frames. She is perfect. I’m always so excited when those little “maybe we’ll stop here” moments turn out to be some of my favs.

Of course I was also so excited to find some sunflowers that weren’t 100 feet tall. We almost missed them! It was the one thing she specifically said she wanted and all of the others were way above our heads. Now we know that early in the summer will bring shorter sunflowers, but there are always some close by to give you what you want!

Can we just take a second for these flowers!? Seriously, they are gorgeous and there is a new beautiful at every turn. I’ve found this perfect spot for sunflowers, wildflower, zinnia’s, barns…I could keep going. Schell’s is stunning, easily accessible, and everything you need is all at one location. Love it!

Kaylie, thank you so much for allowing me to capture your senior photos for you! You’re going to have a great year, I know it! I can’t wait to see you all you do this year and into the future! 

See another senior session here!

The post Sunflower Senior Photos at Schell Family Farm first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

CHELSEA CLOCK TOWER AND SHARON MILLS PARK SENIOR PHOTOS

Senior pictures are some of my very favorite! When I was a senior in high school, our photo session consisted of the following: 1. Walk into a large room with multiple backdrops. 2. Put on a fake dress top. 3. Take one picture. 4. Wait for photo to come in the mail in hopes that it is worthy to be in the yearbook.

It wasn’t fun or personal. It was so boring and lack luster that I didn’t even opt for retakes. No personal connection or interaction.

My Senior Photo Experience

Now, I love to really get to know my seniors. I love knowing what their current lives are like and what they’re dreaming of doing in the coming years. I love seeing their style shine through and really capture their personality.

Let me tell you, Julia is a rock-star. Her style is so fun and matches all the fun in her personality. I loved talking to her about running and where she wants to go to school. Whatever school she chooses is going to be so lucky to have her there. She was willing to try everything I threw at her and was amazing at every pose!

She brought along her amazing parents who were seriously so kind and helpful! They had so many fun ideas for angles and were always willing to hold a reflector, help Julia balance so she didn’t fall down a hill into a waterfall, and keep track of her jewelry, socks and clothes. So grateful for mom and dad!

Julia, you are stunning! Best smile award goes to you! I can’t wait to see how your senior year is shaped and wish you the best of luck wherever you choose to go to college! Such a fun year – enjoy!

Enjoy this little peek into this gorgeous Chelsea senior session!

See another senior session HERE!

The post Chelsea Clock Tower and Sharon Mills Park Senior Photos first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

Downtown Dexter Senior Session

I told Noah a couple of times that he looked so “GQ” without realizing he had no idea what I was talking about. It’s those little moments that really take you back so you can realize how old you are. 🙂 Nevertheless, he pulls this look off so well! He was also the second senior of the day to pull off a serious look so well! The real trick was to get him to genuinely smile. His mom and I tried a few things unsuccessfully until she thought to just say his friends name. Who knew!? Just a name was the trick to the whole smiling gig. Of course we totally overused it so we had to find new ways to bring it up.

Downtown Dexter is such a great location if you want a lot of variety within walking distance. It also helps a lot during the middle of the day! We moved our session up from golden hour to about 2 pm so they could get on the road and visit family for Canadian Thanksgiving (so glad we can all celebrate with families this year!) and it ended up being the best thing! We had just enough light, clouds, and buildings to make for the perfect lighting situation wherever we were standing.

Thank you, Noah for allowing me to take your senior photos! You killed it! And thank you, Diana, for helping find that magic word that made all the difference! So excited to see what the future holds for you!

Enjoy this little peek into this great senior session!

See another senior session HERE.

The post Noah | Downtown Dexter Senior Session | Class of 2022 first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

If I could transport myself back in time to my senior year and become this fashionable I would do it in a heartbeat. For now, I’m going to watch the Devil Wears Prada for the bajillionth time and absorb all the fashion vibes while Shaylee makes me feel like I’m living in Paris. I’ve been working on my non-smiling model face ever since we finished this session and I may have to take lessons from Shaylee. I’m convinced that her perfect ability to do this is just pure talent. Mine is…not so good. 🙂

Gatehouse and Law Quad Senior Session

At the start of Shaylee’s session, she told me that she really wants to live in Edinburgh and doesn’t she look like she just belongs there? Luckily she had lots of layers because Michigan finally decided that it was time to have some fairly chilly mornings and I don’t think we’ve acclimated to the cold quite yet. I am just so happy it didn’t rain! I had never been to the Cemetery Gatehouse before and man! It’s perfection! There are so many angles and so much diversity in one little area. Such a good place to go! We ended at the Law Quad with lots of amazing light shining through the trees. I’m always soooo grateful for mom’s who are willing to hold a reflector! I really can’t emphasize enough what a huge help it is and it totally allowed us to get exactly the look I was hoping for!

Shaylee, thank you so so much for allowing me to document your senior year! I had such a good time and I’m seriously in awe of you in so many ways! You’re going to take on the world!

Enjoy this little peek into this incredible senior session!

See another senior session HERE.

The post Shaylee | Chelsea High Senior | Forest Hill Cemetery Gatehouse and Law Quad first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.

DEXTER SENIOR SESSION

We hit a really silly snag at the very beginning of this session. We decided what outfit was going to be first, and given the nature of changing at photoshoots, the changing happened in the car. Just by happenstance, changing in the car + drinking water meant that we started off the session with some wet jeans. We had to just be strategic with angles and posing and it was an easy obstacle to over come. This girl – her smile just lights up her whole face and we just had so much fun!

I have so many favorites from this session and our locations gave us so much variety that it’s hard to choose, but I just love the photos we got on the stairs. The sun was hiding behind some light clouds, giving us the perfect light. It also gave us just enough glow to make all the leaves behind Emily look like it had been fall’s peak week even though Michigan is still giving us lots of summer greens. Love that her outfit helps her pop right off the background, but also makes her fit right in with that fall vibe.

Emily, thank you so much for allowing me to capture your senior session for you! I loved every second and I had so much fun! I can’t wait to see where life takes you! 

Enjoy this little peek into this beautiful senior session!

Enjoy another senior session HERE!

The post Emily | Dexter Senior Session | Island Park | Law Quad first appeared on Stacy Anderson Photography.