How to Book Senior Pictures Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Senior)

A totally reasonable guide for moms who just want one good photo before their kid leaves forever.

Look. Senior year is already a weird time warp of emotions, permission slips, and panicked “Did you submit the FAFSA?” convos. Add senior photos to the mix, and suddenly you’re arguing over outfits with someone who hasn’t done laundry since Easter.

So here’s a little guide for making this whole how to book senior pictures thing easier—for both of you. No glitter. No vague Pinterest quotes. Just real advice from someone who photographs this circus regularly.

1. Book Early (Because You Think You Have Time—You Don’t)

Spring? Book in winter.

Summer? Book now. Like, open another tab and let’s go.

Fall? Also book now.

Last-minute senior photo sessions don’t stress me out. And I don’t care when you book. This isn’t about me filling my calendar.  I know I’ll be turning people away by mid-July. 

This is a PSA for moms by a mom: Waiting doesn’t make it easier. 

Procrastinating just limits your options for available/open dates, seasonal vibes, green grass, time to reschedule, etc. 

Senior portrait season fills faster than a Chick-fil-A drive-thru on a Saturday afternoon when there’s a tournament in town. Make a plan now when you have more choices and less to worry about. Then you can schedule all the other things you need to do around the date (think shopping trips, haircuts, college visits).

And if you have to reschedule? No worries – I’m a mom and understand life happens. You’ll get first crack at my remaining availability. No rescheduling fee, no guilt, no hassles.

TL;DR: If your kid plays sports, is in FFA, has a part-time job, or “just wants to chill this summer,” your options narrow fast. Get on the calendar now, and future-you will owe current-you a coffee.

2. You Don’t Need All the Answers Right Now

Location? Not sure.
Wardrobe? TBD.
Whether your child will actually smile? (They will, I promise.)

Relax. That’s my problem. When you book a senior photo session with me, we’ll chat through everything. I’ll send a questionnaire to figure out what your senior actually likes (or tolerates), and I’ll make sure they don’t show up in socks and Crocs unless that’s the vibe.

Just pick the date. We’ll finesse the details together.

3. Stop Waiting for Your Kid to Be Excited

You know what 17-year-olds rarely say?
“Mother dearest, let’s schedule my senior pictures soon. I’m so thrilled to capture my essence.”

If you’re waiting for them to be ready, you’ll still be waiting when their cap and gown shows up in the mail. Book the senior session! Put it on the calendar. I’ll handle the teenage energy when the time comes.
After all, I’ve been known for rave reviews like “Well that wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be,” and “I didn’t hate it.”

4. Let Your Kid Have Some Say—But Don’t Let Them Drive the Bus

Here’s how this usually goes:
Mom wants beautiful, timeless senior portraits.
Senior wants downtown alley walls, an oversized hoodie that may or may not be stolen from a significant other, and “just some chill vibes, not like posed or whatever.”
Dad just wants to know what time dinner is.

We can do both.

Give your kid room to express themselves, but also hold the line:
“Yes, wear your ‘vintage’ ripped Metallica tee from 2008.”
“Yes, we can do a few in your basketball sweatshirt.”
“Yes, you can wear one shirt with buttons.”
“Yes, you can wear your hat for a few photos.”

We can make time and space to get senior pictures all of you will love.

5. You Don’t Need a New Credit Card—Just a Plan

I get it. You just bought prom tickets, paid for volleyball camp, and your family’s gas bill resembles the GNP of a small country.

But senior pictures don’t have to be a budgetary crisis.

I offer different session options and price points because I know what it’s like to want beautiful photos without pawning your KitchenAid mixer.

Also, digital galleries mean you don’t have to decide between ordering prints for Grandma or feeding the family. You get them all. Then you can decide what to print, when you’re not stress-ordering 75 wallet-sized headshots in the Walgreens app at midnight.

The best part? There’s no upfront fee to book your senior photo session. Pay when we take photos. Then use your included print credit to order prints, canvases or announcements when it fits your budget.

6. PSA: These Are Their Photos… But Your Memories Too

Your senior may roll their eyes and mutter “It’s just pictures, Mom,” but let’s be honest: you’ve been picturing this moment since they were missing their two front teeth.

And someday, when they’re 24 and calling you from a too-small apartment asking how long eggs last in the fridge, you’ll look at these senior pictures and remember the kid who once fit in your lap and only rolled their eyes half this much.

Let’s make sure you love them.

Not just the kid.

Not just the photos.

But love the whole experience of getting senior pictures taken—with someone who actually gets it.

I happen to know a photographer who’s pretty great with teens, chaos, and moms.

But whether you book me or not, get senior photos done. You’ll never regret having them—only not doing them.