Best Month For Senior Photos In Northern Illinois
Elsye J Photography | Natural-light portrait photographer in Northern IL and Southern WI
If you’re looking for answers to the ultimate question: “WHEN should I take my photos?” you’ve come to the right place. My name is Elsye and I’ve been a senior portrait photographer for 8 years, and I’m based in epicenter of unpredictable Midwest weather: Northern Illinois.
Weather patterns have changed over the years, and have gotten even more unpredictable. It’s stays hotter longer, and fall colors are later in the year (and change oh-so quickly). Senior portrait trends have also shifted, and more seniors are now taking summery, mid-June photos. If you’re still undecided on when you want to take your photos, keep reading.
June
June can feel a little early for some seniors - totally understandable! School JUST ended, and you were considered a Junior…like…yesterday. However, if you’re an early bird and love late night sunsets and lots of greenery, June is for you.
I personally have a TON of availability throughout June. You can also schedule your photos later in the evening, the sun doesn’t set until 8:30pm! The tress are full and green, parks have lush prairie grass and wildflowers, and the weather is mild with cooler temperatures. Bonus: daylilies bloom in late June if you love that bold, colorful flower garden look.
July
The month where it FINALLY feels like summertime. Hazy, humid evenings and golden hour light. July has plenty of greenery, like June, and even MORE availability in my schedule. July is perfect for those 2.5-3 hour Deluxe sessions since the sun sets so late.
A few cons for July: humidity and bugs! Evening sessions are your best bet.
August
August is very popular for my seniors! It feels like back-to-school season, and senior year is on the mind. Nature settings are still beautiful, with a little more yellow and gold coloring on trees and prairie grasses. Wildflowers are still hanging on for a few weeks, and the evenings start getting a little shorter.
The thing about August is…it’s super popular…so there’s a lot less availability. My August dates start filling up in June, so by the time July rolls around, I only have select dates left. If you are dead-set on an August date - perfect! Just plan accordingly and submit your session inquiry early!
August can also be hot, humid, and buggy. Be sure to pack blotting sheets, powder, or setting spray, hairspray, bug spray, and a mini fan if you have one! Late evening sessions are best for those hot days.
September
Perhaps one of the best months of the year! School is back in session, football season has started, and it’s starting to feel like fall. In recent years, September has still been a hot month for Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Trees and plants are still clinging on to green hues, but starting to look a little more dry and golden. This is the perfect month for my seniors who want that tan, dried prairie grass look. The sun sets significantly earlier in September, so golden-hour sessions need to be scheduled a little earlier in the day.
September availability is SUPER limited! Not only are high school senior sessions in full swing, but my Fall College Grads start booking their sessions too. By the time September rolls around, I only have weekday evenings available for the rest of the month. If you want a September date - book early!
October
In 2025, the leaves were predicted to be at peak color (in Northern IL) on October 15…SIKE. I had this session at P.A. Nehring Forest Preserve on October 15th, and you may not be able to tell, but the tops of the trees were just barely starting to get yellow. The good news is…Photoshop and color grading exist (hallelujah).
If you’re wanting deep orange and red leaves in October, plan for later in the month, and if the leaves still haven’t fully turned, your photog can color grade them for you. Chances are, there will also be red, orange, and brown bushes and shrubs nearby that will help with those layers of color!
Another bonus of October sessions is the clouds…hear me out. I know bright blue skies and puffy white clouds sound ideal, but a muted gray sky casts super bright and soft lighting across faces and skin. I personally had my own high school senior session in October and my photographer (Tera Shaffer Photography out of Ida, Michigan) taught me about soft natural lighting and cloud cover. Nowadays, I hope for cloud cover like we get regularly in October!
Availability can be limited in October, as I’m often slammed with NIU Fall Grads.
November
There’s a reason November starts with “No”. November can be VERY tough for senior sessions in the Midwest. Weather is super unpredictable…freezing rains, wind, and potential snow.
Last year, I got lucky with my sessions scheduled in the first week of November. Peak color hit that first weekend, and I was able to squeeze in a slightly chilly session with gorgeous orange leaves. However, my session scheduled for a week later wasn’t so lucky…by then all of the leaves had fallen off. Dead, sad brown trees galore!
If you do need to schedule a session in November, I suggest planning a location with architecture, so you won’t need to rely so heavily on natural surroundings. College campuses or downtown areas are great for this time of year.
December - February
Let’s stay inside, PLEASE! Interested in booking a studio session? Let me know, and I can handle scheduling the studio rental.
Some studio rental options listed below:
The Eight One Five Collective - Rockford, IL
OC Creative - DeKalb, IL
The Studio On Prairie - Rockton, IL
Loft 815 - Rockton, IL
March
Some seniors wait until Spring to schedule their session, and that’s totally okay! March can be a little unpredictable, this year we had tornado warnings and flooding, which affected my forest preserve locations! If you’re wanting a March session, I would plan for as late in the month as you can, or wait until April!
Aside from the trees and grass still being pretty dead, the air is chilly and windy! We’re talking rosy cheeks, goosebumps, wind-blown hair…I feel so bad when my clients look cold!
April
April is busy busy BUSY!!! This past year I was in the midst of moving from DeKalb to Rockford in April, so my schedule was so hectic. Next year will be better!
April is great for my last-minute seniors. I suggest waiting a little later in the month for more greenery on trees, flower buds, and green grass on the ground. The sun sets pretty early, and evening storms can make the sky super dark!
April is the busiest month for my college grad sessions as well, so availability is limited! It’s always a good idea to schedule early.
May
If you can wait until May for your session, I highly recommend it! This month is perfect for seniors who have later graduations. The grass is green and trees are full of leaves and flowers, and flowering bushes are in bloom. The sun sets later in the evenings, and it’s so much warmer!
But What Do I Wear??
Read my Senior Outfit Guide blog for guidance, inspiration, and real examples. Love Pinterest? Check out my Senior Outfit Inspo board for ideas and direct shopping links.
Now Booking Class of 2027 in Northern IL and Southern Wisconsin
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