The Stephanie Newman Photography Journal

As a high school senior, there’s a lot to look forward to—graduation, parties, and all the moments that lead up to it. One of the most exciting milestones, though, is your senior photoshoot. Those pictures will be a lasting memory of this special time in your life, and you want to make sure they turn out exactly how you envision them. So, when is the best time to book your senior pictures? While it might feel like there’s plenty of time, booking your session early is the key to a stress-free and successful photoshoot. Here’s everything you need to know about the ideal timing for your senior pictures.

I had the pleasure of photographing Parker, a senior from Farmington High School, during her September senior session in the charming town of Northfield. Parker is hoping to pursue a career in fashion merchandising after graduation, so I knew this session was going to be special—not only did we have to capture her personality and beauty, but we also wanted to bring her dreams and interests to life through the images.

When we planned Abby’s session at the Lyndale Rose Garden, I was a little nervous. The last time I had been to the garden was in the summer, and it was in full bloom—every corner was bursting with color. But September is a tricky time for flowers, and I wasn’t sure how much of the garden would still be alive with blooms. Would the roses still be vibrant? Would there be enough natural beauty to create stunning portraits?

As we approach the end of another academic year, the excitement surrounding graduation is palpable, especially for the Class of 2024! This milestone represents not only the culmination of years of hard work and dedication but also the beginning of a new chapter filled with endless possibilities. To commemorate this special moment, I recently hosted cap and gown mini sessions designed to celebrate our graduating seniors in style.

The historic buildings, quaint shops, and beautiful parks all contribute to a unique atmosphere that beautifully complements the colors of fall. As we strolled through the streets, the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot and the crisp autumn air set the tone for a memorable day. We made our way to Bridge Square, where the iconic bridge over the Cannon River provided a stunning viewpoint. With the river reflecting the fiery colors of the trees, it was the ideal spot for capturing the essence of autumn.

It’s really hard to see kids you’ve known since they were like 8 years old and then all of the sudden, bam! They’re fully grown people who are basically adults now. Anthony is the youngest of the Peters family, and the third I’ve photographed for their senior portraits.

So this senior is my kiddo. I knew this day would come, but I wanted to be in denial about it all. I actaully was nervous about doing his pictures. Don’t ask why. You’d think I’d be more nervous about doing complete stranger’s senior pictures and not my own kid. But I was. I think we may have both been nervous because we were both giggling and laughing a lot the entire time. I wanted to take maybe an hour to do his pictures and we ended up staying out for 2 hours. It probably didn’t help that he was being a sassy teenager.

Madelyn’s session was a little cloudy and threatened to rain on us. Which clouds are not the end of the world, it actually helps a little bit in diffusing the light. I just didn’t want the heavens to open and downpour on us. Depsite having clouds all around us, Madelyn brought sunshine throughout her session.

Kaitlyn’s session is my first spring senior session and I want to do more spring senior sessions! Check out the gorgeous flowering trees in the background. LOVE!! I’ve shot at this park a couple of times in the past but never in the spring when the foliage is so different than late summer early fall.

The weather was playing games with us all day the day of her session. It threatened to rain most of the day, then part of the day and then finally, just a little bit of the day.