Yay!! You’re almost a senior and it’s time to plan for senior pictures. I know firsthand that senior year comes with a lot of decisions, both in planning your senior session, navigating extra activities, and in thinking about what comes next in life. I hope this post helps take at least one decision off your plate– when to schedule senior pictures!
In central Iowa, the fields and nature locations change a little each month. Here’s a list of what you can expect, with visuals below!
May
May brings a soft feminine look with spring colors that we don’t get the rest of the year: beautiful pastel shades of pinks, purples, and soft whites. May also brings fresh light greens and perfect temperatures for senior pictures.
May is my absolute favorite month for girls’ senior pictures! It’s totally underrated.
June
In Iowa we start to get wildflowers popping up in June! Fields have a lush green quality and start feeling full with wildflowers toward the end of the month (though I can usually find them at the beginning of the month!). June is a great month for senior pictures because it’s usually not crazy hot or humid yet!
July
July comes with tons of wildflowers! In central Iowa the fields are bursting with wildflowers in July. There are especially a lot of yellow wildflowers this month! July can bring a surprising amount of reschedules for senior pictures…it’s not worth shooting your senior session if it’s too hot or humid! This is one reason why I schedule a date and a rain date for each senior.
August
Everything starts to soften for senior pictures in August as we approach the fall! August boasts tall grass backdrops with lots of movement and texture. It also brings golden tones that give soft/natural vibes! I absolutely love August for senior pictures because some of the summer heat has dissipated and the fields are lusciously full!
September
September in central Iowa is probably the most flexible month for senior photos. With cooling temperatures, you can usually get a summer or a fall look in September. September brings a beautiful earthy color palette and dried flowers and grasses with lots of texture.
Early October
Early October and late October have very different looks for senior photos in Des Moines! Early October brings fall vibes, some falling leaves, and fall-colored dried grasses. However, the leaves on the trees typically haven’t taken on their fall colors during the first half of the month. This is important to remember when scheduling your senior session!
Late October
The second half of October brings the colors we all think of when we think of fall! If you’re looking for rich fall colors for your Des Moines senior session, it’s best to book after October 15. Of course if you live north or south of Des Moines this will vary! These colors usually hang on until early to mid-November.
That’s it; thanks for reading! I hope this was helpful as you figure out when to schedule your senior pictures 🙂 Questions? I’d love to help! Please email me at meghanjoellephotography@gmail.com.
