When Should I Book my Senior Session?

If you’re wondering when to book your senior pictures in Albuquerque or anywhere in New Mexico, here’s the short answer:

Earlier than you think.

Every year we hear, “We’ll do it later.” Unfortunately, by the time “later” arrives—especially for wildflowers, golden chamisa, fall colors, or monsoon skies—our calendar is often full.

Which brings me to one of my <cough cough> least favorite phrases…

---

Dear friends,

There are words that will, without fail, make my eye twitch.

Phrases so soul-crushing, so nails-on-a-chalkboard, that when I hear them, I am certain somewhere, a kitten just died.

Words and phrases like:

“There’s kale in your salad, ma’am.”

“Irregardless.”

“Moist.”

“The printer is jammed.”

“Reply all.”

“It’s decaf.”

And then there are those phrases we hear as photographers.

Oh, those are like an arrow straight to the heart. The kind of sentiments that, if I’m right about the kittens, should have every precious tiny bundle of fur fearing for its life.

“I’m not photogenic.”

“We have plenty of pictures on our phones.”

“I don’t like the way I look in photos.”

“We’ll do it later.”

This last one is enough to wipe out the entire feline population.

“Later” is an awful word. Just terrible. It’s a kick-the-can-down-the-road kind of thing.

Because “I’ll do it later” implies that you want to do it. Nay, you may even need to do it…but you’re choosing to do it later.

And as much as my eye is twitching just writing about this, I have to admit—even I engage in the “I’ll do it later” mentality. (See also: the wash piling up in my laundry room.) Again, it’s a thing that needs to be done, but I put it off.

I’d almost rather drink decaf. Almost.

But laundry is just that…laundry.

Worst-case scenario, your family spends another day pretending they can’t smell Dad’s favorite gym shirt. The clothes will still be there tomorrow. They aren’t going anywhere. The laundry doesn’t graduate or move across the country or become taller than you. It just sits there…in the basket…judging you.

When it comes to photographs of the people you love, however?

Your family…your high school senior…your child…

Well, that’s a whole different story.

You can wear your socks for two days. Heck, maybe three if you’re camping. But childhood doesn’t wait around because your calendar is full. Graduation doesn’t pause while you finally get around to scheduling it. Families don’t stay exactly the same for very long.

Take senior year, for example.

That bad boy rolls around exactly once. One lap, ladies and gentlemen.

And of the major milestones in life, it’s a biggie. It’s that strange season where you’re buying graduation announcements while wondering how kindergarten was FIVE MINUTES AGO.

But here’s the funny thing.

There is a version of “later” that I absolutely love.

I love it more than chocolate, which is not a statement I make lightly.

“We’re booking our senior session now, but we want to photograph it later…

…when the mountain wildflowers are blooming.

…when New Mexico’s chamisa turns golden.

…during monsoon season after a summer rain.

People…THAT is a beautiful “later.”

And unlike my Mt. Everest pile of laundry, that’s not procrastination. Not at all. That’s called planning. It’s someone saying: “This matters enough that I’m putting it on my calendar.”

My eye doesn’t twitch at that kind of “later.” In fact, if my kitten theory is correct, that kind of “later” can probably bring an entire litter back to life.

Freezing time with photographs is powerful stuff.

Now, when it comes to “later,” one of the questions we’re asked most often is,

“How far in advance should we schedule senior pictures?”

Our answer is simple: As soon as you know you’d like them.

The session itself might happen weeks, or even months, later but reserving your date early gives you the best choice of seasons, locations, sunset and foliage.

Whether you’re dreaming of mountain wildflowers, golden chamisa, colorful fall leaves, dramatic New Mexico skies, or your favorite spot in Albuquerque, planning ahead gives you the most options.

And don’t worry about finding the perfect location. We’ve spent more than three decades scouting New Mexico, and we already know where the magic happens all over the state. We’ve got this down.

So, dear friends, if you’ve been saying, “We’ll do it later,” and you’re talking about emptying the dishwasher, washing the windows, or tackling the vegetable drawer (you know…the resting place where perfectly good produce goes before it’s thrown away), that’s okay.

But when it comes to the faces of the people you love?

That’s a different kind of “later.”

Maybe today is the day to move that “later” onto the calendar.

And while it’s true that moments become memories whether you photograph them or not (hey, life keeps moving. It’s good like that), photographs let you hold onto those moments in a way nothing else can.

After more than 30 years photographing high school seniors, families, and children throughout Albuquerque and New Mexico, we’ve noticed something.

No one has ever looked through their photographs and said,

“I wish we’d waited another year.”

But we’ve met plenty of people who wish they hadn’t.

So if you’re thinking about senior pictures in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales, the East Mountains, or anywhere in New Mexico, now is the perfect time to reserve your session—even if your ideal season is still months away.

We’ll help you choose the perfect time, the perfect location, and yes…we already know where the wildflowers hide.

Give us a call.

We’d be honored to help you preserve this chapter of your family’s story.

The laundry, however…

Yeah.

You’re on your own there.