Back to school is such a huge adjustment and often a dreaded time of year. It is tough for parents and kids getting back into the routine of things. Summer is amazing, the days are long and filled with endless adventures. With Fall just around the corner, September is just the in between month when Summer is over and the gorgeous colors and cool temperatures of Autumn aren't quite here. Are you in a September slump? Here I’m going to give you 5 reasons why September is the perfect time to book a back to school portrait session with a professional photographer!

Make Back to School Portraits a Tradition.

When Chloe started 6th grade, we took this photo to document all of the books that she read in her elementary school years. It was the perfect way to document this milestone and capturing her love for reading!

1. Document an Important Milestone

Back to school is perfect milestone to document. You want to have those yearly pictures to document how quickly your children grow up. You’ll want pictures to remember the first time your child gets on a bus, the first day of high school, the first day of the last year of high school, those middle school years and all those years in between. It really does go by too fast and you should take a moment to document each new school year as it marks a new milestone.

Document the sports and instruments they love playing.

2. Personalized Portraits

Schools always offer Fall and Spring portraits. However, more times than not, the portraits done at schools look nothing like your child. In my experience, they usually have creepy fake smiles with a wide-eyed scared to death look, yet for some unknown reason you feel obligated to buy them anyway. By hiring a professional photographer for back to school portraits, you can stylize your shoot. You can pick a location and theme that matches your child's personality and really captures who they are at that age.

3. Cooler Temperatures

Fall may be my favorite time of year, but September is starting to grow on me. As the blistering heat of summer starts to fade, the days are cooler and the nights have a lovely crispness in the air. With the weather being much more comfortable, you won't be a sweaty mess during your photo shoot.

4. Locations

There are a variety of amazing locations this time of year. From the rolling green hills to fields of wild flowers. In Maryland, not far from the busy city life in Baltimore, there are several sunflower fields that are in full bloom mid-September. These beautiful sunflower fields have given me a new favorite September tradition!

Be sure to check out Clear Meadow Farms’ website where you can check the status of the sunflowers’ peak bloom dates and the exact location where you can view the fields.

September Sunflowers

5. Discounts

Many photographers will have back to school sales/discounts. In the month of September, I will be booking back to school sessions at a discounted rate. Contact me now for prices. Additionally, if you tell a friend about booking a portrait session with me you will receive a $30 credit toward any print product of your choice, once their session is complete.