Thinking about your senior photoshoot can be so exciting, but can also come with moments of feeling overwhelmed with all the decisions. We want your senior photos to feel and look exactly how you are dreaming of! When you’re scheduling your senior photoshoot, a few things to take into consideration are: your desired outfits, scenery, and overall vibe of the session. I also recommend taking into consideration your schedule flexibility. When would be the easiest and most stress free time to prepare and have your senior photoshoot? Ultimately booking your senior photoshoot is up to you & what’s best! Below I go into detail on the advantages for each season.
Spring (before senior year, May & June)
This is the start to your senior year summer! It’s so sweet to kick off your summer with a celebration of what this year holds for you! It’s also the best time in the Northeast Arkansas area to have your senior photoshoot in a wildflower field or garden. I do have to caveat, there is so much that will depend on the rainfall we end up getting.
If you love a specific flower type, here’s a breakdown of which month is best for them.
- Tulips – as early as April – May (Dixon Gardens & Gallery & Grange in Wilson have so many tulips each spring!)
- Hydrangeas – May/early June
- Flower Fields – Late May – Mid June
- Limelight Hydrangeas – Mid June – July
The late spring and summer golden hour is also unmatched any other time of the year. This would put our start time around 5:00 pm or 5:30 pm.
Summer (Late June – Early September)
- This season has beautiful greenery everywhere!
- Open fields thrive during this time, and paired with golden hour, it’s so dreamy.
- You also don’t have to worry about missing school or extracurriculars.
- There’s typically less rain by the time we get into July.
- If you love the Silo’s Zinnia Field, you need to look at mid – late July.
- Late June – Mid July also is the best time for Limelight Hydrangeas.
- September still has the beautiful summer colors, but is typically a LOT cooler in temperature! Less worry about hair falling and makeup being sweat off.
- Around the first week of September there’s usually a good chance of the yellow wildflowers coming back for about a week.
Fall (Late September – November)
- Fall color obvi is the best part of this season <3 We love the orange & yellow trees!
- The typical best time for fall color senior photos in Northeast Arkansas is the first two weeks of November.
- The weather is cooler and more comfortable, no stress about the humidity making your hair fall and sweating off your beautiful makeup!
- Typically our photoshoot start time is around 4:00 pm and gradually becomes 2:30 pm or 3:00 pm as we get closer to November. This means needing to miss class and take off work.
- This also might be your last chance to get your senior photos back before any yearbook deadlines.
Winter (January – Mid-March)
- One of the best parts of winter shoots is a slower schedule.
- This can be the best time for urban locations and to go to a studio!
- Knowing Arkansas weather, it could even be in the 60s for us!
Spring (during senior year, April – May)
- The perfect time for flowers if you missed them at the end of Junior year.
- This time is also so sweet because it’s exactly how you’ll look when you graduate!
- You’ll likely know where you’re going to college to include your college tee and cap & gown as well!
- You’re also probably not as busy with classes, sports, and extracurriculars coming to a close.
Ultimately when you should schedule your senior photoshoot comes down to what’s best for you and your family! Remember to think about outfits, scenery, and the overall vibe you’re dreaming of, but also taking schedules into consideration.
For all of my seniors, I send an in-depth Session Prep Guide and a Location Guide that goes into detail on all decisions and factors that go into planning your senior photoshoot. Including what specific locations are my favorites and when best during what time of the year for each of them.
If you’re interested in working with me, click here to chat about investment and your dream senior photoshoot!
If you’ve been dreaming about taking your senior pictures with flowers in a field of flowers or a dreamy garden, this post is for you. Let’s talk about when to plan your session, where to go for the prettiest blooms, and what to wear so your photos feel just like you.
When to Book Your Flower-Filled Session
Flowers don’t bloom all year (sad, I know), so timing matters! Here’s the sweet spot for each type of setting:
- April–May: Best for tulips! These are bright, colorful, and look amazing in photos—especially at places like Dixon Gardens in Memphis.
- May–June: Prime time for wildflower fields and general garden sessions. Everything is literally glowing this time of year.
- Bonus tip: Want magical hydrangeas? Book for May—Memphis Botanic Garden has the prettiest ones that month!
Favorite Garden Locations (Perfect for Photos)
If you’re up for a little road trip, Memphis has some of the most stunning gardens in the South—and they totally bring your flower photo dreams to life.
Memphis Botanic Garden
This place is gorgeous all year, but the gardens really pop in the spring. There are 96 acres (!!) of blooms, and the hydrangeas in May are next level. It’s peaceful, colorful, and honestly—your photos will look like a scene from a movie.
Check out this reel to see the vibe.
Dixon Gallery & Gardens
Known for their tulips (we’re talking thousands), this garden is a whole moment. It’s more structured than a wildflower field, but still soft, colorful, and dreamy. Their spring bloom season is a must-see. Here’s a reel so you can see what I mean.
The Grange at Wilson Gardens
Every spring, this place turns into an absolute color explosion with rows and rows of tulips. It literally feels like you’ve stepped into a Pinterest board. The vibes are chill, the lighting is magical, and it’s one of the most underrated flower spots in Arkansas. Here’s a reel so you can see what I mean.
What to Wear for Senior Pictures With Flowers
You don’t have to go full glam—just choose outfits that feel like you, but elevated. Here’s what I recommend:
For Flower Fields:
- Flowyyyy dresses or skirts are perfect
- Solid brights: white, pink, yellow, blue
- Subtle floral prints can work too!
- Think soft, romantic, a little “I just frolicked through this field” energy ✨
For Gardens:
- Same outfit ideas as above
- But you can also go a bit more polished—like a dressier dress, or even jeans and a pretty blouse
- Gardens give off a little more structure, so both casual and elevated looks work!
Some fave boutiques I love for outfits:
- Honey & Hope – Jonesboro
- Velvet Fray – Jonesboro
- The Refinery – Jonesboro
- Carly Jean Los Angeles
- Altar’d State
- American Eagle
Flower Field vs. Garden – What’s the Difference?
Here’s the tea on each:
- Flower Fields:
More open, laid-back, and free-spirited. Sometimes fewer flowers, but it gives us room to move and get those playful, candid moments you’ll love forever. - Gardens:
More colorful, structured, and formal—but still 100% beautiful and creative. These are reliable, which means you can count on everything looking amazing, no matter what.
Both are gorgeous—it just depends on your vibe!
How to Make Your Shoot Extra You
Want your flower session to be extra special? Bring a few personal touches:
- A book you love
- A guitar or ukulele 🎶
- Your fave pair of sunnies
- A bouquet of your favorite flowers
We can even get creative with props—like a flower ladder or a vintage chair in the middle of a field 😍
If you want a custom bouquet for your session, I love Bearded Bouquet in Jonesboro. They’re the best at putting together unique, locally grown flowers that feel super personal. You can also follow them here on IG.
Get on my spring calendar!
Let’s make your senior session feel like YOU—fun, authentic, and full of color. If you’re thinking senior pictures with flowers, let’s get your date on the calendar now (before the blooms disappear!).
Inquire here and we’ll find the perfect time + place to make the magic happen.
Emily’s mom, Kristi, reached out to me for Emily’s senior photos. When we got to chat over the phone, Emily was hoping for an urban senior session. I love Emily’s blue dress surrounded by the white of the building in Downtown Jonesboro, Arkansas! Throughout the session I got to see Emily open up and grow in confidence with the posing and it reminded me why I love photographing seniors.
After our session Kristi went to Facebook and said, “I can’t recommend Alice McLain Photography highly enough. That’s who Emily requested for her Boss Girl shots, and I am so glad! McLain was wonderful and encouraging with my nervous daughter, whose perfectionism tends to ruin the fun in life. From giving her solid tips on how to pose, to finding the perfect locations, McLain exceeded our every expectation!”
WOAH! So thankful for the kindest words. It makes my heart so happy to hear my seniors so excited about their images and experience with me. I had a blast getting to walk the sidewalks of Jonesboro capturing her urban senior session!!
If you’re interested in what booking a senior session with me looks like, reach out! I can’t wait to bring your vision to life!
Also! Emily got her blue dress from The Refinery!!
