Should You Take Your Senior Portraits Outdoors or in the Studio?

Your child’s senior year is such a meaningful milestone — and senior portraits are one of the most beautiful ways to celebrate it. Whether your senior attends a local public school or a private school like Oak Knoll, Kent Place, or Delbarton, you’ll likely receive detailed yearbook photo guidelines. Many families wonder: Should we do an outdoor session or a studio session?

As a Maplewood, NJ photographer specializing in timeless, joyful portraits of families, children, and teens, I offer both outdoor and studio options — and each has its own advantages.

Outdoor Senior Portraits: Natural, Personal, and Perfect for Yearbook Submissions

Outdoor portraits are ideal if your student’s school has specific guidelines for senior photos, requires that a professional photographer submit the image, and there is a tradition of outdoor photos for the yearbook.
For private schools such as Oak Knoll, many seniors wear a white dress and are photographed outdoors on campus or in a natural setting.

Outdoors sessions offer:

Natural light and scenic backdrops that feel authentic and classic
The opportunity to incorporate family and sibling photos — a perfect bonus if it’s been years since your last family portrait
A variety of looks, from formal yearbook photos to relaxed lifestyle images

Recently, I photographed a senior from Oak Knoll in Union County who requested outdoor portraits for her yearbook. The school provided very specific photo requirements and required that a professional photographer submit the final portrait. We planned an outdoor session that met those guidelines — but also gave her family the chance to update their portraits together.

We scheduled this session for beautiful golden light, and I captured a mix of formal portraits and candid moments: laughter between siblings, a quiet hug, and the sunset glowing behind them.

Her mom later shared this Google review:

“We had such a wonderful experience working with Nicole Hawkins Photography for my daughter’s senior photos and family photo session. From the beginning, Nicole went above and beyond — from helping us choose outfits to making everyone feel relaxed and confident. Nicole has a great eye for detail and captured moments we didn’t even realize were happening... The final photos were gorgeous. I’m so grateful for these memories. Highly recommend!”

It was such a joyful reminder that senior portraits don’t have to be just about the student — they can also be a wonderful way to capture your family during this special time before graduation.

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Studio Senior Portraits: Modern, Timeless, and Effortlessly Elegant

While outdoor sessions are perfect for families who want a natural backdrop, studio senior portraits offer a clean, refined, and timeless look.
In the studio, there are no weather worries, and we can focus completely on expression, personality, and artistry.

Studio portraits are ideal if:

You want a classic and polished look that will never go out of style
You prefer to keep the focus entirely on your senior without environmental distractions
You’d like to showcase your child’s personality through wardrobe, lighting, and creative direction

My studio sessions are relaxed and guided — I help with wardrobe selection, posing, and styling so every detail feels effortless. The result is a collection of portraits that feel both modern and meaningful — perfect for printing, displaying, and sharing with grandparents and friends.

Outdoor or Studio — You Can’t Go Wrong

Whether you choose an outdoor session surrounded by golden light or a modern studio session with clean simplicity, your senior portraits should feel authentic, confident, and personal.

If your senior attends a local private school such as Oak Knoll, Kent Place, or Summit High and needs a professional portrait for their yearbook, I can help ensure the image meets your school’s guidelines — and create something you’ll truly love.

You can view examples of my studio portrait work here and explore outdoor and on-location family lifestyle sessions here.

See More Senior Sessions

Want to see an example of a relaxed, family-centered senior session?
Take a look at this Summit, NJ senior and family portrait session — a beautiful evening spent photographing a family before their eldest left for college.