Deciding when to take your JMU graduation portraits can be so difficult! You need to balance the weather with the crowds with the beauty of the Quad, and it isn’t always straightforward. I’ve collected JMU graduation photos I’ve taken over the years to create this master guide for when you should take your portraits on the Quad. I’ve described what each month is like as well as direct pros and cons, so scrolling through you’ll be able to see the year at a glance.

If you’d like to book me for your senior portraits, check out my seniors page for more info or contact me here! I’d love to chat with you!

January

The only reason I would recommend January is if you want snow pictures! It might not happen at all, but if you want snowy graduation portraits, you need to be ready to take pictures any day. If it starts snowing, we would decide to go or not and then meet up safely. It’ll be cold and wet, but we could make some magic! If we don’t get any good snow days, you’ll have to wait and reschedule for a later date. If we take pictures during the first snow, but then another storm comes, you can either buy a second session at a discount or just be happy with the snow photos we got! This is a tricky time, but the photos could be so worth it!

Pros: possible snow, no one else out on the Quad

Cons: cold, maybe no snow

February

February on the Quad isn’t the best time to take graduation portraits. The grass is dead and yellow, the trees are bare, and the light can be harsh.

Pros: usually no one else taking pictures

Cons: everything else

March

I only recommend taking photos in March when it’s peak bloom for cherry blossoms! If you want pictures with these beautiful blooms, you’ll have to be flexible with your dates so we can go during peak season. The flowers are beautiful and totally worth the pictures, but there are some downsides to taking photos in March.

It’s more than likely going to be cold and windy, and the rest of the Quad isn’t ready for warmer weather yet, so the rest of the trees are bare and the grass is still yellow. We do have quite a few trees on campus, but there will be times when we don’t take pictures with them, so it’s up to you!

Pros: possible cherry blossoms, not too many people out

Cons: everything else is still dead, can be extremely cold and windy

April

April is a great time to take graduation portraits. The weather is getting warm, the flowers are all in bloom, and the light is beautiful. However, there will be dozens of other people on the Quad hanging out or taking pictures, so sessions might take longer or we might not get all the photos we want. Also, April is extremely rainy so you must be ready to reschedule at a moment’s notice. We’ll pick rain dates in case we have to do this, but be prepared for it.

Pros: warmer, lots of flowers, grass is green

Cons: lots of other people around, rain causes a lot of postponements

May

May is one of my favorite times on the Quad to take photos. It’s warm, the trees are green, the flowers are still blooming, and the light is gorgeous. The first part of May is filled with last-minute graduation portrait takers, but the later half of May is usually empty because most people are gone after finals. If you’re willing to have your pictures done after graduation, it can be totally worth it.

Pros: warm, colorful, can be empty after graduation

Cons: lots of other people before graduation, you get your photos after graduation, can be rainy

June, July, & August

June, July, and August are nice alternatives for photos if you want green photos and an empty Quad. You can take these photos either before your senior year or after you graduate. The sessions will be either early in the morning or in the evening and it can be extremely hot, so be prepared!

Pros: no one else around, green Quad

Cons: can be super hot

September

September is a great time to take portraits on the Quad. Everything is still green, but there are some hints of fall colors. The light is beautiful and the weather is starting to cool down. If you can plan this far in advance, September is a great time to have your portraits taken!

Pros: great weather, beautiful colors, no one else is taking pictures

Cons: might have a lot of people on the Quad if it’s during school

October

Such a beautiful time of year to take JMU graduation portraits! Peak fall foliage is an excellent backdrop for your senior photos. The Quad is colorful and filled with so many places to take pictures. However, there will be quite a few people around and we might have to wait our turn or be creative.

Pros: beautiful colors, great weather

Cons: might be crowded, grass starts to yellow, can be cold

November

If you can take your JMU graduation portraits before November, do it. The fall foliage is almost completely gone, the grass is yellow, and the light can be harsh. There are lots of cloudy days which can be good for light, but it can also be cold and windy.

Pros: might not be anyone around, can get the last of the fall foliage

Cons: cold, might be crowded, everything might be dead

December

If you’re looking for December portraits, you might be lucky and get a Christmas decorated Quad. Wilson looks great with its lights, but they don’t turn on until dusk, so we’d have to save them for last. It can be extremely cold and windy, but we can run inside buildings to warm up. You’ll get less photos, but the light is beautiful.

Pros: Christmas Quad, not a lot of people out

Cons: cold, dead grass, probably less photos if we take breaks to get warm

I hope this helped you decide when to take your graduation portraits on the James Madison University Quad! Each month has its pros and cons, and I would be happy to discuss when the best time is for you! Contact me here to book your session!

Want to see all my JMU senior sessions? Check out my seniors tag!

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