Why September Is One of the Best Months for Family Photos in Charleston

Every summer I tell myself the same thing.

This is the summer we're going to slow down.

We're going to soak it all in. Have lazy mornings. Spend more time outside. Maybe even get to the end of that summer bucket list.

And then I blink and we're buying school supplies.

Once school starts, I think we all breathe a tiny sigh of relief because ROUTINE! We have a schedule again! Fall is coming!

Except...we live in Charleston.

It doesn't actually feel like fall yet.

So while the rest of the country is pulling out sweaters and ordering pumpkin spice everything, we're still walking outside to 80-something-degree afternoons.

And I think that's exactly why so many Charleston families accidentally sleep on one of my favorite months for family photos.

September.

September Is Charleston's Secret Photo Session Month

When people start thinking about their annual family photos, October and November tend to get all the attention.

But if you live here, you know what else happens in October and November.

Weekend sports. Fall festivals. Halloween. School events. College football. Family coming to town. Thanksgiving plans.

Suddenly you look at your calendar and realize every single weekend between now and December has SOMETHING written on it.

And those family photos you've been meaning to schedule?

Now we're trying to squeeze them between a soccer game and a birthday party on the one Sunday afternoon everyone happens to be available.

This is why I LOVE getting my local Charleston families onto my September calendar.

September Beach Sessions Are SO Good

Summer might technically be winding down, but our Charleston beaches haven't gotten the memo.

September still gives us that beautiful warm beach feeling without quite as much of the peak summer chaos.

The evenings start feeling a little more comfortable. The summer vacation crowds begin to thin out. The beach is still warm enough for bare feet, flowy dresses and kids running straight toward the water.

And you can get all of that beautiful summer beach-session goodness without trying to coordinate your family's photos in the middle of your summer vacation.

For my local families, September is one of my favorite times to head to Folly Beach, Isle of Palms or Kiawah Island for family photos.

You Don't Have to Wait for "Fall" to Take Your Holiday Photos

Here's another little reminder:

Your holiday card photos do not have to look like Christmas.

You don't need sweaters. You don't need falling leaves. And you definitely don't need to wait until November to create a photo you're going to love sending to everyone you know in December.

If your family feels most like YOUR family when you're barefoot on the beach, let's photograph you there.

Your holiday card can have sandy toes.

And when everyone else is scrambling to schedule photos, order cards, address envelopes and get them in the mail?

Yours can already be done.

Look at you being ahead of schedule!

And Then There's the Charleston Weather...

I'm never going to pretend I can predict Charleston weather months in advance. If you've lived here for more than five minutes, you know better than that too.

But one of the things I love about September is that we're starting to move toward slightly cooler evenings while still having plenty of that warm Charleston glow.

And after photographing families on Charleston beaches for years, I can tell you that a few degrees can make a BIG difference when you're asking kids to snuggle up with their siblings.

Or when Dad is wearing pants.

Let's not forget about Dad. 😂

Book the Photos Before Fall Books You

This might actually be my biggest argument for September.

Right now, your fall calendar probably doesn't look that bad.

Then the emails start.

Soccer schedules. School events. Birthday parties. Halloween plans. Family visits. Thanksgiving travel.

One by one, those beautifully empty weekends disappear.

So instead of waiting until October to say, "We really need to get family photos done," put them on the calendar now.

Then everything else can work around them.

I'll be offering a few opportunities for shorter sessions in some of my favorite Charleston parks later this fall, but if you've been thinking about a full family session, especially a beach session, September is one of my absolute favorite times to make it happen.

We can spend an evening together at Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Kiawah or another favorite Charleston location and create the kind of photos that feel like your family right now.

Before the holidays.

Before the calendar gets completely bananas.

And before you find yourself saying...

HOW IS IT ALREADY NOVEMBER?!

Ready to get your September family photos on the calendar?

Book your fall family session