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One of the questions I get asked all the time is:

“How far in advance should I book my portrait session?”

The answer is usually, earlier than you think!

Many women assume they should book their portrait experience a few weeks before a holiday or special occasion. In reality, the best time to schedule is often one to three months in advance. Not only does this give us plenty of time to create and retouch your portraits, but it also gives you the greatest selection of appointment dates and plenty of time to enjoy your finished artwork.

Whether you’re planning a glamorous Halloween reveal, searching for the perfect Christmas or Valentine’s Day gift, or celebrating a milestone, here’s my guide to the best time of year to book your vintage portrait experience at Lone Star Pin-up.

Halloween: Book in September

Halloween has become one of my favorite times of year in the studio. From glamorous witches and gothic beauty portraits to vintage vampires, spooky pin-up, and our famous (infamous?) coffin set, it’s the PERFECT season to get creative.

If you want your portraits professionally retouched and your products back in time to share throughout October, September is the ideal time to book. Waiting until October often means you’re racing against the calendar, especially if you’d like printed artwork or albums.

If Halloween is your favorite holiday, don’t wait until October to start planning. September is the ideal time to book your portrait experience, giving us plenty of time to create, retouch, and prepare your portraits and artwork so you can enjoy them throughout the entire spooky season.

Christmas: October is Your Best Friend

Christmas is, without question, our busiest season of the year.

Many of our clients are creating meaningful gifts for their spouses, children, parents, or even themselves. Beautiful wall portraits, heirloom albums, and keepsake prints become treasured family gifts that last far longer than anything wrapped under the tree.

If you’re hoping to have your portraits and artwork ready for Christmas, October is the perfect time to book. Early November is often still possible, but availability becomes much more limited toward the end of the month.

Around December 10, we typically reach our Christmas production cutoff. After that, we can’t guarantee completion before the holiday, although rush services may be available for an additional fee depending on our production schedule.

Planning ahead means you can enjoy the experience without the stress of holiday deadlines.

Valentine’s Day: It Starts Earlier Than You Think

One of the biggest surprises for new clients is learning that Valentine’s Day doesn’t begin in February around here.

In fact, by December we’re already photographing many of our Valentine’s sessions.

Whether you’re planning a glamorous Old Hollywood portrait, a playful vintage pin-up session, or a romantic gift for someone special, December through early January is the ideal time to book.

By late January, the timeline becomes much tighter, particularly if you’d like physical products such as framed portraits, albums, or mounted prints. Rush services are often available, but planning ahead gives you the most flexibility and the widest range of appointment options.