A Santa Cruz year, in color.
The coast keeps its own calendar. June arrives in fog, September and October bring the warmest days of the year, and the holidays fill every weekend from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. This month-by-month guide follows the local seasons, so your color is ready for each one.
Twelve months, twelve reasons.
- This monthJanuary
The warm escape
January is the month for winter getaways, when Santa Cruz is cool and somewhere sunny is calling. Arrive already looking like you’ve had a few days of it.
Timing: Tan the day before you fly, and leave room to rinse.
- This monthFebruary
Valentine’s, quietly
A dinner reservation, a weekend away, or simply a gray month that needs some warmth. A soft, natural depth suits the season.
Timing: Book one to two days before the date.
- This monthMarch
Spring break begins
College and high school spring breaks bring beach trips and the first swimsuits of the year.
Timing: First tan of the season? A lighter depth is a gentle way back in.
- This monthApril
Formals and fresh starts
Spring formals, Easter gatherings, and the first warm weekends on West Cliff.
Timing: Weekends fill early in spring, so book as soon as plans are set.
- This monthMay
Prom, graduation, and Mother’s Day
The busiest stretch for milestones, from prom and senior portraits to graduation ceremonies and Mother’s Day brunch.
Timing: Book one to two days before each event, and reserve early.
- This monthJune
Wedding season and June fog
Wedding season is in full swing while the coast hides under its morning fog. A tan brings the summer color the weather hasn’t delivered yet.
Timing: Brides: trial at least two weeks out, final tan two to three days before.
- This monthJuly
The Fourth and the beach
Fourth of July gatherings, beach days at Seacliff, and long summer evenings.
Timing: Book before the holiday weekend, since it fills quickly.
- This monthAugust
Late summer travel
The last big family trips and end-of-summer getaways before school begins.
Timing: A three-tan plan keeps color going through a busy month.
- This monthSeptember
The real summer arrives
Santa Cruz saves its warmest weather for fall, and September brings sunny beach days, back-to-school photos, and fall weddings.
Timing: Keep your summer color going into the warm weeks ahead.
- This monthOctober
Golden light and Halloween
Some of the year’s warmest, clearest days, golden-hour photos, harvest celebrations, and Halloween parties.
Timing: Classic Bronze, a soft natural brown, flatters the low autumn light.
- This monthNovember
Family photos and Thanksgiving
Holiday card photos, Thanksgiving gatherings, and the first holiday parties of the season.
Timing: Book family photo sessions one to two days before the shoot.
- This monthDecember
Parties and New Year’s Eve
Office parties, galas, and New Year’s Eve, when every weekend fills fast.
Timing: Reserve December appointments early, especially Fridays and weekends.
Your year, planned in color.
Many clients keep a standing appointment so their color never has to catch up with the calendar. A three-tan plan, valid for twelve months, makes that easy, and Jana can help you map out the dates that matter most to you.