Photo Post: Theater and nature collide in these senior portraits

Did you know I still offer senior pictures?

Except, they’re not just pictures are they?

Senior pictures have become a celebration of the young person and all of the hopes and dreams they have for themselves. They’re on the precipice of adulthood and they’re thrilled to be entering this long-awaited step toward independence and the “real world”. In other words, it’s a really big deal and they’re ready to celebrate.

These pictures are marking a shift in a young life and showing the world just who the teen is. Which is why it’s so important that their personal style and individuality is taken into consideration. Not just to get a great picture, but to celebrate all the things that make them uniquely wonderful.

I approach my senior sessions much like I do my self-love portrait sessions. I personalize them according to their likes, their hobbies, and their vibe. I provide them a link to share their Pinterest boards with me so I can see their vision and ideas. And then I apply my own creative eye to the pictures to create something gorgeous.

Over the summer, I got the chance to work with another Hanford High School Drama student to create some stunning pictures. She wanted to shoot in the auditorium, since theater is not only her current hobby but her career aspiration. We played with backlighting and got dramatic with the shadows, and we went backstage for some classic mirror shots of her getting ready for a production. But she didn’t just want to focus on theater, she also wanted to show a softer side down by the water in a flowing dress. I pictured a whimsical water fairy.

The location I picked for the outdoor shots was perfect, except that I had completely forgotten about the fire that took out the entire path over the summer. Because people have a tendency to do stupid things in foresty areas… So we had to regroup mid session and find a different location, which wound up being amazing because the spot we found was magical. It was a little cove along the Columbia River that had some gorgeous trees creating a sort of secret garden feel. The results were better than I imagined.

Take a look at some of my favorites:

It may be too late for senior pictures this year (yearbook deadlines were this month at most area high schools), but it’s always a great time for a self-love portrait session for your tween/teen. These sessions allow your child to embrace their uniqueness, helping them love all the things that make them special. They boost self-esteem, create self-confidence, and help them feel gorgeous and seen. Which, if you remember being a teen, is something that they often struggle with no matter how great their parents are. It just comes with the hormonal rollercoaster territory.

If that’s something you want to share with your child, click here. Let’s chat about how I can help.