I can’t believe in all my years of taking photos of people this was my first official senior photo session! I have been wanting to do this type of photography for so long now. For some reason it has been a hard niche to break into. Kind of like with weddings- you need to establish yourself as such before the ball gets rolling. As with most things, a lot is referral based. So if you don’t even have one senior session yet, how are you going to create more. I am hoping by 2026 I am doing almost completely seniors, branding, and family photography.

This is a huge leap in direction of photography as now I am mostly focusing on weddings and families as those are the clients I am attracting. Also weddings make the most money for me- one client with the most reward work wise. I know there are a lot of photographers who just do the things I am striving for and say they make just as much or more but it just seems really unrealistic as of right now. I would have to change my business model a lot. To charging for all digital images or selling a ton of prints. That seems so foreign right now.

See I love this stage of life. It is such a pivotal moment in your journey to becoming an adult. Your whole life is ahead of you which is both exciting and scary. There is a level of innocence, vulnerability with each senior. You are on top of the world but you also know so little. It is a privilege to document this season. Not only is it a treasured keepsake for the parents, but also for the teen as well. This is probably the first time the senior is having photos taken of just them- no family to hide behind. It can be a huge confidence booster and motivator for them.

It is a privilege to document this season- seniors are so much fun! I actually got my start in photography working with high schoolers at camp- taking photos of their time at Hume Lake summer of 2018. I got to document their activities from the moment they step off the bus to the last afternoon of free time. It was a blast to group them together and see their joy- hang out with them playing cards. They had a senior time every week on Friday- I loved seeing them all dressed up. Somehow with my start in photography being this it kinda got lost.

I did go on to volunteer with Cru High School end of 2018 to middle of 2020. Cementing in the fact that I thrive with this age group. I got closer to the Lord my senior year being on leadership of Cru and being discipled. I then went on to participate a little bit in Cru College but getting that full circle experience with being a leader to high schoolers was very cool. Those years are so important in ones life- you develop a lot of who you are and who you want to be. What you think of the world. The ages 14-24 are my favorite, the journey to adulthood.

See for me, I became a Christian right as I was turning 14. After growing up going to church off an on, believing and knowing who God is. I started trusting Jesus and putting my life in His hands right as I was ending middle school and starting high school. Those years were spent learning what it means to be a disciple of Jesus- to follow Him. A lot of personal growth but also a lot of heavy life stuff were spent in those years. To tie it all back, I just got a generic senior photo in a makeshift studio put on by the school. It did not at all feel like myself.

My goal is for “my” seniors get pictures of themselves that truly capture their essence at that time. Their hobbies, passions, style, and personality. A photo they can look back on and say “that was perfectly me then”. Luckily I was part of my schools video production class so I loved my homecoming photo one of my classmates took of me. Not everyone has photo friends. They might not have an opportunity to have any photos of them they like- we so rarely take the time to take photos. So to wrap it all up, let me be the one to capture you as a senior.

PS this was my first time repurposing an Instagram Post for a blog- making it a longer format. Thanks!