A child plays and rolls in tall summer grass with a gray cat in a series of candid outdoor photos.
A person in a navy floral top and jeans sits on stone steps while holding drumsticks in an outdoor setting.
A young woman in a floral top and jeans stands in a sunlit meadow with tall grass and trees in the background.
A white lace sundress stands out against a rustic wooden fence and weeping willow trees in a peaceful country setting.

Graduation season is sneaking up fast! And if you're a junior starting to think about senior photos, there's a good chance your Pinterest board is already overflowing with elaborate setups, trendy locations, and props that look like they required a moving truck to haul in.


Here's the thing, though… The sessions I've photographed that feel the most real almost never came from a complicated plan. Genuineness comes from the simplicity that highlight the senior in their natural element. What makes good photos great is the small details that aren’t overly dramatized.

A series of outdoor portrait photos taken in tall grass and natural settings during golden hour lighting.

Last summer, I photographed a senior whose session I still think about. We shot on her family’s land, which had the most gorgeous views you could ask for! Her dad drove us around to different spots on the property in a four wheeler (yes, really and it was as fun as it sounds). Her dog tagged along throughout the session. She brought her drumsticks because she plays percussion. Her Bible. And at the very end, when we were close to the house, she brought out her guinea pigs for one final photo.


Every single prop meant something. Every location had a story. And the result? A gallery that looked exactly like her! And that authentic feeling is exactly what I'm always chasing for all of my high school seniors!

A person sitting in tall grass holding a small brown and black dog on a sunny summer day.
A person in a white dress sits joyfully in a tall grass meadow on a summer day with trees in the background.
Someone wearing a blue floral top and light jeans sits casually on grass in an outdoor setting.
A person in a white dress walks through a summer meadow with dogs among wildflowers and willow trees.
A person in a blue floral top and light denim jeans poses outdoors near tall grass and rocks at sunset.

Tips for Personalizing Your Senior Session Without the DIY Chaos

Think small with props

Bigger is not better when it comes to props. A dramatic, elaborate setup can actually pull focus away from the most important subject in the frame: you. Small props that connect to your life are the sweet spot:

  • An instrument you play
  • A book that matters to you
  • A sports accessory or jersey
  • Something tied to your faith, your hobby, your story


These details add texture without taking over.

 

Consider your own home or property

This might be the most underused senior session location out there! If your yard is even remotely picturesque, I highly recommend it. Think about:

  • A tree where you sit and do homework
  • A path you walk when you need to clear your head
  • A garden, a field, a porch… anywhere that feels like yours


Shooting at home also makes including pets so much easier since they're right there and comfortable in their own space.

 

Let your clothes do some of the storytelling

Personalization doesn't have to come from props at all. Sometimes it comes straight from your wardrobe. An outfit that feels genuinely like you, not something you'd never wear in real life, goes a long way toward making your photos feel authentic.

 

Bring your pets (please!!)

If your pet is part of your daily life, they can absolutely be part of your session! I've photographed dogs trotting alongside seniors through open fields. I've photographed guinea pigs making a surprise appearance at the end of a shoot. I’ve photographed a snake, a rat, and so much more! Animals add life and personality to photos, and when they belong to you, they add your personality.

 

Don't stress about having it all figured out

You don't need a mood board with 47 pins. You need a few things that matter to you and a location that feels comfortable. I'll help guide the posing and the flow from there so it feels easy and natural rather than stiff and staged.

A woman in a white dress stands near a wooden fence in a scenic outdoor setting with willow trees.
A person in a floral dress holds and cuddles with a small black puppy in a grassy outdoor setting.
A white lace dress flows in the breeze as someone walks through a golden summer meadow of tall grass.
A person in a blue floral dress poses for outdoor portraits in tall grass during golden hour.

Senior photos are one of those milestones that only happens once. You have the chance to live it and then revisit it every time you look back at the photos years later. The sessions that hold up over time aren't the ones with the most elaborate setups. They're the ones where you can look at the photo and immediately feel who that person was at 17 or 18. What they loved. What their world looked like. And that's what I want to give you!


Summer is the perfect time to make your senior photos happen! Booking your senior session in summer means your final gallery lands in your hands well before yearbook deadlines, with plenty of time to breathe.

 

If you're a junior thinking ahead (or a mom of one), I'd love to chat about what your session could look like. Whether that means rolling around your backyard on a go-cart or finding the perfect spot that tells your story, I'm here for all of it. Head over to the main website to learn more and get in touch. Let's make something that's so you it practically has your name on it!

A young woman in a white dress stands in a field of blooming white wildflowers on a summer day.
A person in a navy floral top sits reading a book in a sunlit grassy meadow on a summer afternoon.
A woman in a white dress laughs joyfully while sitting in a field of tall summer grass with trees in the background.
Someone in a white dress sits on rocky ground reading from an open book on a sunny day.
A young woman in a floral navy top sits casually in a grassy field on a summer evening.