I took my daughter’s senior photos the other night, and I loved every second!
I mean, I knew it would be a little emotional. She’s my oldest kid. She’s graduating. She’s leaving for University of British Columbia in the fall, which still doesn’t feel entirely real if I’m being honest. But I thought it would mostly just feel like another session — show up, chase good light, fix a stray hair, remind her what to do with her hands.
Instead, it felt like this weird, perfect mix of chaos, laughter, and “how did we get here so fast?” At one point we were running as fast as we could back up the hill to the car for her to change as quickly as possible before the sun disappeared behind the horizon! My legs have never burned so bad!
She was hilarious the entire time. Not even in a subtle way. Full-on commentary, dramatic poses, and at one point I’m pretty sure she gave me a look straight out of America’s Next Top Model — which she will absolutely deny if you ask her because it’s supposed to be a secret between us about how much we love that show. But I saw it. There was a smize moment. I stand by that.
And honestly? It made the whole thing better.
Because that’s who she is. A little sarcastic, a little dramatic, way funnier than she realizes, and completely herself. And somewhere in between laughing at her and trying to actually do my job, it hit me — this is exactly what senior photos should feel like.
Not stiff. Not overly posed. Not trying too hard.
Just… them being themselves and having fun!
There were moments where she dropped the jokes for a second and just stood there, and I could see both versions of her at once — the little girl I’ve known forever and this almost-adult who’s about to pack up her life and move to another country. That part got me.
I’m going to miss her so much.
Not in a dramatic, can’t-function way (okay, yes that way), but also in all the small, everyday ways. Her voice in the kitchen. The random comments in the car. The way she walks into a room and changes the energy without even trying.
Taking these photos felt like pressing pause for a second. Like getting to really see her before everything shifts.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, I realized something else too — I actually loved photographing this stage.
I’ve spent years photographing babies and families, and I still love that. But this? This in-between season where they’re still kids but also not at all… it’s special in a completely different way.
They have opinions. Personality. Confidence (or at least the kind they’re trying on). They make you laugh. They surprise you. They show up as themselves.
And it made me realize I want to do more of these.
So I’m officially offering senior sessions now — not because it’s a “business move,” but because I genuinely loved the experience. The energy is different. The connection is different. And getting to capture who they are right now, right before everything changes… it matters.
If your senior is anything like mine, it’ll be part photos, part comedy show, and part “how are we already here?”
And I promise — you’ll be really, really glad you did it! To book, email me here and see here for my pricing!
Get to the bottom to see the photos I did of her before she started kindergarten! Feels like just yesterday!
*Need ideas for what to wear? This article has great suggestions!
