I don’t think I’ve ever really shared this before, but this is a big part of why I ended up becoming a senior photographer.
When I was a senior, I was so excited to take my senior photos. I wasn’t a very confident teenager, but I’ve always loved photos, and I loved the idea that I was going to get a couple of hours where it was just about me.
That session ended up being one of my favorite memories from my senior year. I remember laughing with my mom, feeling really comfortable with my photographer, and just having a genuinely fun experience. Nothing felt awkward or forced, which honestly surprised me.
This was before everything was digital, so when we got my photos back, it was a physical book of proofs that we sat down and went through together. I can still picture us flipping through them, taking our time with each one.
And I loved them. I really loved them. I couldn’t stop looking at them. I couldn’t believe they were me. They looked like me, but I saw myself in a way that I never had before. It was the first time I remember looking at photos of myself and not immediately noticing everything I wanted to change. I just remember thinking that I actually looked good, and more than that, I looked like myself. I felt pretty, and I felt confident, which was not something I felt too often back then.
That experience stuck with me more than I realized at the time. Looking back now, I think that’s a big part of why I’m drawn to senior photography. I remember what that age feels like—you’re excited about what’s next, but there’s also a lot of uncertainty, and not everyone feels confident in who they are yet.
So when I work with seniors now, that’s always in the back of my mind. I want them to feel comfortable and like they can be themselves, without worrying about how they’re coming across or whether they’re doing it “right.” I want their session to be something they actually enjoy, not just something they have to get through before graduation.
And when they see their photos, I want them to feel good about themselves. Not just think the pictures look nice, but actually feel confident in what they’re seeing. I want them to be able to look back on that day and remember it fondly, and remember how they felt in that moment and when they first saw their photos. That’s really what matters to me, and it’s a big part of why I love doing this.