Alex M: Succop Nature Park Senior Photos

Succop Nature Park may be becoming a new favorite spot of mine for senior photos! There are SO MANY great spots to use - a beautifully lit wooded/grassy area, piles of logs, a newly renovated barn, a willow tree and pond… the possibilities are endless! And for a one hour senior session, it can be so helpful to choose a location that has so much variety within such a short walking distance.

Another perk of this location specifically for Alex is that it is right down the road from his family farm! Yes, his family has a sweetcorn farm that the whole family helps out with. Isn’t that amazing? How many high school seniors in the year of 2021 can say that they help out on the family farm?!

In addition to helping out on the farm, Alex is very involved at his church, where he plays guitar and sings. He also has a plethora of other activities he’s involved in at school (honestly - so many that I can’t even remember them all! 😂 Sorry, Alex!!)

When I chat with seniors during their session, I’m always reminded of what a busy time of life the last year of high school is - and, in turn, I’m always thankful to give the seniors (and their parents!) the opportunity to slow down for even a short period of time to reflect on the significance of this season, and the significance of the new season ahead.

I am honored to be the one who was able to capture the significance of this season for you, Alex! Congratulations on your senior year!

Isabella L: Hartwood Acres Mansion Senior Photos

I had the pleasure of taking Isabella’s sister’s senior photos (almost three years ago to the day!), and when Isabella’s mom emailed me to chat about her second daughter’s senior session, I was so excited! And, of course, Isabella was a dream to photograph. Her outfit choices stood out so well against the Hartwood greenery and architecture, and blended so well with the florals!

Isabella, it was such an honor to celebrate this season with you! Congratulations on your senior year!

Joey Forster: Pittsburgh Senior Photos

Sometimes the best spot for senior photos is in your own front yard!

Joey's family invited us onto their property to use their HUGE variety of picture perfect backdrops for his senior photos. There was an unbelievable amount of great spots to choose from, from old sheds to piles of logs to beautiful staircases... along with some amazing light! And, maybe even better, their family dog (Mimsy) was quite interested in what was happening and did her best to photo bomb a number of Joey’s photos (dogs always welcome - especially well behaved ones like this lady!). You’ll be sure to see her in a few of the photos below ☺️

Congratulations on your senior year, Joey!

Harrison S: Downtown Pittsburgh Senior Photos

Harrison is a soccer-playing, musically minded senior who is graduating with the class of 2021! For his session, we sought after a blended natural/city scenery vibe - the best of both worlds, really. And I think we were able to achieve that look in his final images!

We started off our time together at Mellon Green, then walked over to Mellon Square, then ended at the Terminal in the Strip District with some great light, some vibrant painted steps, and a great view of the city. Harrison brought his drum sticks for a subtle nod to his percussionist roots, which paired perfectly with his suit. We were even able to catch the first flickers of the string lights at the Terminal for a great last look!

Harrison, it was an honor to take your senior photos. Congratulations on your senior year!

Adriana C: Oakland Senior Photos

Adriana brought her A-game for her senior photos in Oakland on a chilly April evening in Oakland!

This accomplished lady plans to follow in her family's medical footsteps to become a cardiac surgeon! She loves the heart, and no, surgery doesn't make her squeamish. She also loves scary movies and - as you can see from her photos - is obviously a natural in front of the camera!

Congratulations on your senior year, Adriana!

Daniel P: Main Street Zelienople Senior Photos

Get ready for a photo overload right here featuring some Zelienople senior photos!!

This senior session not only featured the shortest commute of my life (three blocks total ) but my favorite town - the one I am so thankful to call home! And it just so happens to the one that Dan and his family call home, too.

Dan and his family are a part of the Zelienople community - they know all of the "goings on" and Dan even works at one of the best local restaurants - Kaufman Tavern! So of course, it was only fitting that his session took place in the town he's grown up in, worked in, and lived in.

Dan is graduating with the class of 2021, and plans to continue his education to become an elementary school teacher! It was so much fun to hear about his heart for kids and training up the next generation. I am so thankful to have been the one to take these photos!

Congratulations on your senior year, Dan!

Dylan N: Hartwood Acres Mansion Senior Photos

Good old Hartwood Acres… it was good to be back after a few month hiatus!

Dylan is a North Catholic senior who's graduating as a part of the class of 2021. He's a fan of Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, and - fun fact - works at Giant Eagle and is a wicked fast shopper (the fastest at his store!). Congrats on your senior year, Dylan! Thanks for the honor of taking your senior photos!

Josef C: McConnell's Mill Senior Photos

You never know what sort of weather you’ll get in March in Pittsburgh, but on this particular Saturday for Josef’s senior photos… we had… wait for it… SUN! It may have been a little cold (30’s?), but the sun kept our heads and spirits high during this session!

Josef is a senior at Seneca Valley who plans on studying botany post-high school graduation! McConnell’s Mill was an easy choice as far as location goes for his senior session, considering it’s a favorite spot of his for hanging out with friends. It was easy to see his love for botany throughout the session. Even though much of the landscape was still slightly dead from winter, Josef identified plants for us as we went throughout his session - which was so much fun! Honestly, I don’t give plants very much thought when I’m out walking around, so it was cool to be able to see what I usually miss through Josef’s eyes!

A HUGE congratulations to you, Josef, on your senior year! I’m so thankful we had the opportunity to photograph you!

Garrett D: Historic Harmony Senior Photos

How is it already March?! I’m not sure about you, but January and February seemed to FLY by this year! We spent those two months moving into our new home, and going to Disney (since the winter is my “vacation” time!), but towards the end of those two months was Garrett’s senior session in Historic Harmony!

While February can be a toss up when it comes to weather, the day of Garrett’s senior session was absolutely gorgeous! The sun was shining and it was relatively warm for a Pittsburgh winter day! I know Garrett was especially thankful to not have his photos done in the snow! 👏

Garrett’s mom and sister joined us for his photos, and they were so much fun! Bringing a family member or friend along to your senior session can be a great way to feel a bit more comfortable during your session… and they can even step in front of the camera for a couple of photos towards the end of our time together!

Garrett is a Seneca Valley senior who plans on heading into the Navy post-high school graduation, and hopes to work in Marketing and Business someday! Harmony ended up being the perfect choice for his session, considering that he loves historic towns like Charleston and Williamsburg!

He also brought along a purple hat in honor of his grandma's battle with pancreatic cancer. Such a sweet tribute!

Congratulations on your senior year, Garrett!

Favorite (Non-Cheesy) Simple Props for a Senior Session

One of the most common questions I get when it comes to senior photos is: “should I bring any props?”

Props can be a great way to add personality to your senior session and make your photos your own! Many of my seniors, when thinking about props, voice that they are afraid that their photos will appear “cheesy” if any are added in.

Truth be told – some props can be a little cheesy, but fear not! Within the world of cheesy props, there are some props that never seem to go out of style – regardless of what is currently trending! And a big part of what can make a prop look cheesy is how it is incorporated. I love using props to add personality to a client’s images in the least cliche way possible!

Today, I’d love to share a few of my favorite simple, non-cheesy (at least to me!) props, and how I love to incorporate them into my client’s images without being overly cheesy!

Instruments

If playing an instrument is a big part of your life, then it could be a fun addition to your senior photos! For the center images below, we went for a VERY subtle music themed shot by throwing some old sheets of music in the air!

Sports Equipment

Have a sport that you’ve played since middle school, or that you want to pursue professionally? Or maybe just a sport that you absolutely love? Consider incorporating one or two items from that sport into your session! You don’t necessarily have to pull out your entire uniform to add a touch of “sports” to your photos - even one football or a pair of ice skates can do the trick!

Hobbies

This might be one of my favorite categories, because the possibilities really are endless, and there are ample opportunities to get creative!

Love biking? Bring an old vintage bike with you to your session! Love Harry Potter? Bring you time turner necklace or Gryffindor scarf to add a hint to the best book series of all time 😉 Or if you want to go big, have your photos taken with the airplane you’re learning to fly on! There are soooo many possibilities when it comes to incorporating your hobbies - and it’s easy to either go with more “obvious” props (like a camera, if you love photography!) or with more subtle ones (like a backpack, if you love hiking/adventuring!).

Pets

If there’s any sure-fire way to feel comfortable in front of the camera, it’s definitely by having your furry friend present! Honestly, I wish I had gotten photos with my childhood dog for my own senior photos. It can be fun to have a few quick shots of you two interacting together!

If you are interested in bringing a fury friend to your senior session, be sure to check out this blog post (technically it’s an engagement blog post, but it is a great resource for any type of session where a dog is present!) for some of my best tips!

Accessories

Do accessories count as a prop? Absolutely! A hat, a scarf, beautiful coat, umbrella, or any particular accessory you’re currently feeling can be a great way to add a little visual interest to your images! (And don’t worry, we can do some with, and some without to get a good variety!)

Flowers

This has truly become a favorite of mine over the last couple of years! Flowers can add SO MUCH to your images, especially when you coordinate them with your outfits! They can be held, thrown, arranged on the ground, carried in a basket… and more! This is a great option for adding a softer, more feminine look to your photos.

To make this one more personal, bring your favorite type of flower to your session! Or maybe a flower that is your favorite color? You could do stemmed flowers, flowers with the heads cut off (great for those “laying in the grass” shots!), or even just petals for throwing/spreading on the ground!

A Special Outfit

This is another one of my favorites! If you have a prom or homecoming dress that you want professional photos in, or a special cultural outfit you only wear on special occasions, why not bring it with you to your senior session? It will definitely make your photos different from your friends’!

What do you think… are props for senior photos cheesy, or is there still a place for them where they can look natural?