Riley W: North Catholic High School Senior Photos at Mellon Park

Riley is a senior at North Catholic High School who plans on attending Penn State in the fall! She is an amazing volleyball player and loves Japanese food, and was so much fun to photograph on a beautiful spring day at Mellon Park! It’s hard to believe that, three years ago, I photographed her brother at McConnell’s Mill (check it out here!)

I loved that we were able to find some blue florals to compliment Riley’s blue dress - and that her white dress went with everything else! She also brought a few of her volleyball medals, her cap and gown, and a Penn State baseball hat to incorporate into some of her photos. It’s always so fun to incorporate some personal memorabilia into senior shoots!

Congratulations on your senior year, Riley! And thanks so much for the honor of taking these photos for you!

6 Ways to Make Senior Photos Less Awkward & Uncomfortable

When I talk to people my age about their senior photo experience, they will often say things like….

“It was SO awkward.”

“I felt so uncomfortable the entire time.”

“I couldn’t wait for it to be over.”

“What am I supposed to do with my hands?!”

Let’s face it - senior photos can sometimes have a bad rep for being uncomfortable, awkward, and simply an experience that you have to “get through” in order to get what you really want in the end - the images.

Well, let it not be so for my clients! I strive to create an environment that is laid back, relaxed, and comfortable - like you have a friend taking your photos!

But I know that those pre-session nerves can sometimes still get the best of anyone. So today, I’m sharing some of my TOP tips and recommendations for ways to make your senior photos less awkward and uncomfortable! First up…

1 - Consider doing them alongside a friend!

These twins opted to have their photos taken together, simultaneously! We had such a blast!

Have a friend who needs their senior photos taken, too? Consider having your senior photos taken simultaneously! I’ve done a few “best friend” senior photo sessions, where two separate seniors have booked me together - and because they are doing their senior photos together, they can encourage each other, share outfits, and even have some photos taken together! Plus, that session will be a fun experience and memory for the two of you to have together!

2 - Bring a friend or trusted family member with you.

The person you bring to your session doesn’t necessarily have to be having their photo taken, too. Bringing a friend or trusted family member to your session is a great way to feel a bit more comfortable, rather than having your photos taken on your own.

3 - Have your senior photos taken at a familiar location.

This senior opted to have her photos taken at a camp she had attended and counseled at for years!

We all feel more comfortable in places we’re familiar with, right? The same is true for a photo session! If you want to keep things comfortable, consider locations for your session that are meaningful to you in some way. Maybe there’s a park that you visit often with your friends. Maybe you grew up visiting the Strip District with your family and feel comfortable there. Maybe your parents, grandparents, or a family friend have a picturesque property that you’ve visited many times - that could be a great spot, too! Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box!

4 - Consider a morning senior session vs. an evening senior session.

As a more natural-light style photographer (meaning that I don’t generally use off camera/artificial lights to light my senior subjects), I take senior photo sessions within two hours of sunset, and two hours of sunrise when the natural light is at its best. There are a few advantages to morning senior sessions that might help a senior feel more comfortable!

First, you can get your session done. Instead of waiting around all day for it, you can wake up, getting ready, and get it finished before lunch time! That way, you don’t have to spend the day thinking about it.

Second, there are generally less people in public spaces in the morning. Lots of popular photo locations have WAY less people early in the morning, rather than later in the day (especially on a nice evening, when we’re bound to run into lots of other photo sessions taking place!). If you want more privacy for your senior session, I would recommend a morning time slot!

5 - Look at your photographer’s work in advance.

All photographers have different ways they pose and direct images. To be more familiar with the poses your photographer might pose or direct you into during your session, be sure to look through some of their photo sessions in advance! That way, when they ask you to do something, you might be able to recall how it looks on camera based on what you’ve seen of their work - whether in their portfolio or on their blog.

Personally, I love sharing blog posts from my senior sessions with my favorite 10-25 images! I love giving upcoming seniors a feel of how they can expect to be posed/directed through the work that I share, in advance, so they can feel more comfortable and confident going into it!

6 - Talk with your photographer beforehand.

Whether it’s over the phone, by email, or by text, having a conversation with your photographer prior to your session might alleviate some of your pre-session jitters! They can reassure you, provide outfit advice, give tips for what to expect, and even quell some of your specific fears that you’re willing to share.

I always love to prep my seniors as much as possible before a session! Every senior who books with me gets digital access to a “Senior Style & Experience Guide,” which is meant to walk seniors through the process of what a shoot with me will be like, introduce who I am, and give tips for what to wear, what not to wear, and how to get the most out of their session.

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I truly hope this blog posts helps you feel more comfortable and confident heading into your senior session! Can having your photo taken be awkward and uncomfortable? Of COURSE, because it’s something we’re not always used to doing in a professional setting! But by implementing one, two, or all of these steps, you’re sure to have a great session and feel more confident going into it!

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Payton A: Seneca Valley High School Senior Photos at Mellon Park

As you might be able to tell from just the header image, we had THE most beautiful day for Payton’s senior photos at Mellon Park!

Payton is a sweet, bubbly senior who is graduating from Seneca Valley High School as a part of the Class of 2022! She is heading to the University of Tennessee in the fall (hence the orange baseball hat we incorporated into some of her photos!). She wanted lots of florals and some architecture in here photos, so Mellon Park was a lovely choice!

We started off our time together by hitting alllll of the pink blooming trees - which perfectly complimented her first dress (which I absolutely adored!) For her second outfit, she chose a white eyelet dress, which had the perfect amount of texture to add some visual interest to her photos.

Congratulations on your senior year, Payton! ❤️ Thank you for the honor of taking these images for you to celebrate!

As a note: for those looking to have beautiful spring blooms in their photos, the last few days of April and the first week of May is the ideal time to book (of course, this can vary slightly year to year depending on early Spring weather)!

How to Prepare for Your Senior Photo Session

Preparing for senior photos isn’t hard, but it certainly can be if you wait until the last minute!

Today, I’m sharing things to think about months and weeks out from your session, as well as what to remember the day of your senior session!

One to Three Months Out:

• Schedule any hair, makeup, or nail appointments you might want!

• Start thinking about what you might want to wear - go through your closet in advance to see if you’ll need to purchase any additional garments

• Choose a location where your senior photos will take place

The Week of Your Session:

• Finalize and steam or iron all of your outfit choices (wrinkles be gone!) & props!

• Drink LOTS of water! This is good for your skin and will give it a nice glow!

• Make sure you are applying chapstick, especially if you are prone to chapped lips! (Chapped lips can’t be fixed in photoshop!)

• Make sure your nails are clean or, for the ladies, painted!

• Refrain from wearing sunglasses for the week leading up to your session so you aren’t squinting during your session!

The Day of Your Session:

• Give yourself plenty of time to get ready – more than you think!

• Don't forget to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before our scheduled start time. Your session will begin at the time we set in advance, not at the time you arrive.

• Eat a snack before you come – it’s not fun getting your photo taken while you’re hangry!

What to Bring:

• Any outfit changes you might have

• Any props you may want to include (an instrument, soccer ball, pet, etc.!)

• A change of comfortable shoes to walk in

• A hair brush or comb (or anything for on location touch ups!)

• A parent or friend (moral support is always a good thing – plus, if you’d like they can step in for a few photos at the end!)

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

One of my favorite ways to prepare my clients for their senior sessions is through my blog! Check out the popular blogs below to see if any of your senior Q’s can be answered, or reach out using the contact tab in the navigation above to start a conversation! ☺️

• Pittsburgh Area Location Ideas for Senior Girl Portraits

• Pittsburgh Area Location Ideas for Senior Guy Portraits

• 4 Tips for Preparing for Your Senior Photo Session

• When to Have Your Senior Photos Taken

• 4 Ways to add more “Umph” to Your Senior Photo Outfits!

• 4 Reasons to Have Your Senior Photos Taken Over the Summer

• Why Professional Prints are Worth the Investment

Historic Harmony Triplet Senior Session

What a joy it was to photograph this sweet set of triplets - Paige, Ethan, & Jeremy! We had a beautiful day for their photos in Historic Harmony, and had a “mega” senior session to accommodate taking photos of all three of them separately, and some of them together!

I’ve learned that, when choosing a location for senior photos with multiple seniors (see my last triplet senior photo session from back in 2017 here!), it’s so important to have a solid variety of backdrops. While using different types of poses can make each senior’s photos look different, it really does help to have a wide variety of backdrops to choose from to differentiate each senior a little bit from the other!

I was SO excited when these three decided on Historic Harmony for their photos. It is such a versatile location with so much variety to offer!

Besides photographing these three - I loved getting to know them, too! A few fun facts: Paige is heading to school after graduation to become a pastry chef, so of course we had to use the bakery sign as a little nod toward her future career! Also, the blue floral dress she is wearing in some of these photos was her mom's when she was in college... So sweet!!

Ethan and Jeremy are headed to Slippery Rock post high school - they love ultimate frisbee and are both musically talented - one plays the violin and one plays drums!

In the post below, I’ve tried to break up their photos into groups - first Paige, then Ethan, then Jeremy! Then, of course, some photos of all three of them together ☺️

Congratulations on your senior year, Paige, Ethan, and Jeremy! ☺️ Thank you so much for the honor of taking these photos for you!

Sophia E: North Allegheny High School Senior Photos at Mellon Park

Sophia is a North Allegheny senior who is graduating this spring! She plans to attend Temple University, her snack of choice is kettle cooked jalapeno chips, and she was an absolute delight to photograph during an early April evening at Mellon Park!

Mellon Park has really started to bloom - not only with daffodils on the ground, but also with a beautiful pink tree! Of course, we had to take advantage of that tree during our time together… and I’m so glad that we did! Those are some of my favorite photos from Sophia’s entire session!

Congratulations on your senior year, Sophia!

If you're interested in learning more about a senior photo session, feel free to click here!

Madie D: Seneca Valley High School Senior Photos at Mellon Park

Meet Madie! She’s a part of the class of 2022 who is graduating this Spring, and she was a joy to photograph! (I had the honor of photographing her brother just last year for his senior photos in Historic Harmony - click here to see!)

Madie’s session took place at Mellon Park on a damp and cold morning in early April. She was a trooper through the cold and rainy weather! And she even brought her color guard flag for some photos… it was so much fun to see her twirl it around!

One of my favorite parts about April sessions are the FLOWERS! And even though we don’t always see many until mid to late April, there were some beautiful daffodils in bloom that really make Madie’s photos pop!

Congratulations on your senior year, Madie!!!

Julia E: Phipp's Conservatory Broderie Room Senior Photos

Say hello to Miss Julia, who is a part of the class of 2022! Julia plans on studying Psychology after high school, and has such a sweet spirit! She loves reading, writing, and baking.

It was such a treat to be able to photograph Julia a few weeks ago at Phipp's Conservatory in the Broderie Room! If you didn’t know, the Broderie Room at Phipp’s is modeled after a formal French garden, and (in my opinion) it’s easily one of the most beautiful rooms they have!

Phipp’s ended up working out perfectly for Julia’s senior portrait session - her photos needed to be completed with enough time to use them for senior announcements this summer, so they couldn’t be scheduled too late into the Spring. But Julia also wanted some beautiful greens and florals as a backdrop, which usually begin to pop up in the Spring timeframe. So when I suggested renting a room at Phipp’s for her senior photos, I was so excited when she and her mom jumped on the opportunity!

Did you know that you can actually rent a room at Phipp’s? It’s true! Click here to find out more about a room rental at Phipp’s. A room rental at Phipp’s might be a great idea for a senior session for you if…

• You don’t want to have to worry about inclement weather the day of your shoot! Phipp’s is a covered, enclosed greenhouse, making it a great indoor option - which would mean that you wouldn’t have to worry about rain, cold, or snow!

• You want to have a more private space for your session. Public spaces & parks can be busy during the summer months. Phipp’s is a private space where people won’t be able to interrupt!

Renting a room is actually the only way to have a professional photo session take place there (just so you know!). But it really is a fantastic option, even a great backup rain plan!

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

Connor D: Franklin Regional High School Senior Photos in Oakland PA

Connor is a senior at Franklin Regional High School who is graduating this Spring with the class of 2022! He is the quarterback for his school’s football team, and plans to study business post-high school.

Connor chose Oakland for his senior photos. We began at Mellon Institute, then worked our way over to the Cathedral of Learning. There are so many great locations in Oakland for senior photos right within that small area that encompass both architecture and nature!

Leading up to his session, we weren’t sure it was even going to be able to happen. Throughout the week, the forecast was calling for rain ALL day - literally! And then, when the rainy forecast finally cleared the morning of his session, a new forecast of strong winds showed up. Strong winds can sometimes be problematic during a photo session, unless you’re fully committed to that “Beyonce” wind-in-the-hair look. And while I’m sure Connor could’ve pulled it off, it wasn’t really the look he wanted to go for!

Ultimately, though - we did decide together to move forward with the session! And I’m glad we did. We had lots of buildings in Oakland to hide around, and tried to shoot between wind gusts. And Connor was a great sport through it all - we had a great time hanging out with him!

Congratulations on your senior year, Connor!

JR: Seneca Valley Senior Photos on the North Shore of Pittsburgh

JR is a Seneca Valley High School senior who is graduating in the Spring of 2022! He chose the picturesque North Shore for his photos, which afforded LOTS of opportunity for photos with a classic Pittsburgh yellow bridge and the city background!

A few weeks ago, I discovered that the Roberto Clemente Bridge had closed starting on February 14, 2022 for the next two years. Thankfully, the Andy Warhol Bridge served as an excellent backup spot during JR’s session!

JR kept it casual and decided to wear two different sweatshirts for his senior photos - from competing schools! JR’s family is a “Penn State” family, but because JR will be attending school at Pitt for Nursing, they’ve adopted some love for their infamous rival ;)

Because of the Roberto Clemente Bridge closure, I decided to look for some new locations for photos around the North Shore… and those locations did not disappoint! We even found a colorful mural on one of the side streets that made for some vibrant & unique images. And of course, the walkways and streets themselves always serve as excellent backdrops!

In addition to having his senior photos taken, JR’s family opted to add on a “family mini session” to the beginning of his senior session! So, for the first 20 minutes we were together, we created some updated family photos for them. It was so much fun, and a good way to get JR loose before the camera was solely focused on him. You can check out photos from their family mini session here!

Congratulations on your senior year, JR!