Senior Style Done Right
Top of His Class & Headed to UCLA
There are some senior sessions that feel like the perfect reflection of everything this season is about—celebrating how far you’ve come while looking ahead to everything that’s waiting for you. Grant’s senior portrait session was exactly that.
And he had quite a bit to celebrate.
Grant graduated at the top of his class and was accepted to UCLA—an incredible accomplishment and the beginning of an exciting new chapter. I wanted his senior portraits to capture this moment in his life while still feeling relaxed, natural, and completely like him.
Starting at Garland Ranch in Carmel Valley
We began Grant’s spring senior portrait session at Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley, one of my favorite locations for senior photos on the Monterey Peninsula.
Spring at Garland Ranch is gorgeous. Everything is green, the trails are surrounded by trees and foliage, and when the late-afternoon light starts filtering through, the entire landscape seems to glow.
Grant kept his first look simple with a gray polo and neutral pants, which worked perfectly with the natural setting. We wandered through the trails, stopped beneath some of the incredible old trees, and took advantage of the huge fallen logs and beautiful scenery throughout the park.
These are always some of my favorite images to create during a senior session—the ones that don't feel overly posed. Walking down a trail, leaning against a tree, hands in pockets, or simply laughing between shots. They feel natural, relaxed and timeless.
From the Trees to the Coast
For the second half of Grant’s session, we headed to Asilomar State Beach in Pacific Grove, where we traded Carmel Valley's greenery for rocky coastline, crashing waves and that incredible Central Coast sunset.
This is exactly why I love combining two locations for senior portraits.
Within one session, we went from lush green trails and towering trees to open beaches, rugged rocks and the Pacific Ocean. The two locations couldn't look more different, but together they tell a much bigger story.
And Grant brought an outfit I always love seeing at a senior session—a suit.
Yes, Bring the Suit!
I love when senior guys bring a mix of casual and dressier clothing, and Grant's light suit with a black shirt looked amazing against the coastline.
Senior portraits don't have to be just jeans and a favorite shirt. This is a major milestone, and there is something special about including a more polished look along with the casual outfits that represent everyday life.
Against the boardwalk, rocks and ocean, Grant's suit completely changed the feel of his portraits. Some images became classic and sophisticated, while others still felt relaxed and distinctly California.
Then we switched things up again with shorts, a polo and flip-flops for the final part of the evening. As the sun dropped lower, we photographed along the water, on the rocks and in the dunes, finishing with that warm golden light that makes spring evenings on the Monterey Peninsula so beautiful.
Senior Portraits That Show More Than One Side of You
Grant's gallery is such a great example of why I encourage seniors to bring different outfits and why I love creating sessions with variety.
A senior can be accomplished and laid-back. Polished and casual. Ready for college while still wanting photographs that capture who they are right now.
Your senior portraits don't have to fit into one style.
Bring the suit.
Bring the favorite everyday outfit.
Bring the clothes that feel most like you.
We'll create a gallery that captures all of it.
Congratulations, Grant, on graduating at the top of your class and your acceptance to UCLA. What an incredible way to close one chapter and begin the next.
Looking for senior portraits in Carmel Valley, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Monterey or along the Central Coast? I create personalized senior portrait sessions designed around each senior's personality, style and interests, with locations ranging from the rolling hills and oak trees of Carmel Valley to the beaches of the Monterey Peninsula.
Class of 2027—now is the perfect time to start planning your senior portrait experience.