Senior photos have slowly become some of my favorite types of sessions, and as a Sullivan County, NY photographer, they’re a chance for me to showcase some stunning scenery along with these fabulous seniors! Take an adventure with me into the woods and down by the river with Paige, a member of the Class of 2023!
Although I take photos in and around the Sullivan County Catskills, which sometimes means I travel into Orange County, NY or Delaware County, NY or even over into Wayne County, PA, one of my very favorite places to take seniors is not far from home in the Sullivan West Central School District on the western side of Sullivan County.
I always talk through session locations with my clients ahead of time — and that’s not limited to seniors — and offer up a few private locations that only I take photos at. We don’t always end up there; sometimes we may end up at a more well-known location, but Paige and her family were game to try this favorite spot in Callicoon, NY.
Here’s why I love it for senior sessions: There’s a garage on the property where seniors can change clothes for their photo session. That’s a big part of senior photos for me — I want seniors to be able to show off their individuality in a way that usually does not happen in a quick set-up under the lights in a gymnasium or auditorium at their high school.
I want them to be able to wear favorite outfits, throw on a sports uniform, bring special items that have real meaning to them, and more!
This special location also has a number of classic features including a barn, stone wall, forest, and of course the Delaware River!
Senior photo sessions are something I schedule throughout the year, so when people ask “when is the best time for senior photos,” I typically tell them the truth: Whenever is the best time for you! Are you a summer lover? Do you absolutely fall for fall? Are you really into snow or the spring?
We’re lucky here in Sullivan County’s Catskills region that we have beautiful spots in every season. All that said, the golden light that I was able to capture in Paige’s session is unique to the summer and fall when the earth’s axis is tilted JUST RIGHT!
When a photographer friend took a look at Paige’s gallery, she said the photos looked very “wholesome.” It was something I took as an incredible compliment because that meant I had captured this teenager perfectly. It’s exactly the word I would use to describe this senior who is sweet, kind, and soft-spoken. She’s incredibly wholesome, and that’s one of the most wonderful things about her.
It’s also something I considered in our posing. Different seniors can pose in different ways — I work to ensure the way I ask them to stand is communicating who they are. This is something you won’t see in the standard yearbook photo, which includes senior student after senior student posed in the exact same way!
There are plenty of reasons I loved working with Paige to capture this important milestone, but I have to admit her siblings were part of it! I’ve been lucky enough to get the call from her mom each time a member of the family hit senior year, and each year I have taken a photo of these three siblings together.
This is part of my senior photo package because the people we grow up with are part of shaping us. I see senior photos not just as a chance to capture some pretty photos of your child before they head off for college (and you may or may not get them home to be in that Christmas card photo!), but also as a record of the child that is before they become the adult they soon will be. Their siblings are part of that!
Curious about senior photos? Find out how to set up your own child’s senior session in Sullivan County, NY or the surrounding area!