Ideas for Outdoor Senior Pictures

If you haven’t noticed, Arizona has some beautiful locations for senior pictures in the East Valley. One of my favorite graduates is Marissa from Red Mountain High School. She competed in both high school and club dive, as well as the CMU dive team! Impressive! I just got an update from her about life since high school graduation. She just graduated from Colorado Mesa University and accepted a position working in the NICU.

My favorite part of college was the continuous opportunities I had to meet new people and learn about different experiences. I’m so excited to work with people who have similar passions as me, and I’m excited to be working with the tiniest of humans!

Marissa Stahl, Class of 2024

You’ll be able to tell from her pictures, but Marissa is just oozing with personality…giggles, serious, smiles, dancing, goofy, she does it all and is absolutely beautiful!

Wearing Hats for Senior Portraits

I’m a hat lover, not necessarily for myself every day, but for senior portraits? Definitely! But you’d be surprised how many girls are so against wearing hats for their session, and Marissa was no different. I’m really not sure why because not only does it give you additional looks, it’s a fun way to bring extra fashion and variety to your senior pictures! Sometimes you wear the hat, sometimes you carry it, and sometimes it just sits next you. Despite saying that she did not like hats, Marissa ended up loving many of her final images with hats. Can you blame her? Both the cute off-the-shoulder outfit and hat are from the exclusive Style Closet, which is available for all my clients.

Confetti and Glitter

My senior girls LOVE pulling out the glitter for senior pictures! But glitter is messy, so confetti is a much better option. We always place plastic on the ground to make cleanup easier too. Can we talk about this great senior picture location though? It is actually just off the side of the road, but it really makes for a beautiful desert background.

Pro Tip: Lay plastic on the ground when using confetti to make clean up easier. And please, NEVER just leave confetti on the ground!!

Bring the Balloons

Balloons are definitely trending with graduates, whether it’s your age or your graduating class! Many of them are turning 18 and choose to bring mylar balloons while others choose to bring balloons that match their graduating class year. Keeping the balloons straight can be a challenge though, so we made sure to tape them together.

Pro Tip: Use shipping tape in a loop to keep the balloons from spinning. Consider holding the balloons, like Marissa did, for another look too!

Senior Pictures at Night

One of the newest additions to our sessions is the ability to shoot after dark. Our senior portrait sessions used to finish around sunset, but now if you choose an After Dark session we’ll continue shooting and get some gorgeous night time shots to add to your gallery! Below you’ll see two of my favorite hats, both available to borrow from my Style Closet. Sometimes she’s wearing it, other times sometimes she’s carrying it, and both work beautifully.

Ideas for Unique Senior Pictures

• Bring your favorite hats and accessories, or borrow some from the Style Closet
• Senior pictures at night give you a whole new look
• Use balloons to celebrate a birthday or graduation

Advice for New Grads

I’ve known Marissa for many years now, so I wanted to know her advice to new high school grads and even college grads heading into new careers. Her advice is simple; be open to new opportunities and say yes! Check out her senior session video if you’d like more ideas for your senior pictures!

Senior Photographer in Mesa, AZ

Choosing a photographer is not an easy task! But if you’re overwhelmed and need someone to help you through the entire process, that’s where I come in. I’ll help with everything from locations & outfits to grad cards & gifts! Sound good? The first step is to grab your FREE download of the Senior Client Welcome Guide to learn more about Arizona’s best senior portrait experience!

You don’t have to do a lot to get started. Just contact me, and I’ll get you on the schedule (yes, it’s already filling up!) No pressure though, we’ll start with a phone call or consultation to make sure I’m the right photographer for you and answer some of your questions. Don’t forget to follow the blog for great inspiration and ideas for your senior pictures! You can also find me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram where I’m always posting the latest and greatest photos, ideas, and more.