What to Expect, What to Wear & Where to Go

Senior year is a BIG deal. Somewhere between college applications, graduation plans, figuring out what comes next, and wondering how on earth the last four years went by so fast, there are also senior portraits to plan.

The good news? They don't have to be stressful or overly formal.

My senior portrait sessions are designed to be relaxed, fun, and actually feel like you. No awkward studio backdrops. No standing stiffly and smiling at the camera for an hour. Just you, a couple of outfits, a great location, and a little direction from me when you need it.

Senior Portrait Sessions

My standard senior portrait session is 30–45 minutes and includes:

2 outfits
1 location
Approximately 30–40 fully edited images
Online gallery of your final images
Photos delivered within 2 weeks of your session
Plenty of guidance with posing and movement because I promise, you don't have to know what to do with your hands

Senior Portrait Session: $450

If you want a little more variety, you can add:

Extra 30 minutes + second location + third outfit: $400

This is a great option if you want to incorporate completely different looks or settings, such as starting with a more urban outfit and finishing somewhere outdoors with mountain or meadow views.

Where Should We Take Your Senior Photos?

One of my favorite things about photographing seniors around Denver, Arvada and Golden area is that we have SO many options.

You don't need to drive two hours into the mountains to get beautiful Colorado senior portraits. There are plenty of locations within about 30 minutes of Arvada (where I live) that give us completely different looks.

🌿 Nature + Golden Hour

If you love warm, glowy photos with tall grasses, trees, open space, and Colorado skies, a park or open-space location is perfect.

Some of my favorite areas to consider include:

Majestic View Park or Chautauqua area – A great choice for open space, grasses, trees, and beautiful Front Range views. It's especially pretty around golden hour.

Olde Town Arvada or Rino – Perfect if you want something a little more urban and editorial. Think brick buildings, storefronts, murals, sidewalks, and lots of variety in a relatively small area.

Standley Lakein Arvada - tall grass, a lake, and a mountain view

Clear Creek/Golden – If you want that unmistakable Colorado feel, Golden gives us Clear Creek, historic buildings, mountain views, and a little more of a foothills vibe without needing to make a full-day trip out of it.

Lookout Mountain – For seniors who really want the mountains! It's a great option when the goal is big Colorado views and a more adventurous feel.

Botanical Gardens in Denver - A beautiful spot with a lot of variety - but is an extra $100 for the photographer permit fee

We are not limited to thses locations - these are just some ideas! There are also tons of smaller parks and open spaces around Arvada that can make beautiful backdrops. Arvada actually has more than 100 parks and a huge network of trails and open space, so we're definitely not short on options.

Golden Hour Is My Favorite

For outdoor senior portraits, I almost always recommend scheduling around golden hour.

Golden hour is the period of soft, warm light before sunset. It's flattering, glowy, and gives Colorado portraits that dreamy look everyone loves.

The exact start time changes throughout the year, but generally we'll plan to begin shooting about 45–60 minutes before sunset.

And don't worry, you don't have to know when that is. I'll help you choose the best time when we plan your session.

A little secret...

The last few minutes before sunset can be some of my favorite light of the entire session.

So if you're thinking, "Why can't we just start earlier?"...trust me. There's a reason photographers are obsessed with golden hour.

What Should You Wear?

The easiest way to plan your outfits is to think about creating two completely different looks.

For example:

Outfit #1: Casual + You

Think jeans and a cute top, your favorite sneakers, a vintage tee, a sweater, a denim jacket, or whatever you actually wear in real life.

Outfit #2: Dressier + Elevated

A dress, skirt, jumpsuit, suit, button-down, nice pants, heels, boots, or something that feels a little more polished.

The goal isn't to look like someone else. It's to look like the best version of yourself.

A few outfit tips:

Choose something you feel comfortable in. If you're constantly pulling down your dress or adjusting your shirt, we're going to notice it in the photos.

Don't be afraid of color. Colorado's natural backgrounds pair beautifully with rich colors, earth tones, jewel tones, and neutrals.

Avoid tiny patterns. Very small stripes or patterns can photograph strangely and can be distracting.

Bring layers. Jackets, cardigans, flannels, blazers, and sweaters give us another way to change up a look without completely changing your outfit.

Think about your shoes! They're going to show up more than you think. Bring shoes that actually go with the outfit rather than making them an afterthought.

Accessorize. Hats, jewelry, sunglasses, watches, hair accessories, letter jackets, varsity jackets, or something meaningful to you can make the photos feel more personal.

And if you're completely stuck, send me photos of your outfit options. I am very happy to help you choose. Just note - that some of these locations we don’t have access to a bathroom so there may be times you do an outfit change in your car (depending on the location).

Make Your Senior Photos Personal

Your senior portraits don't have to look like everyone else's.

If you're an athlete, bring your jersey, letter jacket, cleats, or equipment.

If you're a musician, bring your instrument.

If you love cars, motorcycles, art, dance, hiking, books, skateboarding, fashion, or literally anything else, we can incorporate it.

Some of my favorite senior portraits are the ones that actually tell me something about the person I'm photographing.

These photos are about more than checking "senior pictures" off the to-do list. They're about capturing who you are right now, before everything changes. And this can be a collaboration - if you have a location or ideas - just let me know!

What Happens During the Session?

The biggest thing I want you to know is that you don't need to know how to pose.

That's my job.

I'll give you direction throughout the session, but I also want things to feel natural. We'll walk, talk, move around, change locations within the area, and try different poses and angles.

You don't have to spend 45 minutes staring directly into the camera.

In fact, some of my favorite photos happen when you're laughing, looking away, walking, fixing your hair, or just doing something that feels natural.

We'll start with your first outfit, get comfortable in front of the camera, and then change into your second look for a completely different feel.

Want More Variety?

If you want more than the standard session, the $400 add-on gives us another 30 minutes, a second location, and a third outfit.

This is perfect if you want to combine different styles, like:

Urban → Nature → Mountain

or

Casual → Dressy → Personality/Activity

It gives us more time to slow down, explore, and create a gallery with a lot more variety.

When Should You Take Senior Pictures?

The short answer: whenever you want!

Summer and early fall are especially popular for Colorado senior portraits because everything is green, flowers are blooming, and we have those beautiful warm evenings.

Fall is gorgeous if you want changing leaves and warmer autumn colors.

Spring can be beautiful too, especially if you love a more urban look or want fresh greenery and blossoms.

And if you're trying to get your photos submitted for your yearbook, don't wait until the last minute. Every school has its own deadline, so check with your school before scheduling. For example, Arvada West High School's 2026 senior portrait deadline is usually mid October, with a later deadline available for a fee.

Ready for Senior Pictures?

Senior portraits should feel like an experience, not another item on the endless senior-year checklist.

We'll find a location that fits you, choose outfits that make you feel confident, chase some beautiful Colorado light, and create photos you'll actually want to keep.

Senior Portraits — $450

30–45 minute session
2 outfits
1 location
30–40 edited images
Online gallery
Delivered within 2 weeks

Want more? Add $400 for:

An additional 30 minutes
A second location
A third outfit

Based in Arvada and serving Denver and the surrounding Colorado Front Range, I want your senior session to feel relaxed, personal, and completely you.

Let's make some photos you'll be excited to look back on long after senior year is over.