When I first started out as a professional photographer, senior sessions honestly kind of terrified me. I was so comfortable with little kids. I knew how to get a toddler laughing, how to turn a meltdown into a game, and how to keep things moving when someone’s attention span ran out. That made sense, since it was right where I was in my own motherhood at the time.

Teenagers felt like a whole different thing. I wasn’t sure where to start.

Fast forward a few years, and senior sessions have become some of my absolute favorites. I love hanging out with these teens, exploring fun backdrops around town, and just getting to know them. My goal is to capture a little bit of what makes them them, and it turns out that’s not so different from what I do with little kids. It just involves a lot less chasing.

This session in downtown Columbia was a great reminder of why I love them so much. Downtown has so much variety packed into a few blocks: old brick walls, colorful storefronts, alleys with great light, and plenty of spots that feel completely different from one another. We wandered, talked, and found great backgrounds around just about every corner.

Near the beginning of the session, I mentioned that I sometimes like to end at Columbia Motor Alley for some fun, vintage-feeling shots. It turns out his grandpa used to own a Texaco station, and his family pulled out an old black and white photo of his grandfather standing in front of it. The shots we got ended up looking so similar to that old photo, and I love them!

I love the way they turned out, and hope this family does too.