Category: Pinkerton Park

Seeing Through a Photographer’s Eye: A Downtown Franklin Senior Session

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Senior Session in Downtown Franklin TN and Pinkerton Park

There’s a saying in photography that you should always “get it right in camera.” While I mostly agree with this philosophy, I’ve learned that sometimes the most beautiful shots come from seeing potential where others might not – and knowing what magic you can create later.

This senior guy’s session was the perfect example of how a photographer’s eye works differently. We started in downtown Franklin, and I’m sure my perspective looked a little unusual to anyone watching. While most people see the bustling street with too many cars, crowds of tourists, and trash cans scattered everywhere, I’m scanning for that perfect light hitting a brick wall or the way shadows fall across the architecture.

Yes, I could wait for the exact moment when no cars are driving by and no people are walking through my shot. But that’s just not practical when you’re trying to capture genuine expressions and keep the energy flowing. Instead, I strategically position myself so that any distracting elements fall in areas I know I can easily clean up later. I might be aiming for the dreamy way afternoon light pours over a building, fully aware that I’ll need to remove that delivery truck in the background during editing.

We had planned to end the session at the bridge at Pinkerton Park. His mom suggested we park on the opposite side of the bridge from Pinkerton Park. I’m so grateful she made that suggestion because it led me to discover this little patch of weeds that became absolutely perfect for our final shots. Now, I’ll be honest – to anyone else, this spot probably looked like nothing special. It was in a dingy gravel lot right next to some dumpsters. Not exactly scenic.

But that’s where the photographer’s eye comes in. I could see that the patch of weeds was just large enough to create a beautiful natural backdrop, and the light was filtering through in the most gorgeous way. Sometimes the most unexpected locations give you the most stunning results.

This is what I love about photography – constantly looking beyond the obvious to find those hidden gems. Every session teaches me to stay flexible with my plans while keeping my eyes open for something even better than what I originally envisioned.

Ready to create some senior portraits that capture your unique personality? I’d love to work with you to find those perfect moments and unexpected beautiful spots that tell your story. Contact me to book your session – I promise we’ll find the magic, even in the most unlikely places!

Senior Session at Centennial High School Baseball Field

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Senior Baseball themed portraits at Centennial High School

I love when seniors want to include something that actually matters to them in their portraits. When I heard that baseball was important for this session, I immediately started thinking about how we could make that work. We began at Pinkerton Park by the river, but I knew the baseball field at Centennial High School would be where we’d get the shots that really mattered.

I’d never photographed at this field before, so I spent some time on Google Earth beforehand to see how the sun would set. I was right about the light being perfect behind the field, which made all that planning worth it.

What excited me about this location was getting to work with harsh light instead of my usual soft, shaded approach. The dugout shots ended up being some of my favorites because of how the late afternoon sun created those dramatic shadow patterns. There’s something about that contrast between bright sunlight and deep shadows that just works with sports photography.

Once the sun started setting, we got some beautiful silhouettes, and I used my flash to add some dramatic lighting. I love how they turned out.

Baseball has clearly been a big part of his story, and being able to capture that in a setting that holds meaning makes these portraits more than just senior pictures. They’re a genuine reflection of this moment in his life.

Ready to create senior portraits that tell your story? Let’s talk about incorporating what matters most to you into your session.

Senior Guy Session at Pinkerton Park – Session Locations through the eyes of a photographer

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Senior Guy Session at Pinkerton Park by Crystal Freemon Photography

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a senior guy session at Pinkerton Park, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. This location was a fantastic choice for senior photos. For me, the most important elements of a photo session location are good lighting and variety, and this location has both. Plus, it’s great to have some updated examples of this location for future clients to reference.

I think what a photographer sees when considering a portrait session location is different from what other people see, so I thought I would outline what I like about this location and the kind of things I’m looking for in great portrait spots.

Simple Greenery with Sun Coming Through The Trees

Lighting is one of my favorite elements in a session location, and I’m always looking for places where the sun is shining through the trees. There are several of these spots at Pinkerton. The first is just the entrance to a trail. It’s simple and probably nothing you would think of as particularly interesting, but I love the way the light comes through at this time of day. A little ways up the trail is another area with tall weeds that are fun to shoot through, creating texture and variety, again with lovely light coming through the trees. This area is pretty shaded, which is important for the early part of a session while the sun is still higher in the sky. We don’t want harsh lighting for the portraits, so I look for shaded areas in the beginning.

Graffiti Overpass by the Creek

One of my favorite spots at Pinkerton Park is the area near the creek, where the overpass is covered in vibrant graffiti. This setting is particularly fun for senior sessions, adding a touch of grunge to the photos. Standing just at the edge of the overpass gives some really nice lighting. Inside the underpass, the lighting is more challenging, but it’s worth it to capture some of the graffiti and the structure itself. Again, this is not a place you’d consider beautiful by any means. And I will also admit that I have to edit out some less-than-desirable graffiti. Down by the creek, the lighting is better and there is more fun graffiti. I also like the texture the rocks add in that spot.

Senior Guy Session at Pinkerton Park by Crystal Freemon Photography

Natural Beauty in the Trees

For these first photos, I just had my senior sit on a stool off the path because I liked the lighting. These are super simple with just greenery for the backdrop, but it makes the senior the focus, which is really what I like. There is another shaded area at the back of the park with some nice trees, and an area where the light coming through the trees makes a kind of arch for a little bit of natural framing.

Perfect Lighting on the Bridge

The bridge at Pinkerton Park is another fantastic spot, especially as the sun begins to set. I like to end sessions on the bridge as the sun is going down. Earlier, the lighting would have been too harsh here, but by the end of the session, it’s perfect. I also like to get shots on the ground with the bridge in the background, as well as a few fun shots shooting down at my subject while I’m up on the bridge.

Final Thoughts

Pinkerton Park proved to be an excellent choice for this senior guy session, offering a perfect blend of natural beauty with some fun structures. From the graffiti-covered overpass to the sunlit trees and beautiful bridge, each setting provided a unique backdrop that highlighted different aspects of the senior’s personality. I’m thrilled with how the photos turned out and excited to share them with him and his family.

If you’re looking for a versatile location for your senior photos, Pinkerton Park is definitely worth considering. I hope you enjoy these highlights from our session as much as I enjoyed capturing them!

Senior Photos at Pinkerton Park

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Skate Boarder Senior pics at Pinkerton Park

O.K. y’all need to let me know when I’m missing out on good portrait session locations. I’ve shot photos many times at Pinkerton Park in Franklin but have never been out by the river. I have no idea why not. I guess I just thought it was a boat ramp. But besides the river, there is also a nice field and an overpass with graffiti. Why didn’t y’all tell me? What other spots am I missing?

I love a good graffiti vibe, especially for senior portraits (and especially for a Skateboarder!) but I also have a slight fear of posting something inappropriate. I admittedly photoshopped out a little of the art in these. I once read an article that was full of examples of photographers who had posted photos and not noticed some interesting NSFW graffiti in the background. So you all have to let me know if I do that too.

Skate Boarder Senior pics at Pinkerton Park

Are you looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you considered following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.

Senior Portraits at Pinkerton Park

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Seniors Portraits at Pinkerton Park in Franklin TN

I think my favorite pictures from this Senior Session at Pinkerton Park in Franklin are the ones in the playground. I’ll admit that it’s totally because Liam’s mom told me that he used to play in that very same playground as a boy. Well, you know I’m a sap for a sentimental photo location. As a mama myself, the photo of the senior guy with his childhood playground in the background gets me in the feels.

Seniors Portraits at Pinkerton Park in Franklin TN
Seniors Portraits at Pinkerton Park in Franklin TN

Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or to book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you would consider following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.

How I fell in love with Photography

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I first fell in love with photography when my youngest was a baby.  That’s when I got my first DSLR.  I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to capture those precious moments with my girls when they were so little.

With my oldest, we had routinely taken her to Sears portrait studio, because that’s what I thought you were supposed to do….I didn’t know any better.  Every few months, I would take her there, and they would prop her up on a table with some cheesy backdrops, maybe throw her in a fake bathtub, or lay her buck naked on a mirror with some fake flowers around her and take her picture.  The photos were beautiful, because they were of my beautiful baby girl, but something was lacking.  

Then, once she passed that baby stage and became a toddler, it just no longer worked at all.  They would expect her to stand on an “X” on the ground and look them and say cheese.  Well, I just haven’t met many toddlers who will do that.  

Then when my youngest was born, a friend from work recommended a “real” photographer named Lauren Gill. I just loved the photos my friend had, so I hired her.  The cost was quite a bit more than the Sears portrait studio, but as soon as I saw the results, I fell in love.  The photos captured so much more than those fake posed photos we had gotten before.  She captured all those little things about the girls that I wanted to remember…Kayla’s adorable giggles, or the way Megan did (and still does) twirl her hair…all those funny little expressions or gestures that you want to remember always. 

I wanted to learn to do that too.  So I bought a camera and slowly learned as much as I could.  I took photos everywhere…at playdates, birthday parties, and every day moments at home.  Those early photos are SOOOO bad, but I am so thankful for them, as they are moments in time frozen.  

That was about 10 years ago, but that’s the time that I feel taken back too each time a photograph a family with a baby. I want so badly to create something special for those parents, because I know that it all goes by so quickly. I want to capture those silly expressions, that fascination with the world around them, and the pure joy at just being.  

This sweet girl made that job so easy and I absolutely fell in love with her (and her sweet parents) during our shoot.  How blessed am I to have a job where I can do what I love while meeting wonderful new people.