Class of 2026 Archives - Crystal Freemon Photography

Downtown Columbia never gets old for senior sessions. The textures, the brick, the way late afternoon light hits those old walls — it works every single time, and this session was no exception.

This senior was a dream to photograph. She came ready to just go with it, and that kind of energy makes everything easier. We wandered, we played with light, and found some genuinely fun spots — including a peeling concrete wall that I almost walked past and am so glad I didn’t.

My favorite moments were the ones where she stopped thinking about the camera. The laugh against the texture wall, the eyes-closed shot with the sun on her face, the shadow playing off the concrete behind her — those felt real, and that’s always what I’m going for.

Ready to book your senior session? I’d love to work with you. [Book here] or reach out through the contact page.

I don’t often make the drive to Nashville for sessions since I live on the south side of Spring Hill and charge extra for the distance. But when this senior asked about shooting at the Parthenon, I was super excited because I knew it would be a fabulous spot for senior pictures.

This is my first senior from the Class of 2026, which I’m not completely prepared for because my youngest baby girl is also Class of 2026. We’re beginning my last year of a child at home, which is just crazy. #dontblink

The timing worked out perfectly for golden hour, and the Parthenon delivered exactly what I hoped it would. First, I found this beautiful little flower garden for the first part of the session. Then the architecture of the building itself gives you so many options – those massive columns create incredible leading lines, and the light filtering through them was just beautiful. We moved around the entire structure, finding different angles and perspectives that kept the session feeling fresh.

I love how locations like this seem to bring out something special in seniors. Maybe it’s the grandeur of the setting, but she just owned every pose and seemed completely at ease in front of the camera. The variety we captured was impressive – everything from dramatic wide shots that show the full scale of the building to more intimate portraits tucked between the columns.

As I’m working through these images, I keep thinking about how this kicks off my Class of 2026 sessions. If this is any indication of what’s coming, it’s going to be a great senior season. There’s something about this particular moment in their lives that I find so compelling to capture – they’re right on the edge of everything changing.

I’m grateful this family was up for the Nashville adventure and trusted me to document this important time. Sometimes stepping outside your usual routine leads to the best sessions.

Interested in planning your senior session? I’d love to talk about your ideas and help create something special for this milestone. Get in touch to start planning!