A Perfect Senior Session in Downtown Columbia

I am absolutely in love with this senior session! I loved her style and her clothing choices were just fantastic for the location. Her pup was such a trooper and so well-behaved—it’s always a treat to include pets in senior photos, and he was an especially cooperative dog for the entire photo session.

Downtown Columbia is one of my favorite spots to shoot, and this session reminded me why. I just love all the different buildings and textures. I know many of my seniors love Downtown Franklin, and it’s always a great choice, but I personally prefer the slightly edgier look of Columbia.

She wanted photos with her car and had liked the ones I recently took at Columbia Motor Alley. These were probably my favorites of the session, particularly the ones of her just standing in front of the wall of the Motor Alley with the orange light in the background.

Her mom booked a last-minute spot in what I think is the best month of the year for photos. Since she was able to take a weekday slot, we had a prime session during the gorgeous fall light. Weekday sessions after the time change are often a hidden gem for seniors—especially those who get out early for online classes or study hall. The earlier sunset can be tricky for some, but for those who can make it work, weekday sessions offer beautiful golden-hour light and a little more availability during the busy fall season.

If you’re looking to book a photo session before the end of the year, there are still a few spots left. I’m also offering $50 off sessions in January and February if that works better for you. Just use coupon code “WINTER2025” when booking on my website, or just shoot me an email at crystalfreemonphotography@gmail.com.

If you want to see more sessions and keep up with my latest work, follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

Senior Guy Session in Downtown Columbia

I had an absolute blast during this senior guy session in downtown Columbia! The historic buildings and unique textures always make it a fun location, but this time, the highlight was definitely the car photos at the end at Columbia Motor Alley. I’ll admit, I didn’t even know exactly what Columbia Motor Alley was before the shoot, but I had passed by it a few times and thought it was a stunning building. When this senior told me he wanted shots with his car, I knew it would be the perfect backdrop.

We ended up parking in front of the building, as it was closed, and made sure not to touch anything—just a few photos with the car against this cool backdrop. I had hoped this wasn’t a problem for them, but no one was there to ask to make sure. Later, I found their Instagram and was relieved to see they encourage people to tag them in photos.

After doing some more research, I discovered that Columbia Motor Alley is a passion project by Mike Wolfe from American Pickers. The building was originally a 1947 Chevrolet dealership, and now it’s part of a historic preservation project. On their website, I found this amazing statement that really resonated with me: “Mike’s love of transportation history and historic preservation comes together in Columbia Motor Alley… We hope this passion project inspires others to look at these forgotten places and imagine what they could be again.”

I’ve always been fascinated by forgotten places as well, so I just love that.

If you’re into vintage photos and historical preservation, I highly recommend checking them out. I know I’ll be going back to Columbia Motor Alley again—hopefully during the daytime!

Thanks for checking out this awesome senior session in downtown Columbia! If you’re interested in booking your own unique session, I’d love to chat with you about capturing your story. You can find more of my work and get in touch through my Instagram and Facebook. Looking forward to hearing from you!