A Downtown Columbia Senior Session | Finding Beauty in Unexpected Places

Downtown Columbia Senior Portrait Session with an edgier vibe.

I’ll be honestโ€”when I heard about the construction happening in downtown Columbia, I was a little bummed. Some of my favorite go-to spots were temporarily off-limits while the city works on enhancing 16 historic downtown buildings with their improvement grant. I might be the only person who actually loves those abandoned buildings exactly as they are, but I’m hoping they’ll preserve that unique character that makes Columbia so special for portraits.

As it turns out, being forced to explore beyond my usual spots led to something pretty amazing. While wandering around looking for alternatives, I discovered what might actually be my new favorite locationโ€”this incredible old brick wall with ivy cascading down it, and the best part? The sun was positioned perfectly behind it, creating the most gorgeous backlight.

This senior session was the perfect opportunity to test out this new find, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Columbia has always been one of my favorite portrait locations because it offers something different from downtown Franklin. There’s this edgier, more urban vibe with so many fun textures that come with old buildings.

It was a perfect pick for this senior session, and I absolutely love how it turned out. It was SOOOOO hot outside, but she braved it like a champ, and it’s turned out to be one of my favorite sessions. I hope she loves them as much as I do.

This session was a great reminder that while it’s wonderful to have those tried-and-true favorite spots, there’s so much value in continuing to look around and discover new locations. Even when construI’ll be honestโ€”when I heard about the construction happening in downtown Columbia, I was a little bummed. Some of my favorite go-to spots were temporarily off-limits while the city works on enhancing 16 historic downtown buildings with their improvement grant. I might be the only person who actually loves those abandoned buildings exactly as they are, but I’m hoping they’ll preserve that unique character that makes Columbia so special for portraits.

As it turns out, being forced to explore beyond my usual spots led to something pretty amazing. While wandering around looking for alternatives, I discovered what might actually be my new favorite locationโ€”this incredible old brick wall with ivy cascading down it, and the best part? The sun was positioned perfectly behind it, creating the most gorgeous backlight.

Columbia has always been one of my favorite portrait locations because it offers something different from downtown Franklin. There’s this edgier, more urban vibe with so many fun textures that come with old buildings.

It was a perfect pick for this senior session, and I absolutely love how it turned out. It was SOOOOO hot outside, but she braved it like a champ, and it’s turned out to be one of my favorite sessions. I hope she loves them as much as I do.

This session was a great reminder that while it’s wonderful to have those tried-and-true favorite spots, there’s so much value in continuing to look around and discover new locations. Even when construction temporarily changes your plans, it might just lead you to something even better than what you had before.


Ready to capture your senior year with portraits that reflect your unique personality? I’d love to help you create images you’ll treasure forever. Let’s find the perfect location that speaks to who you are and tells your story.

Family of Five Photo Session in Downtown Columbia

I recently had the opportunity to photograph a wonderful family of five in Downtown Columbia. Having done more nature-themed locations in the past, they were excited to try something new, and Downtown Columbiaโ€™s charming textures and old buildings provided the perfect backdrop.

We had rescheduled the session once due to rain, and even though it sprinkled a little on the day of the shoot, we went ahead and made it work. I always offer flexibility with rescheduling for my clients, as weather in Tennessee can be unpredictable. Some prefer to wait until the last minute to decide, while others like to plan in advanceโ€”both approaches work for me! I also leave it up to my clients to decide how comfortable they are with the weather. Some are ready to grab clear umbrellas and embrace the moment, while others would rather wait for a clear day, and thatโ€™s completely understandable.

This session turned out beautifully, and I love how their choice of location brought something new and fresh to their family photos.

If you’re interested in booking a session with me, you can reach out here. Be sure to follow along on Instagram and Facebook for more family sessions and updates!