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.
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!
