Planning Your Senior Session
I recently had the joy of shining a light on Natalie Haushalter, an outgoing and ambitious senior from Tri-Valley High School, Class of 2025. Natalie’s upbeat personality and interests made her senior session one I couldn’t wait to edit and deliver!
Before her session, Natalie, her mom, and I scheduled a planning call to discuss her vision. This pre-session chat is something I always recommend; it allows us to brainstorm ideas, select meaningful locations, and decide on personal items to incorporate into your shoot. For Natalie, it wouldn’t have truly been her if we didn’t include her love for film, indie music, nature, and her dog, Solo.
Our first stop was Waiting Room Records, a record store she often visits in Uptown Normal. With rows of vinyl records, this location was a great starting point for showcasing her love for music and unique style. Always being mindful of the other customers in the store, we planned ahead to get permission to shoot and assure customers they wouldn’t be in our photos, doing our best not to disrupt their shopping experience. (Fun extra: toward the end of senior session we ran into customers we had seen at the record store at a park in Downs, IL! Turns out they were former graduates of Tri-Valley too!) Natalie thrifted some albums she loved, and we incorporated them into her session.
A quick outfit change and we captured photos just around the corner by the Amtrak Station and Uptown Normal Circle, where we grabbed some of my favorite images with the summer flowers. Natalie was also wearing a special ring from her grandma, so we did a natural but purposeful pose to include it in her session.
Next, we headed to Tri-Valley High School. Here, we captured Natalie in her drum major uniform at the football stadium. Natalie has spent countless hours practicing, performing, and leading her fellow band members. This location stood out as Natalie is not only active in theater, directing, and stage management but also a leader in her school band. Her confident and outgoing nature shone through in these shots, reflecting her dedication and passion for the arts.
We wrapped up the session at Kickapoo Park in Downs. This location provided a beautiful natural backdrop, perfect for Natalie’s love of nature. We also had a special guest—her beloved dog, Solo. Including Solo in her senior photos was perfect for Natalie, and it added a playful touch to the session. Although it may be more of a tug when walking Solo, when we paused for a moment it was evident in her genuine smile and interaction the bond she has with her pup!
