Hartwood Acres Mansion Senior Session | Kenzey
Meet Kenzey, an absolutely stunning senior from Upper St. Clair and varsity cross country star. That’s right, she runs on purpose. I don’t really understand it myself, but she seems to be quite excellent at it (😉). Next year she’ll be taking her talents to Kutztown University where she’ll be studying Art Education, and I am so excited to follow along and cheer on this special girl!
When we were in the planning stages together with her mom, Alicia, Kenzey expressed that she wanted something “a little bit different” for her senior session. Now, I hear this a lot as a senior photographer…and I take it to heart every single time. Who wants cookie-cutter senior photos? Who wants to take cookie-cutter images for that matter? Definitely not me!
My philosophy is that senior photos are not just checking off a list of Yearbook Friendly Poses that every one else in your class is doing. They are our chance, our one chance, to do a session that celebrates you and everything that makes you unique. We get to make images that feel creative and colorful and moody and filmy and, quite simply, full of soul. They should feel as alive as you are!
And when the people who love you most in the world look at these pictures and see your actual personality shining through, they go from “pretty picture” to lifelong treasure. These photos will be sitting on mom & dad’s mantel for life— and that’s not a responsibility I take lightly.
But photos that “feel like you” don’t happen by accident. They take a photographer who can help you relax, who can guide you into light that makes you glow, who wants to get to know you and your unique personality, sense of humor, goals and dreams, and who makes you feel confident in front of the camera. I’ve been photographing seniors for over a decade, and it is one of my absolute favorite types of sessions because of how fun and empowering they are. You may show up a little bit nervous (which is totally normal!) but I make sure you feel comfortable immediately so that we can start to make images that truly sing.
Kenzey and her mom and I had the best time at her senior session, taking our time and moving around the gorgeous grounds of Hartwood Acres Mansion, telling stories and joking and hearing about Kenzey’s friends and passions and plans for the future. Kenzey is the type of kid who I just marvel at, thinking “your mom must be so proud of you!” She has a strength and bearing beyond her years— a well-earned confidence from her leadership in cross country, and clearly a supportive family who loves her and has given her a strong foundation, that is going to serve her for her whole life long.
Kenzey is of course effortlessly beautiful, but she also planned her outfits perfectly; wardrobe is always the final touch that makes the whole gallery so colorful and captivating. Outfit choices can be a great launching pad for letting your personality shine through. One of the things that can make your senior session look repetitive is if you are in the same outfit (and thus the same color palette) the entire time. My recommendation for senior sessions is to pick at least 3 different “looks” to create a truly diverse gallery.
Different outfits can not only affect the way your gallery looks, but the way you feel in your pictures. Choosing outfits that are completely different styles, colors, and textures can give us a natural launching pad for different types of personality shots. In McKenzey’s case, she chose a short fluttery dress to start, which was such a great pick. Airy and light, it was the perfect blend of sweet and fun to take advantage of that golden hour glow in Hartwood’s famous English flower garden. We got some gorgeous, classic portraits in this dress.
In Act II, McKenzey had a complete vibe shift— and I absolutely loved it. She went cool and casual in a t-shirt and jeans, which was the perfect outfit for some of the more creative shots of the session. I always like to give my seniors a mix of classic portraiture and artistic shots, and finding dramatic lighting for a more filmy vibe worked so great for her more casual look. McKenzey is an artist herself, so I knew we could get creative together, using more of the stunning architecture at Hartwood Acres Mansion.
Finally, McKenzey ended the session with her dressiest look, which again worked beautifully with the gentle, delicate fading evening light. I always make mom jump into the frame for a shot as well (this is your warning, mom!). The “mom” shot will be more precious than you can truly understand right now. Because I see you, Mom, that constant, loving, supportive presence behind the scenes, cheering your precious child through all the steps of childhood until they are here; right on the cusp of adulthood. My own children are 7 and 3, and this stage still sometimes feels ages away. But that’s what all you seasoned mamas tell me too; you blinked and here you were. Watching your gorgeous child all grown up, in their senior year of high school, on the brink of the rest of their life. So yes, Mom always deserves to jump in the frame too!
This was definitely a senior session for the books (and the blog). Good luck at Kutztown, Kenzey — keep shining your light!
“Rachel is amazing! She was so easy to work with and Kenzey had such a fun experience during her portrait session. It felt like working with a family friend! She had us laughing the whole time, and really brought out the many dimensions of our daughter’s personality in the photos. Highly recommend!”
“I wanted my senior photos to feel natural and reflect my personality, and you made me feel comfortable the whole time. I loved the unique, bright style and how the final gallery turned out — the photos truly feel like me. I would definitely recommend you to other seniors because you make the whole process easy and not overwhelming.”
