Kadience knew two things when we began planning her senior pictures: she wanted flowers, and she wanted the beach.
When she and her Mom decided to scout out Fischer Creek Conservation Area on their own, it ended up being exactly the right place for her session. We found tall grasses, soft summer wildflowers, a rocky stretch of shoreline and Lake Michigan—all without her photographs feeling like several completely separate ideas stitched together.
They feel like one summer evening. And, more importantly, they feel like Kadience.
Kadience described the senior pictures she wanted as casual, classic, natural, and carefree. Her mom hoped we would capture that same casualness—and the experience of simply having fun and making memories.
That combination shaped the entire session.
She brought a friend along to help, which made the evening feel even more relaxed.
We began among the wildflowers in a pale yellow dress that could not have worked better with the location. The soft color stood out gently from the greens and purples without competing with them.
Some photographs were light and open, with Kadience surrounded by the field. Others were photographed more closely through the flowers, making the landscape feel almost wrapped around her.
These are the kinds of little differences I love creating within one location. You don’t necessarily need to drive all over eastern Wisconsin to get variety. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of slowing down and noticing what is already there.
The result was feminine without feeling overly posed, polished without losing the casualness Kadience and her mom wanted.
Fischer Creek gave us so much variety in a relatively small area: rustic paths, tall greenery, weathered wood, pale shoreline rocks and open views of Lake Michigan.
Kadience is an athlete who participates in track, cross-country, soccer and volleyball. She has a quiet confidence that makes sense once you learn how much determination and work ethic are already part of her life.
But she also wanted these photographs to remember her carefree side.
That is what I see in this part of the gallery: a girl on the edge of everything that comes next—comfortable with who she is and ready for more freedom.
When we reached the shores of Lake Michigan Kadience changed into a gorgeous white dress that complimented the setting beautifully.
This was one of my favorite settings to photograph Kadience in—where the river meets the lake—and one of the features that makes Fischer Creek Conservation area unique.
We finished at the beach as the last light faded over Lake Michigan.
This is one of my favorite reasons to leave enough time in a senior session. The photographs made during the brighter part of the evening are soft, light and summery. The final portraits feel quieter and a little more grown up. The sky turned blue and lavender, the beach emptied out, and the entire mood shifted.
Senior pictures do not have to feel like a performance.
You can choose a place you genuinely like. You can bring someone who helps you feel comfortable. You can wear something simple. And you do not need to arrive already knowing how to pose or what to do.
I’ll help with all of that.
My senior portrait sessions are created for teens throughout Elkhart Lake, Plymouth, Sheboygan, Kohler, Fond du Lac and the surrounding eastern Wisconsin area who want photographs that feel natural, personal and worth keeping.
The best senior picture should not just look beautiful. It should still feel like you.
Looking to book a session? Questions? Want to learn more or check availability and pricing? Fill out the form below, and we’ll get in touch via email as soon as we can.