As an Ashland Oregon senior photographer, I get to meet some pretty amazing seniors—and Riley is SUCH a gem! 💛
Like so many seniors I photograph, she arrived at her session feeling a little nervous and shy. And honestly? That’s completely normal! Having a camera pointed at you isn’t something most people do every day.
But one of my favorite parts of photographing senior sessions is watching that nervousness slowly disappear.
As the session went on, Riley opened up, relaxed, and really started to have fun—and it was so sweet to watch!
Starting Riley’s Senior Session in Lithia Park
We started Riley’s senior photography session in beautiful Lithia Park in Ashland, Oregon.
Lithia Park has so much variety within a relatively small area. We found beautiful greenery, wandered around the park, and stopped along the creek to photograph Riley on the rocks.
The natural scenery gave us a completely different look from what we had planned next, which is one of the things I love about combining Lithia Park with downtown Ashland for a senior session.
You can get so much variety without spending your entire session driving from place to place!
Exploring Downtown Ashland
After the park, we wandered toward the Ashland Plaza. The storefronts around downtown Ashland make such fun backdrops for senior photos and give the session a completely different vibe from the greenery and creek we started with.
Behind some of the shops near the plaza, we found one of my favorite little surprises: a cool alley with fun string lights that made for such a unique backdrop.
This is one of the reasons I love photographing seniors in downtown Ashland. There are little spots tucked everywhere, and simply wandering around can lead us to something unexpected.
An Unplanned Stop at Mix Bakeshop
As we got closer to the end of Riley’s session, I asked her if she’d be down to do something a little different.
Some coffee shop photos!
She said yes, and since Riley loves chai tea, we stopped into Mix Bakeshop in the plaza. It turned out to be such a cute and unexpected addition to her senior session. The barista was incredibly gracious and even let me photograph him making Riley’s sweet drink.
And the foam on top was in the shape of a HEART. Seriously, so cute. 🥹
I photographed Riley holding her mug while shooting from outside the shop, which created some really fun and unique images. Then we headed inside for a few more photos.
It was completely unplanned, and honestly, I think we all loved it!
Those spontaneous moments are sometimes what make a photography session feel the most memorable.
Your Ashland Oregon Senior Photographer Experience – Making Your Senior Photos Feel Like You
I don’t want every senior session to look exactly the same.
Your senior photos should feel like you.
Riley’s love for chai tea gave us the perfect excuse to add something personal and unexpected to her session.
And those little details can make your photos feel so much more meaningful.
One Last Look for Riley’s Senior Photos
Toward the end of her session, Riley decided to pull all of her beautiful long hair into a top knot for a completely different look.
Such a simple change gave us even more variety in her final gallery!
That’s another thing I always encourage during senior sessions—don’t be afraid to switch things up. Changing an outfit, adding a jacket, changing your hairstyle, or simply moving to a completely different location can make your gallery feel like multiple sessions in one.
Riley absolutely rocked every part of her session, and I loved getting to watch her go from a little nervous at the beginning to completely comfortable in front of the camera by the end.
That’s the magic of giving yourself a little time to relax and just have fun. 💛
If you’re looking for an Ashland, Oregon senior photographer and want photos that feel relaxed, personal, and completely unique to you, I’d love to help you plan a session that feels like an adventure.
