Harlan Senior Pictures | Blake | Class of 2027

Every senior has a story, and Blake wanted his session to take place in locations that have been part of his life for years.

Blake chose to have his senior pictures taken around the Kirkman and Irwin, Iowa area where he has made so many memories growing up. We explored a couple of old bridges tucked away in the countryside. They weren’t just beautiful backdrops, they were places that meant something to him. One bridge sits along a quiet dirt road where Blake told me he always seems to find handfuls of shotgun shells whenever he stops by. It’s little stories like these that make every senior session unique and personal.

To make the session even more memorable, Blake had a friend bring along a race car as a special prop. It was the perfect way to showcase one of his interests and create senior portraits that truly reflect who he is. I always encourage seniors to include hobbies, vehicles, sports, or meaningful locations because those details help tell their story and make every gallery one-of-a-kind.

The weather definitely tested us that day. With temperatures pushing 100 degrees and Iowa humidity making it feel even hotter, we had every reason to reschedule. But Blake was determined to stick with the original date, and I’m so glad he did. His willingness to tough it out paid off with an incredible variety of images that captured both his personality and the places that have shaped him.

We wrapped up the evening in the backyard of his parents’ good friends, and it couldn’t have been a more fitting way to end the session. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the sky exploded with rich shades of gold and orange, casting a beautiful glow across Iowa’s rolling hills. With the town of Irwin visible in the distance behind him, the view perfectly captured the place Blake has called home. Those sunset portraits quickly became some of my favorite images from the entire session and were the perfect ending to a day centered around the places that mean the most to him.

One of my favorite things about photographing high school seniors is that no two sessions are ever the same. Whether your dream senior session takes place in Harlan, Kirkman, Irwin, Elk Horn, Avoca, Denison, Atlantic, Council Bluffs, or anywhere across western Iowa, I’d love to help create a session that’s built around your story. The best senior photos aren’t about following trends..they’re about celebrating the people, places, and memories that have helped shape who you are.

Congratulations, Blake, on reaching senior year! Thank you for trusting me to capture such an important milestone. I'm sure you're looking forward to this next chapter in life and all the new things to come!