When I first started doing professional photography here in Portland, Oregon, there wasn't a niche I didn't like. I just enjoyed taking pretty photos and meeting all kinds of people. 

As time went on, I found myself drawn to senior photography more and more. I thought it was because seniors (generally speaking) WANT to be at the photo shoot and want good photos. Their parents are excited, and it is always a good experience. 

On the other hand, family sessions usually have at least one person who isn't excited, doesn't care about photos, or doesn't want to be there. Same with weddings (Uncle Joe, I am talking to you).  

As I did more and more (and MORE!) senior sessions, I never got tired of it. I looked forward to every session and found myself and my business thriving on a whole new level because there was something about seniors that made me happier and brought a new level of enthusiasm into my art and business. 

Being the self-reflective soul I am, I wondered why senior photography affected me this strongly when I enjoyed so many other types of photography. After many years of doing this, I narrowed it down to six reasons.

Here are six reasons why I love High School Photo Sessions!

1. I have four teenagers of my own that I love and two that have graduated, and I miss them like crazy. So I can vicariously love teens and adopt more of my own through my photoshoots.

2. Teens are notoriously misunderstood. For whatever reason, my superpower is to see them exactly as they are. Like no matter how they show up, I find them to be distinctly charming and uniquely delightful.

3. Teens are at the cusp of adulthood. They are passionate, unafraid, intelligent and yet still a little insecure. I love that I can spend an hour or two with them and experience youthful ambition while helping them gain confidence and reassurance.

4. Teens want to be seen, heard, and understood. I think capturing their authentic beauty and personality in a photo gives them a little gift they desperately crave. Of course, they don't believe me at first, but at some point during our time together, I can see when their expressions change, or the light comes on in their eyes. There is NOTHING more rewarding than helping another human recognize their beauty!

5. Every senior has a parent, sibling, or pet that I also get to meet and know better. This means I get to do family sessions, business branding sessions and weddings for people I already know and love, which keeps me busy year-round. Also, this further expands the relationships with people in my community, which leads me to the last reason I love senior photography so much.

6. Lastly, creating relationships with teenagers keeps me plugged into my community. They know everything I am just old enough not to know or understand. By staying connected with teenagers and seniors, I can stay connected and help build up our community. I do this by staying involved with the schools and my kid's sports. I lift up local small businesses, like the best spots for food and drinks, fantastic hair and makeup artists, and up and coming shops and stores. Through my teenagers, I stay connected to the current fashion trends and so much more.

Much like adults, teenagers come with baggage, history, challenges, and insecurities. But, for 1-2 hours, they can be seen, heard and loved. Then every time they look at the beautiful photos of themselves, they can be reminded of how truly remarkable they are. That is a gift not only to them but also to me!