Senior Portraits on Lake Washington: Celebrating Lexi’s Next Chapter
High school senior portrait of Lexi during golden hour at Medina Beach Park. Lexi will be playing collegiate soccer in southern California next year.
High school senior portrait sessions are at their best when they capture both who a student is right now and where they are headed next. For Lexi, a high school senior and dedicated soccer player who will be playing at the collegiate level next year, we wanted a session that balanced classic portraiture with subtle nods to her athletic passion.
We started the afternoon at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens, using the lush greenery and manicured pathways as a backdrop for family portraits. Getting family members together during a senior shoot is always a great way to ease into the process. We took a mix of full family groups, shots of Lexi with her siblings, and then transitioned into individual portraits of Lexi as the garden light filtered through the trees.
Being comfortable in front of the camera doesn't always come naturally, especially if you tend to be a bit soft-spoken or camera-shy. Creating a relaxed environment where someone can feel comfortable being themselves is always the main objective. As the session went on, Lexi opened up, allowing her natural personality to shine through in every frame.
As evening approached, we relocated to Medina Beach Park to catch the sunset over Lake Washington. The open waterfront gave us fantastic ambient light, panoramic lake views, and a clean horizon for the golden hour.
To round out the session, Lexi brought along a soccer ball to feature alongside her formal dress. Capturing her moving with the ball by the water—blending her athletic identity with an elegant evening outfit—created a set of fun, unique images that truly reflect this milestone moment before she heads off to play college soccer.
Here are a few highlights from our time together at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens and Medina Beach Park.