Where Should You Take Your Senior Pictures? Rochester NY Senior Portrait Photography

Looking for some senior portrait location ideas in Rochester? Here’s five ideas to help you brainstorm when planning your senior pictures.

1) Head for Water: Senior pictures on the beach in Rochester NY

Dreaming of the beach for your senior pictures? Or how about reading on the dock? There’s no lack of Rochester area lakes, streams and docks for your senior portraits.

2) To the City: Downtown Rochester NY Senior Portraits

Take your senior pictures to the streets. Think sidewalk art, brick backdrops or graffiti art. For something unique get a great cityscape view from the top of a parking garage at sunset.

3) Take your Senior Pictures at your School

Whether you’re on the field or in the bleachers, you have home field advantage on your own turf. (Or court, or pool). Literally. This is perfect for high school senior athletes.

4) Location of favorite activity: Senior photos around Rochester NY

We’ve been to the theater, to your home, to the library and on the stage. What’s your favorite past time? And where do we need to go to get your epic senior portrait?

5) Nature: Flowers in Senior Pictures near Rochester NY

We’re thinking flowers and garden scapes. Perhaps your favorite park is always in bloom. Around here, senior pictures at Webster Arboretum and Highland Park are two parks filled with flowers and natural goodness.

Jake's Schoen Place and Football Senior Portraits

Jake is a Class of 2021 senior at Brighton High School. He’s an athlete and all around great guy.

When I look at Jake’s senior photos, I can’t help but think of Friday Night Lights. We explored the area around Schoen Place in Pittsford NY, and hopped a fence to get on the football field (unnecessarily I might add, but it provided for some good laughs!).

His costars for his senior pictures included both his mom and girlfriend. (Yes, you can include them in your senior portrait session!) But Jake took center stage with some impressive catches along the sideline.

Congratulations Jake and best wishes!

8 Things to Include in Your Senior Pictures

Looking for ways to make your senior portraits in Rochester NY unique? Here’s some senior picture ideas made just for you by us: your very own local, Fairport Senior Portrait Photographers.

1) Show off Your Athletic Side in Senior Portraits

Are you a high school senior athlete? Bring your jersey, jacket or gear to show the world your athletic side. We can even hit the field, court or pool as one of your senior portrait locations.

2) Turn up the Music: Senior Pictures for Musicians

Do you play the sax or the guitar? Tuba? Accordion? Let’s hear that sweet, sweet sound, and capture your music in your senior pictures at the same time.

3) Show Some School Spirit: Wear your cap and gown in senior portraits

These are your senior graduation portraits - right?! Show us the ways you’re celebrating! Put on your cap and gown for a few of your portraits. Or show off your school spirit (high school or future college) with a school pennant or other fun prop!

4) Bring your Besties: Have a friend in your senior photos

We are ALL about adding a favorite person into your senior pictures. Who is that for you? Want to have your bestie since birth by your side? Your mom or dad? These relationships helped you become the amazing high school senior you are today.

5) Ride in Style: Show off your car in your high school senior pictures

You’re pretty proud of your car and want your senior pictures to reflect that. Whether you built it or bought it, they’re your senior pictures, and your ride is important to you.

6) All Dressed Up: Formal wear in senior pictures

Prom dress? Power suit? Yes. You spent forever picking out, why only wear it once? Bring your prom attire and let’s capture that glam in your senior pics.

7) Life’s a Stage / Or a Hobby: Share your hobbies in your senior portraits

Dancer or actor? Bring your ballet shoes and playbills to the stage. Love to read? Bring your favorite books. Build your own R/C vehicles? That counts. Planning a trip around the world? We can show that side of you too.

8) Four Legged Friends: Pets in senior pictures

Don’t forget Fido! Your lovable and loyal furry best friends are part of your world, and they should be part of your senior session too. Bring your pets to your senior pictures.

Anything we forgot? Let us know in the comments!

Carly's Sunken Garden, Senior Pictures in Rochester NY

Carly is a Class of 2021 high school senior at Gates Chili High School.

We visited the Sunken Gardens in Rochester NY for her senior pictures. When you look at Carly, you can’t miss those eyes! Gorgeous inside and out, this volleyball playing high school senior is bound for great things.

I so enjoyed her senior portrait session! If you’ve been following the blog, she may actually, look familiar. That’s because we photographed senior pictures for another member of her family recently! Check out her sister, Lexie, and her senior pictures from last year!

Enjoy Senior Year, Carly!

Bryce's Golf Senior Portraits at Cobblestone Creek Country Club

Bryce is a high school senior at McQuaid High School. He was eager to include his passion in his senior portraits. He is a fierce competitor with a golf course in his backyard, so it was an obvious answer to the question of “where should we take our senior pictures?”

We wandered the course for a mix of traditional senior portraits and also some unique action shots.

And how about that field of black eyed susans? Swoon!

Congratulations on your senior year at McQuaid, Bryce!

Victor NY Senior Portraits: Jacob, Class of 2021

This was my second time working with Jacob, and man did we have the perfect summer night for his senior portraits! He grew up on the golf course, but unlike his brother, Jeremy, Jacob prefers the pool. (See the last shot below for a watery background that complements his eyes!)

Just like with his brother’s senior session, we snuck in some family portraits as well. I love working with families over the years and recording the changes. I’m just sad there are no more kids to photograph in this one!

Congratulations Jacob, can’t wait to see what you do next!

Penfield High School Senior Portraits: Jordyn Class of 2021

Jordyn is the youngest of four siblings. When I began my photography career (an unmentioned number of years ago), her family was one of my very first clients. At the time, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I had no idea that all these years later, I would photograph each one of their senior portraits as well. It’s humbling.

But enough about me, let’s share about Jordyn.

Jordyn wanted a flower filled scene for her senior pictures. Webster Arboretum gave us plenty of opportunity to make that happen.

When she laughs, her whole face lights up. She’s smart (pre-law anyone?) and kind, and believes that what’s meant to be will always find a way.

Jordyn - we wish you every success as you graduate as part of Penfield High School’s Class of 2021. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to capture this moment in your life.

3 Common Questions about Booking Senior Portraits

When should I book my senior pictures?

We typically start booking senior portrait sessions in April and shoot throughout the Summer and Fall. We highly suggest that you book your senior pictures early to reserve your date in your favorite season! Click here to start the process, we’ll walk you through it step-by-step.

Where should I take my senior portraits?

Short answer: Where in the Rochester (or Finger Lakes) area do you want to go?

From backyards to parks, ballparks to city streets, the world is ours to enjoy! Think about your style, and who you are. Do you picture a sports field? A stage? Gardens? What fits you best?

We’ll work together to find the best location, and if you want it, click here for inspiration!

What should I look for in a senior portrait photographer?

Honestly, first you should like their work. Check out their portfolio and see if it matches the look you want.

Second, you should like the senior portrait photographer as a person. We offer a free consultation to every potential client to be sure we’re a good personality fit!

Finally, what is the photographer’s packages like? And what do you want these pictures for? Do you want to hang some in your home? Or do you want social media files? Or do you want both? Knowing what you’re looking for from your senior pictures is important.

So what questions do you have? Get in touch and ask them!

Rochester NY Senior Pictures: Rochester Public Market, Skylar

After learning a little about Skylar, it wasn’t hard to discover the look she was after for her senior portraits in Rochester NY. The Rochester public market, gave us the scene, Skylar gave us the feeling.

As it should be, hers is a style that’s all her own. Senior pictures are meant to show that style off. Everything from the location, to the wardrobe and the expression all come together to show the world who you are at this important moment in your life.

The results are clear to see - real, personality filled senior pictures.

Churchville Chili Senior Portraits: Angelina, Class of 2020

Meeting with Nina, we could tell that she has the kind of outgoing personality that would make her Rochester senior portrait session super fun. We weren’t wrong.

We met up at the U of R because it’s setting felt right for her love of reading and had great backdrops for what she was looking for. We were also nearby Genesee Valley Park where we incorporated her swim gear and a great natural setting.

But it was her sparkling eyes and adventurous side that really made her senior pictures stand out. What a pleasure it was to get to know her and capture her personality as she celebrates this time of her life. Congrats Nina!

~ Erin

Penfield High School Senior Pictures: Patrick, Class of 2020

Like his older brother, Patrick is a volleyball player for Penfield High School. He is the third sibling I have been lucky enough to photograph. I’m also sad that he is the last one! He and his whole family are just the loveliest people.

Case in Point: we went to Fellows Road Park for his Senior portrait session, at apparently the same time the park was to be mowed. It was a short session, and at times it felt like the mower was actually following us around. But, we laughed through it and made some amazing images for this kind soul.

I loved including their new puppy. (soooo cute!) After the formal shots were done, we also took a few at the net to show his competitive side.

Congratulations Patrick! Here’s to you and the rest of the Class of 2020!

-Lori

Senior Pictures at Tinker Nature Park: Lexie

Lexie has a very easy going nature about her — but something tells me that changes when she is on the volleyball court! She included multiple outfits in the natural location at Tinker Nature Park. We just loved the flowers and cobblestone settings. There was a little bit of wind we had to contend with that night, but Lexie rolled with it and we were able to create some beautiful images for her senior portraits. Don’t you think?

Oh and parents, don’t be afraid to get in the pictures! We love to include you as well as hobbies, pets and anything else to help freeze this moment in time for your senior. Trust us, you’ll thank us later.

Congratulations Lexie!

-Lori