blog

When Madelyn came in for her senior portraits, she knew she wanted to do something a little different. She had never been to Belle Isle before, but she had seen photos of some of the less-traveled areas and wanted to explore the abandoned buildings and factory ruins. It wasn’t the typical route I take for senior sessions at Belle Isle, which made it even more exciting for me as a photographer.

Sometimes the best sessions happen when a client brings an idea that pushes me outside of my usual routine. Madelyn’s vision gave me the chance to explore Belle Isle differently, and once we started photographing, I found myself getting into a really creative flow.

We started at an abandoned building covered in colorful graffiti. Madelyn had dyed her hair bright red, so the combination of her hair and all of the color surrounding her immediately caught my attention. Inside, we found a bright blue bike, and it happened to be the perfect addition to the first set of portraits. There was something about the contrast of the blue bike, the colorful graffiti, and her red hair that made the images feel completely different from the typical senior portraits I usually create at Belle Isle.

Madelyn also started the session in an all-black button-down and pants with suspenders, which added an edgy, slightly androgynous feel to the first part of the session. The outfit worked so well with the industrial setting and gave us a strong starting point before we moved through the rest of Belle Isle.

A lot of the spaces we photographed in didn’t have much natural light coming through, so I used flash for many of the portraits. I loved how that changed the feel of the images. The flash added drama and contrast while still fitting naturally with the mood of the abandoned buildings and factory ruins. Instead of trying to make these locations look soft and bright, I leaned into their atmosphere and let the lighting complement the setting.

From there, we continued around the Belle Isle loop, stopping whenever something caught our attention. Because Madelyn hadn’t been to Belle Isle before, there was a sense of discovery throughout the session. We weren’t following the same route I typically take or checking off a list of familiar photo spots. We were exploring together, and that gave me the freedom to follow my creative instincts and look at the island in a new way. That’s one of my favorite parts of being a photographer. Sometimes a location you’ve photographed many times can feel completely different when you approach it with someone else’s perspective.

Madelyn also brought her dog along for the session, which gave us another way to make her senior portraits personal to her. We incorporated her dog into a few portraits throughout the evening, but the most meaningful moment came at the very end.

As the sun was setting, we made our way down to the water. Madelyn had a photograph of herself and her dog from when she was younger, and she wanted to recreate it during her senior session. We used the original photo as inspiration and recreated the moment with the two of them years later. I loved being able to photograph that for her. Senior portraits are already about capturing someone at a particular point in their life, but recreating a photograph from childhood adds another layer to that story. It shows how much has changed while also capturing the things that have stayed the same.

The contrast between all of the locations ended up being one of my favorite parts of the session. We had the bright graffiti and blue bike, the darker and more dramatic images in the abandoned spaces, the factory ruins, and then the quiet, warm images by the water at sunset. Madelyn’s red hair brought a pop of color to every location and tied the entire gallery together.

And I have to mention her mom, who was an absolute pleasure throughout the evening. I always appreciate getting to know the people who come along for a senior session, and having a parent who is supportive and present can make the entire experience even more enjoyable.

What I loved most about Madelyn’s session was that it pushed both of us outside of our usual routines in the best way. She came with a clear idea of the kind of environment she wanted, even though she hadn’t experienced Belle Isle for herself yet. I got to explore new areas, experiment with lighting, and follow my creative instincts in a way that felt completely natural once we started.

It’s a good reminder that some of my favorite photographs come from being willing to try something different.

For seniors planning their own portraits, I always encourage you to think about what feels like you. Maybe that’s a location you’ve always loved, a favorite outfit, a pet who needs to be part of the experience, or even an old photograph you’d like to recreate. Your senior session doesn’t have to follow a formula, and it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

It can be a chance to try something new, explore a place you’ve never been, and create photographs that tell your story right now.

Planning Your Own Richmond Senior Session?

If you’re looking for a Richmond, VA senior photographer and want a session that feels personal to you, I’d love to help you create something unique. Whether you have a specific vision in mind or you’re not sure where to start, we can build your session around your personality, interests, style, and the things that make this season of your life meaningful.

Belle Isle is just one of the many locations around Richmond that can create an incredible backdrop for senior portraits. With historic ruins, industrial spaces, natural landscapes, and views of the James River, there’s plenty of room to explore and create something unexpected.

Ready to start planning your senior portraits?