Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs High School Senior Portrait Photo Session

High school senior portraits are always a good time. It’s such a meaningful chapter of life.

Teenagers are wonderfully unpredictable and full of personality, which makes every session feel unique and genuinely fun. I also get to briefly pretend I’m still cool (I’m not), and I usually ask for help brushing up on current slang and what’s actually in style these days.

Marijoy reached out hoping to capture relaxed, natural outdoor senior portraits of her son Arryn. It meant a lot, especially because just the year before she had trusted me to photograph her older son Lincoln during his senior year—we did his session in City Park in Denver. This time, I finally got to meet Arryn as well, and we had a blast. Being brought back by a family for a second go-around is always an honor. It feels less like working with clients and more like reconnecting with familiar faces, and that kind of trust and relationship feels special.

After some back and forth trying to land on a location, Arryn had a late-night epiphany (as his mom put it) and decided on Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. I asked if they’d be open to doing the session at sunrise. They were all in. I love that. It meant an early start from Denver for all of us, but we beat the traffic in those quiet, early morning hours.

I met them at the park just as the sun began to glow on the red rocks. Those first fifteen minutes are exactly why I love shooting in the morning. The light, the stillness, the sense of presence. The natural glow radiates, the park is quiet, and everything feels a little more alive. It made the early drive completely worth it.

There weren’t many formalities to go through since we already knew each other. Arryn is the artsy, witty type who beats to his own drum, which I really loved. We talked about everything from movies to the spirited political debates he has with friends in class. We moved around the park to three different locations to get a variety of backdrops and made sure to include mom, dad, and their pup Rhino in a few frames as well.

It was a joyful morning—easygoing, full of laughter, and grounded in connection. If you’re looking for outdoor senior portraits that feel natural, reflect who you are, and celebrate the unique beauty of Colorado, I’d love to hear from you. Please enjoy the gallery below of Arryn and family at stunning Garden of the Gods Park.