A Sunset Senior Session at Highlands Park | Kara’s Senior Photos

There's something pretty special about senior sessions that feel less like a photo shoot and more like an evening spent getting to know someone.

That was exactly what Kara’s session at Highlands Park in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, felt like. We met in the evening and wandered the paths as the sun started to dip lower in the sky. We walked, talked, laughed, and stopped whenever we found a spot with beautiful light. And the sunset? Absolutely worth waiting for.

At one point, Kara looked up at the clouds and described them perfectly:
“It’s like cotton candy.”

​Honestly, I couldn’t have said it better.

​The soft evening light, the clouds, the greenery, and the quiet paths at Highlands Park gave us so many beautiful little pockets to photograph in. But some of my favorite images are the ones where Kara is simply laughing or talking — the moments that feel like her.

Kara is currently doing a really interesting mix of high school at Woodbury and working at Goodwill, giving her the chance to experience what it’s like to balance school with a real-world job. I love that she’s already getting that kind of experience before heading off to whatever comes next.

And speaking of what comes next… Kara is thinking about welding after college. She’s currently making pipe flowers, which I think is such a fun glimpse into her creativity and the things she enjoys doing with her hands. I always love hearing what seniors are dreaming about for the future, especially when their plans are a little outside the "ordinary." (Whatever that is...)

As we walked around Highlands Park, her mom was also quietly working behind the scenes — holding back branches so we could get those beautiful leafy foreground shots. 😂 Senior sessions really can be a family affair!

Kara, I hope when you look back at these photos years from now, you remember more than what you looked like at this stage of life. I hope you remember the sunset that looked like cotton candy, the laughing and wandering, and this little season between where you’ve been and wherever you’re headed next.

Here’s to your senior year, Kara — and to all the adventures, welding projects, pipe flowers, and new experiences still ahead. 🤍

Hi, I’m Lindsay --

the wife-and-mama half of our husband-and-wife photography team based in Cottage Grove, Minnesota.
I’m usually the one behind the camera during family, senior, and portrait sessions, capturing genuine connection, joyful moments, and the in-between memories you never want to forget. My husband, Mark, joins me as a second photographer on wedding days, bringing a calm presence and creative eye to every celebration.
Together, we serve couples and families throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin with timeless, heartfelt photography that tells your story honestly and beautifully.

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