This girl is working hard to take on the world. Meet Anita, a Park High School senior who is busy in student council, National Honor Society, yearbook, random acts of kindness, working, homecoming preparations, and golf this spring. Just the thought of all that brings me right back to my high school senior year – excitedly taking on the world and doing my hardest to prepare for the future. That’s why I particularly loved how we finished her senior photos outside of Geek Haven Coffee in Hastings with her laptop and planner in hand, because how true it photographs this stage of life – working hard and staying organized with all the things.

C​an I say there’s just something added cool about showing up to a senior photo shoot of someone that you personally know? Like maybe you aren’t super close, but you’ve seen the person and had conversations with them multiple times and, so, when you arrive at their senior portrait session, it just feels a little bit familiar and yet different. Different? In a bad way? Not at all. More like when you watch a butterfly emerge from a cocoon. You blink twice and realize rather suddenly that he or she is no longer that “young kid” anymore, but someone emerging and on the brink of adulthood.

One of the coolest parts about my husband being an assistant pastor of youth and young adults is that we get to hang out with those fun and goofy middle schoolers and then watch them grow and mature into still fun (and probably still goofy) high schoolers until the point that they graduate into the world and make their first few steps as adults. Sam Hoffman is one of those students. We first met Sam in the summer of 2013, so it’s been an unbelievable blast to walk alongside him and his family as he’s worked through most of his teenage years. Being able to now take his senior photos? Priceless! (In fact, he’s the third and final of the Hoffman’s we’ve been able to do senior portraits for!)

Senior year is always a crazy year that goes by so fast, even after the days seem to go so slow, so why not document your senior year not only with senior portraits, but also a photo session with your best friend? That’s exactly what Eva and Marissa decided to do! We’ve known these two lovely ladies for a few years now – knowing Eva first and then getting to know Marissa when she first started coming with Eva to youth group. These two have insane amounts of energy, love to laugh, and, all around try to enjoy life with those around them. So, it wasn’t a shock when they asked to do a best friend photo session showing the special friendship they share amidst lots of giggles and goofiness.