Over the past years, I have had a lot of interest in senior guy portrait sessions, more this year than in the past. Now, I definitely don’t do nearly as many senior pictures as families this time of year, but I have definitely found a new love for these sessions. Senior sessions are much different for me than a family session. These sessions are more free and expressive of the senior themselves.

When Octavia approached me about doing Jay’s senior pictures in Richmond, I was super excited. Jay is a senior at Fluvanna High School planning for his graduation in May. When Octavia and I started chatting over this session, it was clear Jay wanted to keep his session simple but still wanted to hit locations with an urban background, a lots of color. I knew right away the perfect location would be the Richmond Canal Walk for his senior pictures! With those bright and vibrant painted murals in just walking distance from the city streets it was a given this was the spot.

It may have taken me a bit more work to get beneath that tough skin of a guy senior like Jay, but by the time we were finishing up our session together, Jay was laughing and cracking jokes with me like old friends. I noticed a long time ago while second shooting weddings that it was always easy for me to connect with guys and help them feel natural and at ease in front of the camera. A little magic that comes in handy at sessions like these.

Here is a quick look at some of my favorites from our Richmond senior pictures together.