You know when you picture something in your head and then life decides to throw in a little twist? That was Emma’s senior session in a nutshell.
Emma is graduating from Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear and heading off to Arizona State University this fall. She chose Lake Pleasant for her senior session and honestly, I don’t blame her. It’s such a gorgeous spot with dreamy desert backdrops and water views that make everything feel a little more peaceful. Well… usually.
We pulled up the very first week of April and let me tell you… Mother Nature had a different kind of plan for us that day. It was insanely windy. Not a gentle breeze kind of wind. We are talking full on hair flying, dress flipping, can’t-hear-yourself-think kind of wind. And that wind brought the chill with it too. Cold in Arizona in April… who would’ve thought?
We kicked things off with some golden hour shots along the road before we got close to the lake. The mountains in the distance were showing off. The light was just right. For a moment we were like… okay maybe this is going to work. But once we moved closer to the water, down where the sun couldn’t quite reach, it was a whole different story.
Emma was such a champ. We battled that wind together, holding down her dress and trying to keep hair out of her face. I was clicking away in between gusts and silently praying the wind would just chill for like two minutes. Of course… it didn’t. So yes… there was definitely some editing magic needed afterward. I had to tame that hair in post because that wild child wind was determined to be the star of the show.
But here’s the thing… even though it wasn’t the calm and warm session we envisioned, it ended up being one of the most memorable. Emma laughed through it. She leaned in and trusted the process. And in the end, we captured some seriously beautiful images that reflect who she is… strong, vibrant, and ready to face whatever comes her way. Even when the wind tries to knock her over.
Just a little reminder from this Phoenix senior photographer… we can plan outfits, locations, and time of day… but we cannot control Mother Nature. She’s got a mind of her own. So when she shows up uninvited, we roll with it, we laugh through it, and we make the best of the adventure.
Emma… you crushed it. ASU is lucky to have you.