Not every senior knows exactly where they want their photos taken. But this one did. When I asked him where he pictured his senior session, he said he wanted “forest trees plus the vibes of Downtown Austin.” That’s actually one of my favorite kinds of brief, because I know my top choice to answer: the Long Center combined with the Lady Bird Lake trails.

(Though I still mostly call it Town Lake – as anyone who’s lived in Austin for over 25 years might do).

A pre-session scouting guide I sent my Senior to help him decide on the location

These two locations sit right across the street from each other on the southern edge of downtown Austin, and together they give you something no single location can — the geometry of downtown architecture and skyline views from the Long Center, followed by the canopy trails and waterside light of the Barton Creek Greenbelt and Butler Hike and Bike Trail just steps away. In one session, you can look like you’re in a magazine editorial on the roof of the parking garage and then in a Texas state park as a more casual setting. That range is hard to beat.

If you’re an Austin senior who wants photos that feel both polished and natural — and you don’t want to drive to multiple different parts of the city to get them — this combination is worth serious consideration.

Here’s something worth knowing about this particular location: always check the Long Center event calendar before your session — and then plan for the possibility that there might be an additional private event that isn’t listed.

That’s exactly what happened here. I’d checked the event page before this session and it looked clear. But when we arrived, there was a private event happening in the Rotunda. We couldn’t shoot there.

We pivoted to the rooftop instead.

Honestly? The rooftop gave us the same sweeping Austin skyline views as the Rotunda, but from a slightly different vantage point and with even more colorful backgrounds in the parking garage. It was one of those unexpected session moments that turns out better than the original plan.

After the Long Center portion, we walked across to the Lady Bird Lake trails as planned — wooden fencing along the path, the downtown skyline reflected in the water, and the kind of dappled evening light that makes late October sessions in Austin so good.

This senior came in with clear style instincts — he knew what he wanted to wear, how he wanted to feel in the photos, and what kind of backdrops would suit him. He also brought props that showcase his interests (like that basketball and guitar).

That combination of pre-session preparation and being willing to go with the flow when plans change is exactly what makes a session work. His photos turned out great, and we still got every backdrop he’d asked for.

• PARKING: There is some free parking at Auditorium Shores or you can pay for parking at the Long Center ($12/night when we went but the price can vary).
• OPERATING HOURS: The Long Center doesn’t have fixed daily public operating hours.
• LOCATIONS: Long Center: Main features include downtown Austin skyline views, interesting architecture of the Long Center, urban parking garage details. Lady Bird Lake/Auditorium Shores: Main features include waterside downtown views, wooden fencing along the trail, large grassy areas, greenery and trees.
• RESTROOMS: There is a public restroom at Auditorium Shores. 
• EVENTS:  Check the Long Center Event calendar to see if there are any conflicting events (but head’s up that there may be additional events that happen that aren’t listed).
• NEARBY RESTAURANTS: If you’d like to go out for dinner after your photo session (and don’t want to re-park your car), some nearby favorites you can walk to include:

• Terry Black’s BBQ — one of Austin’s best brisket spots, right on Barton Springs Road
• El Alma — elevated Mexican food with a great patio
• Sandy’s Hamburgers — an Austin classic; get a popular frozen custard while you’re there

• DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes, you can bring your dog to a photo session at the Long Center Rotunda if they stay on-leash (and they can go off leash at the dog park across the street). .
• WHAT TO BRING: It’s optional, but some prop ideas are listed HERE for Seniors. Also have some comfortable shoes since we have a lot of ground to cover between two locations.