High School Senior Year Checklist – May

by admin | May 2, 2026 | photography, seniors

High School Senior Year To Do List | Austin, Texas

Happy Graduation!

High School Seniors (and your Parents):

See below for your May To Do List to keep on top of your college applications and a reminder to keep an eye on your School Calendar for events and traditions. And don’t forget to make time for fun as well.

may checklist for senior year students

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Please contact me if you’d like to book a Senior or Family portrait session in Austin, Texas this year.

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Tips for a Senior Photo Session at Champion Park

by admin | Apr 24, 2026 | photography, seniors

What to expect at your Champion Park Photo Session | Austin Senior Photographer

This Vista Ridge High School Senior chose Champion Park as his photo session location.

Champion Park is located next to Brushy Creek Park in Cedar Park

champion park map

This park has access to the Brushy Creek Trail and crosses Brushy Creek. It also has fields of wildflowers in Spring.

brushy creek at champion park in cedar park high school senior photo session

For photo sessions at Champion Park, I like to walk both directions on the trail. Check out the Park Map below:

Champion Park map

If you’d also like to have a Senior photo session at Champion Park, here are my tips below:

PARKING: There is parking in front of the park. If it fills up, there are also spots in the neighborhood across the street.
OPERATING HOURS: The park is open daily from 7:30am-10:00pm.
LOCATIONS: Main features include the trails, the bridge over the creek and the wildflower fields.
WARDROBE: We’ll be doing some walking from one part of the park to another, so wear (or bring) comfortable shoes. Since you might be standing in tall grass, wear boots for one of your outfits.
RESTROOMS: There is a public restroom available.
NEARBY RESTAURANTS: If you’d like to go out for dinner after your photo session at Champion Park, some nearby options include: Moonshine, The League Kitchen & Tavern and Mama Betty’s Tex-Mex.
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes, this park is definitely dog-friendly.
WHAT TO BRING: It’s optional, but some prop ideas are listed HERE for Seniors.

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Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior Photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

stephanie friedman headshot

Stephanie Friedman first picked up a camera in high school, went on to study photojournalism at the University of Texas (Hook ‘Em), then worked as a photo researcher in educational publishing for over 20 years.

During all that, she’s been photographing Families and Seniors for the last 10 years. You can count on her to be communicative and organized before your session. She’ll help you feel relaxed and confident during your session. And you’ll have a smile on your face after your session once you see your new photos.

Interested in Booking a Senior Photo Session?

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Pease Park – Shared Senior Photo Session

by admin | Apr 23, 2026 | photography, seniors

What to expect at a Shared Senior Photo Session | Austin Senior Photographer

One of the three Senior Photo Session Packages I offer is the “Senior + Senior” one. Want five reasons to share a photo session with a friend or sibling? Check out this blog post first.

step-brothers sitting on steps at Pease Park for shared senior photo session

What is included in a Shared Senior Session?

This package can be shared by siblings, couples or best friends. You’ll decide on one location, date and time. Then you have 1 1/2 hours of time to share. It can be used by either High School or College Graduating Seniors.
Expect about 80% solo images and 20% shared images (though this ratio can vary depending on your preference). For these two, they had just had a Family Photo Session back in the fall, so it was more like 95% solo shots and 5% shared images).
Each Senior still gets up to three outfits and is encouraged to bring props that show their high school interests and college plans.

If you’d also like to have a Shared Senior photo session, here are my tips below:

SCHEDULE: Start early with planning which date and time will work best for both of you.
OUTFITS: Since you’ll be together in some of the images, plan on the same level of dressiness for those shared photos.
PACING: When one Senior is changing outfits, I’ll focus on solo shots of the other Senior (and vice versa).
WHAT TO BRING: It’s optional, but some prop ideas are listed HERE for Seniors.

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Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Shared Senior + Senior photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

stephanie friedman headshot

Interested in Booking a Senior Photo Session?

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Tips for a Senior Photo Session in Downtown Round Rock

by admin | Apr 17, 2026 | photography, seniors

Downtown Round Rock High School Senior Photos | Austin Senior Photographer

For this Round Rock High School student, he wanted to find a good spot downtown that he could park his truck and also get a view of the water tower.

round rock high school senior photos truck

His mom suggested the Round Rock Library parking garage. That was a great spot to meet.

map of the round rock public library

We started on the roof of the Round Rock Library. Then we walked around Downtown, ending at a nearby park area.

If you’d also like to have a Senior photo session in Downtown Round Rock, here are my tips below:

PARKING: There are at least four free parking garages in Downtown Round Rock you can use.
OPERATING HOURS: If you’d like to access the Round Rock Library restroom to change outfits, they’re open Mon-Thur from 9am-9pm, Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm and Sun 1pm-5pm.
LOCATIONS: The Library Courtyard has some great backdrops. I also like some of the Main Street Storefronts. Keep your eye out for fun art pieces or interesting nooks and crannies in side streets as well.
SCHEDULE: Check for Downtown Events to avoid large crowds.
NEARBY RESTAURANTS: There are over 20 restaurants on and around Main Street you can visit after your photo session.
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes, you can have your dog dowtown on a leash.
WHAT TO BRING: It’s optional, but some prop ideas are listed HERE for Seniors.

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Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior Photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

Client Feedback and Advice

What prompted you to have this photo session? We wanted some lasting memories of Jack’s senior year and to commemorate his graduation with some special pics.
What do you plan to do with your digital photos? We’re going to make an awesome graduation announcement and, of course, share them with family and friends.
How did you choose your location for your session? We knew we wanted somewhere in Round Rock and had taken pics YEARS AGO in downtown, so I knew it would have some good spots. Also, it’s a little nostalgic for us.
What advice would you give to others planning a similar Senior photo session? Plan out your outfits and iron your clothes in advance! Also, just be aware that springtime weather in Texas is volatile…be flexible with your timing if you can.
Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? Stephanie has been so easy to work with and incredibly responsive to emails and texts.

stephanie friedman headshot

Interested in Booking a Senior Photo Session?

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Tips for a Senior Photo Session at McKinney Falls

by admin | Apr 15, 2026 | photography, seniors

McKinney Falls Senior Portrait Session | Austin Senior Photographer

Normally if a High School Senior requests a park with Spring wildflowers, I have a few places to suggest. But not this year.

After scouting four different parks, all dry with no flowers, I was starting to loose hope. But, I finally came across some blooms. The Wildflower Meadow at McKinney Falls State Park had a patch of vibrant yellow wildflowers.

high school senior girl in a field of yellow wildflowers at mckinney falls state park

So at McKinney Falls State Park, we explored the Upper Falls and Lower Falls areas for her Senior Portraits. McKinney Falls State Park is located in Southeast Austin. This 744 acre park (just 13 miles from Dowtown Austin) has limestone ledges and trails along Onion Creek.

map of McKinney Falls State Park

If you’d also like to have a Senior photo session at McKinney Falls State Park, here are my tips below:

PARKING: There are several parking areas depending on which area of the park you want to explore.
OPERATING HOURS: The park is open from 8am-10pm daily. Admission is $6/adult. I recommend booking a day pass in advance of your session.
LOCATIONS: This park is has many scenic locations. Check out this trail map. I like to start at Upper Falls then drive over to Lower Falls.
WARDROBE: We’ll be doing some walking from one part of the state park to another, so wear (or bring) comfortable shoes. You may even want water shoes and bring a towel if you decide to dip your feet in the creek.
SCHEDULE: This park is busy during weekends with hikers and swimmers. I usually have to photoshop out other visitors to the park everytime I have a photo session there.
RESTROOMS: There are several bathrooms located across the park for outfit changes.
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes, this park is definitely dog-friendly. They must be on a leash, and they can’t go in the water.
WHAT TO BRING: It’s optional, but some prop ideas are listed HERE for Seniors.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior Photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

Client Feedback and Advice

What prompted you to have this photo session? When I was looking for a photographer for my senior pictures, I was drawn to Stephanie’s portfolio. Her photos were very natural, not overly edited like other photographer’s that I was seeing online. I liked her choice of scenery, props, and poses, too.
What do you plan to do with your digital photos? I plan to post some, make a graduation card to send to family and friends, print & frame a few.
How did you choose your location for your session? I was looking for an outdoor setting with natural beauty—flowers, open space, and soft lighting. I also wanted a setting that had a variety of backdrops, so I could get different looks without changing locations.
What advice would you give to others planning a similar Senior photo session? Bring a comfortable pair of shoes for walking between spots. You don’t have to wear them in the photos, but you’ll be glad you have them. Don’t do something drastic before your photo shoot like get a bad sunburn, try a completely new haircut, or try a new cosmetic treatment.
Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? Stephanie is amazing to work with. She instantly puts you at ease, keeps things moving, and you can tell she’s very experienced in how she brings out the best in each shot.

stephanie friedman headshot

Interested in Booking a Senior Photo Session?

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Tips for a Senior Photo Session at Commons Ford Ranch

by admin | Apr 12, 2026 | photography, seniors

What to expect at your Commons Ford Ranch Photo Session | Austin Senior Photographer

This Vista Ridge High School Senior requested Commons Ford Ranch as her photo session location.

Commons Ford Ranch is located in West Austin off Cuernavaca Dr.

This lakefront park has a rustic barn (currently being renovated), wooden fences, large prairie fields as well as a small wooden dock on the waterfront.

It’s also known for wildflowers in the Spring. We had such a dry winter that this Senior brought a bouquet of colorful flowers since nothing much was in bloom yet. We just had lovely, tall dry grass at golden hour.

commons ford ranch senior girl photo session at golden hour

If you’d also like to have a Senior photo session at Commons Ford Ranch, here are my tips below:

PARKING: There is parking along the road you drive in on. I recommend starting near the barn and parking over there.
OPERATING HOURS: The park is open from 5am-10pm daily. Admission is free.
LOCATIONS: This park is 215 acres. Main features include the barn, the fields, the trails and the waterfront area. It’s about a 10 minute walk from the barn to the dock.
WARDROBE: We’ll be doing some walking from one part of the park to another, so wear (or bring) comfortable shoes. Since you’ll be standing in tall grass, I recommend boots for some of your outfits (lots of wildlife call this park their home).
SCHEDULE: This park is very busy during peak times (October/November for Family photos and March/April/May for Senior Photos). It’s also very popular with birders.
RESTROOMS: There are two port-o-potties by the barn. There is one other restroom near the waterfront. Plan to change outfits in your car.
NEARBY RESTAURANTS: If you’d like to go out for dinner after your photo session at Commons Ford, some nearby options include: Patrizi’s for Italian, County Line for BBQ or bistro & bakery goodies at Ronnie’s Real Food.
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes, this park is definitely dog-friendly. Her dog got to wear a bow-tie and a college jersey 🙂
WHAT TO BRING: It’s optional, but some prop ideas are listed HERE for Seniors.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior Photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

Client Feedback and Advice

What prompted you to have this photo session? We wanted to have senior photos done of Lilly in preparation of her high school graduation.
What do you plan to do with your digital photos? We will use them for announcements, her social media posts and print a few for frames for ourselves and family.
How did you choose your location for your session? It was a fantastic suggestion that you gave us. Lilly had a vision of what she wanted, but we weren’t sure where to go. Commons Ford Park gave her all of the backgrounds that she was looking for and we could not have been more pleased with the choice.
What advice would you give to others planning a similar Senior photo session? Look for inspiration from others for the types of locations that you are interested in or pictures you like. Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in. Don’t forget comfortable shoes to walk to different parts of the area you are using.
Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? Stephanie was great! Great communication from beginning to end. She answered all of our questions. She helped Lilly feel really comfortable and she was prepared for everything. I would definitely recommend her.

stephanie friedman headshot

Interested in Booking a Senior Photo Session?

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High School Senior Year To Do List | Austin, Texas

Happy Graduation!

High School Seniors (and your Parents):

See below for your May To Do List to keep on top of your college applications and a reminder to keep an eye on your School Calendar for events and traditions. And don’t forget to make time for fun as well.

Ready to reach out to book your photo session?

More From This Category

What to expect at your Champion Park Photo Session | Austin Senior Photographer

If you’d also like to have a Senior photo session at Champion Park, here are my tips below:

Interested in Booking a Senior Photo Session?

More From This Category

What to expect at a Shared Senior Photo Session | Austin Senior Photographer

What is included in a Shared Senior Session?

If you’d also like to have a Shared Senior photo session, here are my tips below:

Interested in Booking a Senior Photo Session?

More From This Category

Downtown Round Rock High School Senior Photos | Austin Senior Photographer

If you’d also like to have a Senior photo session in Downtown Round Rock, here are my tips below:

Client Feedback and Advice

Interested in Booking a Senior Photo Session?

More From This Category

McKinney Falls Senior Portrait Session | Austin Senior Photographer

If you’d also like to have a Senior photo session at McKinney Falls State Park, here are my tips below:

Client Feedback and Advice

Interested in Booking a Senior Photo Session?

More From This Category

What to expect at your Commons Ford Ranch Photo Session | Austin Senior Photographer

If you’d also like to have a Senior photo session at Commons Ford Ranch, here are my tips below:

Client Feedback and Advice

Interested in Booking a Senior Photo Session?

More From This Category

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