The perfect location with tons of meaning really makes a senior’s photo session extra special.  For this senior, Allison Hilyer of Allison Hilyer Photography, chose to take some photos at this senior’s high school while taking others at the college she will attend next year.

“Luckily, the two schools are only about 20 minutes apart,” said Allison.

I think these photos give this senior special memories for her past and her future!  Check out this session below and be sure to check out more of Allison’s work here.  Thanks for sharing Allison!

What was your inspiration for this photo shoot?
Lexie wanted her session to be split between her current high school and her college she will attend next year. Luckily, they are about 20 minutes from each other. She also wanted some with her dog.

Where did this photo shoot take place?
Most of these are taken at her current high school and a field nearby.

Did you collaborate with this senior to come up with the clothing and/or concept for this shoot?
Not really. I do send plenty of wardrobe advice, but love to see what they come up with! I have all my seniors bring about 10 outfits to the shoot. We spend the first 15 minutes together styling, coordinating and eliminating.  Ultimately, we choose 4-6 outfits as “winners.”

What camera, lens or other equipment was used for this shoot?
Nikon d800
Nikon 85 1.4G

What time of day were these taken?
With in the 3 hours before sunset.

Can you share any post-processing techniques used when editing this session?
I use ACR and CS6.  I don’t do much, really. I prefer to get exposure and lighting right in camera.  I use auto WB and tweak in ACR.  I am obsessed with skin tones and making them natural, but I’m not perfect, ha! I sometimes use CMYK to check/cheat if my eyes are tired.

What is your favorite thing about this session?
The moody lighting.  I have always been a “backlighter” but am digging the way the light makes these naturally pop. Her red lipstick is pretty awesome, too. Oh, and the dog.  Who could leave him out?! 😉

What do you want this session to convey about this senior and about your senior photography style?
I want my seniors to feel beautiful. That sounds so cliche, but that is my goal. They need to leave their session on cloud 9, albeit a bit weary after 3 full hours of fast paced shooting.

What is one tip you can share with other photographers regarding photographing seniors?
Look for the stellar light first, choose flattering poses second and connect with your senior all along the way.  Another thing I usually tell my girls(and occasional guy) is that if they FEEL like they look awkward, they probably will on camera. So, I have them tell me this and we adjust.