Sand Dune Sunset | Tri-Cities Senior Photo Sessions

seniors
Written By Emily Golding
Over the shoulder senior picture pose. Taken in Pasco, Washington.

This senior photo session with Mya is the first from my Class of 2023 senior sessions. To see more from my Class of 2023 series, click here.

Senior Sessions at two locations

When I shoot senior sessions, I have the goal of shooting at two similar, but different locations. This allows us to get a good variety of shots during the session, and the session feels connected with two different locations because of their similarities. Changing up the location can give a breath of fresh air and helps with creativity. The new location might spark new photo ideas or poses that the first location didn’t.

For Mya’s senior session, we shot at two locations located close together. Althought they were close in proximity, they had their own individual look and feel. The first location was the sand dunes in Pasco. The dunes had sprawling desert hills, with some sage brush. This dunes didn’t give us anything to break up our view of the sunset, so if we wanted break our line of sight with the sun was to head to the bottom of the dunes take some close up head shots.

To contrast the photos we got at the sand dunes, we moved to a different location not far down the road. This location had gorgeous lighting, more sagebrush, and even trees! We got some color from the sagebrush and the trees that was unique to this location compared to the previous one, but still have the same feel as the sand dunes. Moving to this location also allowed Mya to get in a quick outfit change to one that we felt would fit this location.

Bring Multiple Outfits

Seniors often ask me if it is okay to bring multiple outfits to change into during their session. Yes! I encourage this. Multiple outfits allows for a larger variety of photos, similar to switching locations does. Different outfits can bring out different colors in the location’s backdrop. Certain outfits can also look better in certain locations! Bringing multiple outfits also gives the opportunity to express your personality. Seniors will bring varsity jackets, sports jerseys, uniforms—all different kinds of clothing items that help show off hobbies and interests.

I hope you love Mya’s photos just as much as I do. The lighting we got this day was gorgeous, and I feel like the outfits she brought really worked with the colors of the location.

A high school senior sits on the sand. She is running her hands through her hair, while the sun is behind her.
A high school senior photo in the sand dunes of Pasco Washington.
A teenage girl smiling in the desert of eastern Washington. This is a senior photo taken by 400 Lux Photography.
A high schooler is smiling while looking directly at the camera. The sun is setting behind her.
A black and white candid senior photo. The senior is laughing, running her finger through her hair.
A black and white candid senior photo in Pasco, Washington.
 
A golden hour senior picture In Tricities, Washington.
 
A highschool senior stands with her shoulder towards the camera. The sand dunes are behind her.
A high school senior in a green shirt poses for her photos in the Pasco sand dunes.
Senior photo pose ideas in Tricities, Washington.
 
A high school senior stands with her arms crossed in the desert. The sun is setting behind her.
 
A teenage girl has her arms crossed. Her hair is curled to the side and she is smiling at the camera.
A high school senior is looking with behind her shoulder at the sand dunes.
 
A high school senior crosses her arms and smiles at the camera.
 
A black and white senior photo in Pasco, Washington.
A highschooler stands in the sand dunes posing for her senior photos.
A high school girl looks over her shoulder. The wind is blowing her hair and the sun is setting behind her.
A black and white photo of a girl looking over her shoulder.
A high schooler poses with her hand on her shoulder. The wind is blowing her hair so only one eye is exposed to the camera. This photo is taken in Pasco, Washington.
A high schooler is laughing at the camera during her senior photo session. The wind is blowing her camera.
A high schooler looking over her shoulder and smiling at the camera.
A teenage girl in a black sundress has her arm closed. She poses sideways to the camera and is smiling at the camera.
A teenager is standing in the sagebrush with her arm on her elbow. She is smiling with some hair in front of her face. Taken in Pasco, Washington.
A sagebrush senior photo in Tricities, Washington.
A high school senior looks over her shoulder while posing for a photo. She stands in the middle of sagebrush in Pasco, Washington.
A senior stands in the middle of sagebrush during golden hour in Pasco, Washington. She is wearing a black sundress.
A golden hour senior picture in Tricities, Washington.
Sagebrush portrait photography in Eastern, Washington.
Desert and sagebrush senior photos
Tricities, Washington desert and sagebrush senior photos.

ABOUT THIS SESSION

Gear Used: Sony a7riv w/ Sigma ART 35mm 1.4
Location: Pasco, Washington
Edited with Lightroom + Photoshop

Emily Golding
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Richland Autumn Senior Portraits | Uptown Shopping Center
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Varsity Cheerleader Senior Session | Richland High School Campus