Senior Portrait: Cailin
Cailin is a Stanwood High School senior and dedicated dancer, and she came to me through my stepdaughter Gillian, a dance teacher who reached out to one of her own students. We kicked off her senior portrait session at the tide gates just south of Stanwood, WA, a favorite senior photo location for its texture and light. Cailin’s mom, Shannon, helped with lighting, and Gillian assisted with lighting and behind-the-scenes shots. We covered the essentials first — clean senior headshots and classic yearbook poses — then let Cailin loose with some dance senior portraits, where her personality really came through.
Session 1: Stillaguamish Tide Gate
For session two, we headed to Northern State Hospital in Sedro-Woolley, WA, shooting in the old dairy farm complex, which is now open to the public and full of photographic potential. This one was all about dance photography: outside the old buildings, then inside the main dairy building for a moodier feel, then a smaller building where tighter spaces made for a fun creative challenge. We wrapped at golden hour, shooting straight into the sun with Cailin backlit and a golden-orange halo around her silhouette — one of my favorite senior photo moments this year.
Both sessions were shot with my usual kit: Sony A7V, Sony 50-150mm GM lens, and a Profoto A2 on a boom pole. Stay tuned for session three, coming up at a flower farm at Viva Farms in King County.
Booking senior portraits for the Class of 2027? I’d love to help capture your high school senior’s milestone year. Reach out today to book your session — Stanwood, Snohomish County, and Skagit Valley seniors welcome. Go Class of 2027!
THE KIT
Sony A7v
Sony 50-150 f2 GM
Profoto A10
Profoto Clic Octa 2′
Session 2: Northern State Hospital, Sedro-Woolley, WA
Golden Hour
