The Stephanie Newman Photography Journal

I have spent A LOT of time hanging out at Whitetail Woods this summer and early fall, that it was a bit of relief that I was able to head towards Eagan for Amber’s senior session. I’ve only done a few sessions here in the past and it’s fun to try to find fun and newish areas to take my seniors to, to get a little bit of a different vibe than from the other times I’ve been here.

I absolutely loved hanging out with Aryanna and her mom Nikki for her senior session this month. She was super sweet and fun to get to know throughout her session. I loved that one of the locations she wanted for her session was downtown Farmington, specifically out front of her church, Homestead Church. It’s one of my favorite buildings in Farmington and a must when I shoot there. The building was for sale for years, I told myself that if I won the lottery, I would snatch that building up and use it for a studio. Unfortunately, I have not won the lottery, and they bought the building before I could.

Earlier this spring when I was advertising for booking summer senior sessions, I got an email from Claire’s mom, Jenny, asking to book a session for Claire. I was soooo excited to hear from her. A couple of years ago I had done Claire’s brother’s senior session, Luke.

Sydnee’s late summer senior session at Whitetail Woods was a beautiful celebration of her achievements and the journey ahead. As we captured these moments together, I was reminded of the importance of embracing change and cherishing the memories we create along the way.

I have known Ali since she was like 6 or 10. I know that’s a huge age gap, but I honestly can’t remember when I first met her. I’ve slept since then. Ali and her family used to attend our church and was in Sunday school and church plays with my oldest. So, like I said, I’ve known her for a LONG time.

I’m starting to wind down with my summer senior sessions for this year and one of those sessions was with the beautiful Bella! Bella is a senior from Bloomington Kennedy High School and wanted a little rustic and nature to her photos I suggested meeting at Whitetail Woods.

As summer draws to a close and the Class of 2024 prepares to embark on the next chapter of their lives, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the unforgettable moments of high school. One standout senior, Isabel, recently had her senior portrait session at Whitetail Woods, capturing the essence of her journey as a vibrant member of the color guard. Nestled in the heart of nature, Whitetail Woods provided the ideal setting for Isabel’s portraits. The lush greenery and stunning landscapes served as a picturesque backdrop, highlighting the beauty of summer. As the golden sun filtered through the trees, it created a warm, inviting glow that perfectly complemented Isabel’s bright personality. Isabel’s dedication to the color guard is evident in her spirit and enthusiasm. As a member of the team, she has spent countless hours practicing choreography, perfecting her technique, and performing at competitions. Her passion for dance and the art of performance shines through in every twirl and spin, making her an inspiring figure among her peers. During the photo session, Isabel brought her color guard flag along, showcasing her love for the sport and adding some extra fun  to the images. 

Just like my own child’s senior year was coming up and me being in denial that he is old enough to be graduating from high school soon. All the feelings and thoughts are copied and pasted for this young lady. This girlie is one of my son’s best friends and one of my bonus children. Luke and G, along with G’s boyfriend, Charlie became fast friends during our church’s Christmas Musical, where the trio played knock off Star Wars characters.

The moment after I led Ryley and her mom to our starting spot for her session and locked in the settings on my camera to start shooting I knew that this was going to be a great session. Little inside info about how I start my senior sessions, is that I ALWAYS have my senior look off to the side and take a test shot. That way they’re not standing there staring at me anxiously. The minute I took Ryley’s test shot and looked at the image, I squealed. And kept squealing with every shot I took afterwards. Which led to some great laughing shots from Ryley. I may or may not have sent a back of camera shot during her session to send to my bestie ( who is also a photographer).