The Stephanie Newman Photography Journal

Senior photo sessions are always exciting, but sometimes, a little chaos can make them even more memorable. That was certainly the case for Emily’s session in downtown Northfield. It was the first day of Defeat of Jesse James Days, one of the biggest events in town, and let’s just say I wasn’t fully prepared for the festival vibes to kick off so soon! I had thought the event started the following day, not on the day of Emily’s session. That little mix-up led to an unexpected twist in our plans, but one thing remained constant—Emily’s amazing energy, which kept the session fun and relaxed from start to finish. 

The historic buildings, quaint shops, and beautiful parks all contribute to a unique atmosphere that beautifully complements the colors of fall. As we strolled through the streets, the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot and the crisp autumn air set the tone for a memorable day. We made our way to Bridge Square, where the iconic bridge over the Cannon River provided a stunning viewpoint. With the river reflecting the fiery colors of the trees, it was the ideal spot for capturing the essence of autumn.

As summer draws to a close and the excitement of senior year begins, there’s no better way to celebrate the journey than through a memorable senior portrait session. For Ashlyn, a dedicated soccer player at Apple Valley High School and member of the Class of 2024, her recent shoot at Spring Lake Park Reserve in […]

Ava was my second to last senior girl of my Class of 2024. I was a little sad that my season with this senior class was coming to an end, but happy that I got to spend it with this beautiful bubbly girl. It was windy and a little chilly the day we met for her session and that didn’t seem to bother her at all. Girl was so used to being outside in cooler temps as a cheerleader. The wind helped create some great Beyonce moments when we were down by the lake. Which sometimes is awesome, others it was a pain in the behind trying to not let her hair get into her face so much.

It’s really hard to see kids you’ve known since they were like 8 years old and then all of the sudden, bam! They’re fully grown people who are basically adults now. Anthony is the youngest of the Peters family, and the third I’ve photographed for their senior portraits.

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.

My final Class of 2023 senior was with Anders. ? I can’t believe the time has come for my final senior session of this year. It has been one wild and crazy ride this fall but it’s also been good. Hanging out with Anders and his mama, Laura was the best way to end my senior season.

The more and more times I head to Northfield for a session, the more times I fall in love with that cute little town. *Hint hint future senior clients* This place is so magical and has so many opportunities for spots to photograph in. Which is why I was so excited when Ava’s mom was on board with doing Ava’s senior session there.

I’m nearing my final set of senior sessions for this fall and I’m getting a little sad. ? Greyson was one of the last couple of seniors I get to photograph this year, and I just did not want my senior session season to end.