Sage’s Sweet Verdi and Donner Lake Senior Portraits in Summer
These Verdi and Donner Lake Senior Portraits were the perfect way to celebrate Sage and everything that makes this season of her life so special. Her summer session was full of personality, meaningful details, gorgeous scenery, and plenty of laughs with her family and their adorable dogs. From wildflower meadows in Verdi to the water at Donner Lake, I had the BEST afternoon with this crew!
Starting Sage’s Senior Portraits in Rustic Verdi
We started Sage’s session at the most incredible rustic old barn. Seriously, it was the kind of barn a photographer dreams about finding! The weathered wood and open structure gave us such a fun, relaxed setting for her first portraits.
Of course, Sage’s dogs had to be included, too! Getting three energetic pups together for a photo is always an adventure. But they were SO cute. And honestly so good for the camera! I absolutely love when seniors include their pets because they are such an important part of their lives and families.
From there, we wandered into nearby meadows that were absolutely bursting with bachelor’s buttons. I had never actually seen them growing wild in bloom like this before, so I was ridiculously excited! Those tiny blue flowers photographed beautifully and added the prettiest little pops of color throughout Sage’s portraits.
So Many Meaningful Senior Photo Props
Sage came incredibly prepared with props that told so many different parts of her story. And when I say we had a marathon of prop photos, I mean it!
We incorporated her soccer ball and letterman jacket to celebrate her years as a McQueen high school athlete. Her bold blue jacket looked amazing against the soft greens and blues of the meadow. I love how much personality those portraits have!
Then we highlighted another big part of Sage’s future with her HOSA jacket, stethoscope, and textbook. I especially loved photographing her sitting among all those blue wildflowers with her stethoscope and book. It felt like such a sweet way to connect who she is right now with where she’s headed next.
We also photographed her with flowers and a beautiful handmade quilt from her grandma. The quilt brought so much color into the meadow, plus so much meaning. Getting it perfectly flattened out in the grass was another story, and definitely gave all of us a good laugh!
These are the kinds of details that make senior portraits feel truly personal. Your hobbies, achievements, family heirlooms, pets, and plans for the future can all become part of the story.
A Special Stop in Verdi
Next, we headed into Verdi for portraits at a place with special meaning to Sage. I loved that we were able to incorporate a little local history into her session while giving her portraits a completely different look.
Sage changed into denim overalls and a white top, which worked perfectly with the nostalgic surroundings. One of my favorite images from this part of the afternoon is her portrait in front of the train mural with a little American flag. It feels playful and timeless at the same time.
That variety is one of my favorite things about longer senior sessions. We can go from rustic and natural to something more personal and unexpected without losing the overall story.
Chasing Summer Light at Donner Lake
After Verdi, we headed west toward Truckee to finish Sage’s Verdi and Donner Lake Senior Portraits in the most beautiful summer light.
The meadow near the lake was incredibly lush and green. We followed a trail through the grasses and along a little creek, stopping wherever the light and scenery caught my eye. Sage’s white top and detailed denim were perfect against all that greenery, especially as the evening light began filtering through the trees.
Then it was time for the lake!
Sage changed into a fun navy polka-dot dress for some playful portraits along the shoreline before switching into a flowing green dress for our final set. The color looked gorgeous beside the water and against the exposed tree roots along the shore.
And yes, Sage was brave enough to actually get into the cold water!
Those final images were completely worth it. The calm lake, natural shoreline, soft evening light, and Sage sitting right at the water’s edge made such a beautiful ending to the session. There was something so peaceful about slowing everything down there after such a full afternoon.
The Sweetest Summer Senior Session
Sage’s session was spectacularly magical from beginning to end. I loved getting to know her and spending the afternoon with her family, photographing all the things that matter to her right now.
From soccer and her future in healthcare to her grandma’s handmade quilt and her beloved dogs, every part of this session felt intentional and completely Sage. Add in those unexpected wildflowers, the gorgeous green meadows, and a Donner Lake sunset, and I truly couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful summer evening.
Sage, thank you for trusting me to document this incredible milestone. I had SO much fun with you and your family, and I’m so grateful I got to create these portraits with you! Super excited to get to work with you on the Senior VIP Team for the rest of this whole year!
Hair and makeup by Kiss and Makeup NV
If you’re dreaming about your own Verdi and Donner Lake Senior Portraits, I would love to help you create a session that celebrates your personality, interests, achievements, and everything that makes your senior year yours. Reach out through my contact page here and let’s start planning your senior session!
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