Last Saturday evening, I met up with Daniel, a senior from Calallen High School, for his portrait session out in Quail Valley. The fall weather was perfect, with that dreamy golden hour light—well, mostly. The clouds decided to give us a bit of a challenge, but we rolled with it, and the results turned out great!
Daniel showed up rocking his letterman jacket, cap, and gown, and while he started off a little unsure in front of the camera (totally normal for senior guys!), it didn’t take long before he got the hang of it. By the end of the session, he was a total natural. We kicked things off with some classic shots in his letterman jacket, which were perfect since Daniel’s a soccer player for Calallen High. You could tell just how much he loves the sport—it really came through in the photos.
We moved around to different spots in Quail Valley, from fields to fences, with a mix of rural vibes that really suited Daniel’s laid-back personality. Even though I had him running around to all these different spots, he didn’t complain once. He was such a good sport the whole time! You could tell this wasn’t his usual scene, but he stayed chill and just rolled with whatever I threw his way.
The lighting was a bit tricky with the clouds popping in and out, but honestly, that’s part of the fun. We didn’t wait around for perfect light—we just made it work, and Daniel’s easygoing attitude made it all come together. What I love about senior guys is that they usually come into these sessions not really knowing what to expect, but once they settle in, they bring this relaxed, no-pressure vibe that makes the photos feel super genuine.
One cool thing about this session was that Daniel’s girlfriend, Hailey, joined in for some of the photos. They did a joint session, which was really fun to capture (Hailey’s individual post is coming soon, so keep an eye out!). You could totally see how comfortable they are together, and it made for some sweet moments.
By the end of it all, Daniel had nailed the whole process. From a little unsure at the start to totally owning the shoot by the end—it was so fun to see that transformation. I’m excited to share these shots with him and his family and can’t wait to see what’s next for him!
And don’t worry—Hailey’s post is coming soon, so stay tuned for that!
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