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Senior Spotlight: Natalie — Adventurous, Nature-Loving & Completely Unafraid to Be Herself

Black and white photo of a senior girl in a tank top with leaves shadowing her face.

There are some seniors whose sessions feel more like an adventure than a photoshoot—and Natalie is absolutely one of them. She knew exactly where she wanted her senior portraits taken: the beautifully rugged, nature-filled trails of Beechwood State Park in Sodus, NY.



If you’ve never visited Beechwood, it’s a mix of abandoned cabins, wooded pathways, and quiet areas that feel untouched and full of stories. It was the perfect backdrop for someone like Natalie—someone who truly loves nature, bugs, and everything that comes with being outdoors, except maybe the cold. In the last photo above I told her to hug her fern. She was a like, "Whhhhhhhhaaaaat?" but she trusted me and went with it.


A Senior Session for a True Nature Girl

Natalie isn’t the type to shy away from tall grass, bugs, or exploring hidden corners of the woods. In fact, she lights up when she’s outside. That made our entire session feel effortless—we wandered through wooded trails, stopped whenever we saw something inspiring, and made use of every beautifully overgrown, wild little pocket of Beechwood.


Senior girl sideways on a log posing with her hand on her knee

One of the best parts of working with Natalie?She’s not afraid to try new poses. Whether it's hugging a fern, sitting on a fallen log, or twirling through a path of scattered leaves, she trusted me. That sense of adventure made every shot feel authentic and totally her.



Abandoned Cabins + Woodsy Vibes = Perfection

The abandoned cabins at Beechwood gave us such a cool mix of rustic textures and history. Combined with the soft evening light filtering through the trees, it created a dreamy, earthy vibe that matched Natalie’s personality perfectly.



We explored multiple wooded areas around the park, each with its own character—dense trees, open trails, and quiet spaces that let her shine. Every location became a chance to create something fun and unique.


Black and white of a senior girl reading in a tree

A Session Full of Fun & Authenticity

Some seniors need time to warm up. While posing can be intimidating, Natalie walked in ready to explore, laugh, and create magic. Her love of nature showed in every frame, and her willingness to try anything made the session flow naturally from one idea to the next.


Senior girl sitting a tree reading, seeing a cute bug on her book
In this photo Natalie was looking a bug and she was thought this bug was so cute!

By the end, we had wandered across several different parts of the park, and each spot gave us a new chance to capture who she really is: adventurous, curious, outdoorsy, and beautifully herself.

Senior girl in black and white on a log with sun filtering through the forest
Senior Rep on a log in a wooded tree area

Natalie is featured because she is one of my senior reps, if you are a girl in your junior year, going into your senior year, APPLY here to be a Senior Rep for Team27!


Thanks for adventuring with us!


Shanon Tessier


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