Senior Spotlight: Natalie — Adventurous, Nature-Loving & Completely Unafraid to Be Herself
- ST Photography
- Nov 22, 2025
- 2 min read
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.
Senior Girl With leaves shadowing hr face, her green eye shadow and eyes closed Senior Girl in the woods with shadows on her face and eyes open Senior girl hugging a fern
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.
Senior girl in woods squatting Senior Girl walking down an autumn wooded trail Senior girl balancing on logs in the forest Senior girl leaning on a tree in the woods senior girl leaning her back against the tree in the woods Senior Girl laughing in the woods
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 posing on a log in the woods Senior girl with hand on head posing on a log Senior girl posing with her hand on her head on a log Senior girl laying on a log in the woods, arms crossed Black and white photo of a senior girl laying on a log smiling at the camera
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.
Girl squatting sideways in the middle of a wooded pathway with fall leaves on the ground Black and white photo of a senior girl hugging herself Senior girl twirling in the middle of a fall wooded pathway
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.
Senior girl autumn portrait with girl squatting Senior girl with black and red outfit leaning against a tree Senior girl smiling leaning against a tree at sunset Senior girl looking in a mirror in the woods Senior girl smiling at herself in the mirror in the woods Senior girl reflected in a mirror in the woods
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.
Senior girl in a tree looking into the distance Senior girl reading a book high in a tree in the woods Senior girl high in a tree reading a book
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 in a tree smiling while reading Senior girl posing while reading a book on a branch in a tree Senior girl reading high in the trees of a forest
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.
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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