Adrien’s Senior Portraits | Homecoming, Prom, Downtown Kannapolis + Cap & Gown in Concord
This post is going to be a looooooooong one so buckle in ha!
Senior year always moves faster than you think it will. One moment you’re signing permission slips, reminding them about deadlines, and watching the calendar fill up… and the next, you’re looking at cap and gown photos and realizing that this version of life is already changing.
For Adrien, our oldest kiddo, senior year wasn’t just a milestone — it was a season full of growth, purpose, and momentum. So instead of trying to fit everything into one session, we created something more true to who they are: A series of senior portrait sessions that documented the full story. From homecoming and prom, to downtown Kannapolis near the research labs where they worked their senior year, to cap and gown photos in downtown Concord at the memorial garden, this experience became more than just portraits.
It became a time capsule for their father and me.
Senior Portraits That Tell the Whole Story
If there’s one thing I’ve learned as both a mom and a senior photographer, it’s this: Your senior session doesn’t have to be just one day. In fact, some of the most meaningful senior portraits happen when you give the experience room to unfold over time. Different locations. Different outfits. Different energy.
Adrien’s senior year had so many layers worth documenting — personal milestones, academic achievements, and the quiet in-between moments that define this stage of life. So we approached their portraits the same way. A full story. Not just a highlight reel.
Homecoming Photos | A Classic Senior Year Moment
Homecoming is one of those milestones that feels almost like a rite of passage. It’s excitement and anticipation all wrapped into one night. For Adrien, senior homecoming photos were the perfect way to start this portrait journey — polished, fun, and full of personality.
There’s something so special about photographing the confidence that starts to emerge during senior year… the way they carry themselves just a little differently than they did even a year before.
Downtown Kannapolis Senior Session | Near the Research Labs Where Adrien Worked
Adrien spent their senior year working in a lab with a PhD candidate — gaining experience that most high school students don’t even get access to. They were doing real work, in a real environment, and growing into the kind of student they’re becoming. So photographing them in downtown Kannapolis — close to the research labs where they spent so much time — felt like the perfect way to honor that part of their story.
This is what I love about senior sessions:
They aren’t just about what your senior looks like.
They’re about who your senior is.
And for our kiddo, who started wearing a lab coat at three years old and doing kitchen counter experiments with their dad, science, research, curiosity, and discipline are all part of that identity.
Vintage Thrift Store Stop | A Piece of Adrien’s Real Style
One of the most “Adrien” parts of this senior portrait series was photographing them at a vintage thrift store.
Adrien has always loved thrifting — not just as shopping, but as a way of expressing who they are. They find pieces with history, mix unexpected textures, and create a style that feels completely their own. So it only made sense to include that in their senior photos.
This stop added something different to the story: a little grit, a little edge, and a whole lot of personality. The kind of images that don’t just show what Adrien looks like — but capture what they love, how they move through the world, and the confidence they’ve grown into this year.
Prom Photos | Elegant, Joyful, and So “Senior Year”
Prom is another one of those moments that deserves to be remembered as more than a phone snapshot. These photos were about capturing the feeling — the celebration, the glow, the excitement — and giving Adrien images that feel timeless instead of trendy. And I can’t lie - we blew the budget on the dream dress and built a custom backdrop when the pouring rain forced us inside on prom night. Photographer mom to the rescue!
Prom portraits always become some of my favorites because they show seniors in a really unique way: dressed up, proud, and stepping into adulthood in real time.
Cap & Gown Photos in Downtown Concord | Memorial Garden
Cap and gown photos are emotional no matter what. But this session hit differently obviously.
We chose the memorial garden in downtown Concord because it felt calm, classic, and meaningful — a location that allowed the focus to stay on Adrien and this milestone without distraction. The flowers here in the spring are just gorgeous!
There’s something about cap and gown portraits that feels like a pause in the chaos of senior year. A deep breath. A marker in time. And even as a photographer, I’ll be honest — it’s hard not to look through the lens and feel every bit of it.
NC State University | The Next Chapter
The biggest milestone of all? College dreams!
Adrien will be attending NC State University and pursuing a double major in Microbiology and Plant Biology— which feels like the most perfect reflection of who they are: thoughtful, driven, and deeply passionate about the world beneath the surface.
We also captured college-focused senior photos to celebrate what’s next — not just the end of high school, but the beginning of something huge.
That transition is what senior portraits are really about.
Honoring who they’ve been.
Celebrating who they’re becoming.
Why We Did Multiple Senior Sessions
Adrien’s senior portraits were never going to fit into one session — and honestly, I’m so grateful we didn’t force it.
By photographing multiple sessions throughout the year, we were able to capture:
formal milestones (homecoming + prom)
authentic personality and real-life settings
academic identity and future goals
cap and gown tradition
college excitement
And most importantly… we created images that feel deeply true and very Adrien.
A Personal Note as a Mom
This one is hard to write because it still doesn’t feel real. Senior year is full of celebration — and it should be — but it also carries this quiet kind of heartbreak. The kind that sneaks up on you.
You don’t realize how many “lasts” there are until you’re living them. And with Adrien, I wanted to make sure we didn’t rush through this season. I wanted to slow it down long enough to remember it.
That’s what these sessions gave us. Not just photos… but the ability to hold onto this version of life just a little longer.
Adrien, I’m so so proud of you and love you pooks!
Charlotte NC Senior Photographer | Fully Guided Senior Sessions
If you’re planning senior portraits and want something more meaningful than a one-size-fits-all photoshoot, I’d love to help you create an experience that feels intentional and personal.
My senior sessions are fully guided — from styling and location planning to posing, movement, and expression — so your senior feels confident, comfortable, and truly seen.
Serving Charlotte, Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Lake Norman, Ballantyne, and surrounding areas.
Ready to plan your senior session?
Reach out here →