Sunee | Fall Color For a Senior Session in Charlotte
Fall in Charlotte is always a bit of a wild card. Some years, the leaves turn in early October… and other years, we’re all waiting until November (or even December!) for that perfect autumn color to finally show up. So when a senior tells me that rich fall color is their number one priority, I know two things:
we’re going to need to stay flexible, and
when it all lines up, it’s going to be magic.
That was exactly the case with Sunee’s senior session.
This year’s color did not disappoint. We planned carefully, watched the trees week by week, and when the moment was right, we headed to the UNCC Botanical Gardens, which absolutely exploded with oranges, reds, and golds. It was the kind of fall palette photographers dream about — warm, vibrant, and glowing in every direction. Sunee was a natural in front of the camera, and the gardens gave us an endless variety of backdrops to bring out her personality.
One of my favorite parts of Sunee’s session was watching her slip into her true creative zone. She’s an incredibly talented artist, so we made sure to capture a few portraits of her sketching and working on her artwork. Those moments felt intimate, honest, and so reflective of who she is at this stage in her life.
After exploring the gardens, we traveled to a nearby field behind my Harrisburg studio to catch that soft, warm evening light. The contrast between the structured botanical paths and the open, airy field gave her gallery so much depth and variety — a perfect fall-inspired combination.
Because she’s a mid-year graduate, we also added on a college gear session to celebrate her next chapter at Bowling Green State University. And honestly? The warm orange and brown tones of BGSU gear could not have been a more perfect aesthetic match to her fall session. It felt like a full-circle moment — beginning with autumn color and ending with the colors of her future.
Congratulations, Sunee! Your talent, creativity, and warmth made this session a dream. I can’t wait to see everything you create in the years ahead.