Some senior sessions just feel easy from the very beginning, and Jayda’s was exactly that.
Between her calm personality, her smile that shows up in literally every frame, and the fact that her mom and I spent the session laughing half the time, this one barely felt like work. I photographed her older brother’s senior pictures last year, so at this point I’m basically expecting a seat at Thanksgiving dinner. That’s just how it goes sometimes when you get to photograph families year after year in a small community like Coloma.
Jayda is graduating with the Coloma High School Class of 2026, and honestly, she’s the kind of senior who makes you immediately wonder how she manages to fit everything into one schedule. Alongside high school, she’s already close to finishing a nursing degree, which is wildly impressive all by itself. Add in years of track, and suddenly you realize this girl has somehow packed about three lives worth of ambition into one high school experience.
And through all of it, she still shows up as one of the sweetest people you could meet.
Downtown Senior Pictures in St. Joseph, Michigan
We started part of Jayda’s senior session downtown in St. Joseph, using some of my favorite textured brick walls, alleyways, and little tucked-away corners that photograph beautifully around Southwest Michigan. I love mixing urban textures with softer portraits because it gives galleries so much variety without needing to travel all over the place.
Jayda absolutely nailed that balance. One second she looked effortlessly cool leaning against an old brick wall with flowers in hand, and the next she was giving soft spring portrait energy under blooming trees like she had been doing this professionally for years.
The black top and jeans combo with the yellow flowers was just perfect. Simple, clean, timeless, and it photographed so well against the warm brick tones downtown.
Spring Senior Pictures at Margaret B. Upton Arboretum
One thing about spring senior sessions in Michigan is that they can surprise you in the best way.
Summer and fall are definitely the busiest seasons for senior pictures around Southwest Michigan, but honestly, I loved that Jayda chose spring. Her session timing wasn’t exactly traditional simply because she is so incredibly busy, but it ended up being perfect.
The Margaret B. Upton Arboretum in downtown St. Joseph was absolutely showing off. The flowering trees, soft greens, and scattered petals everywhere made the entire session feel fresh and light in the best way possible.
Jayda’s white dress photos under the blooming trees might honestly be some of my favorites from the entire session. There’s something about the combination of the blossoms, the movement in the dress, and her relaxed personality that made everything feel effortless.
And can we talk about the custom senior jeans for a second? Those deserved their own moment. The pink lettering and bows were such a fun way to personalize the session without making it feel overdone.
Coloma High School Senior Photographer
I photograph a lot of seniors throughout Berrien County and Van Buren County, but there’s always something especially meaningful about working with Coloma seniors because Coloma is home for me.
There’s something different about photographing families in your own community. You recognize names, run into people at the grocery store, photograph older siblings, and then suddenly you’re watching younger siblings graduate too. Sessions end up feeling less like formal photoshoots and more like spending time with people you genuinely enjoy.
Jayda was an absolute natural in front of the camera from start to finish. Sweet, driven, genuine, and completely herself the entire time.
Honestly, sessions like this are why I love senior photography so much. It’s not just about getting a few good pictures for the yearbook. It’s about capturing this really strange, exciting season where life is just starting to open up in front of someone.
And if Jayda’s future is anything like the energy she brought to this session, I have a feeling she’s going to do some pretty incredible things.
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