How to Prepare for Senior Sunset Session at Meydenbauer Bay

I love it when my high school seniors have a vision for their senior photo session.  When Ella's mom said she had a sunset senior photoshoot at a beach in mind, I knew the exact location.  Bellevue, Washington might not be the first place that comes to mind when brainstorming beach locations in the PNW, but we have a little gem of a park called Meydenbauer Bay, where the sun sets right over the water and puts on a great show during golden hour in the summer months.  Perfect.  

When people talk about Golden Hour, The best time for sunset photos depends a lot on location and time of year.  If you're shooting by tall trees or a hill, you'll want to schedule professional photos earlier in the day to account for the earlier loss of light.  For this beach session, the perfect time was about an hour and change before sunset.  

After a session is booked, I always ask my senior if they have inspo images they want to send over to give an idea of the look and feel they're going for in their photos.  If they don't, that's ok too!  Ella was ready with some looks I loved and they were perfect for her sweet and unique personality.  Pinterest boards are one of my favorite things!  You can use search terms like "senior photo shoot" "senior portrait session" or "senior picture ideas."

As for what to wear for a beach photo shoot, flowy dresses in neutral colors are a perfect outfit for at least one look. For longer sessions, you might want an outfit or two to change into something like jeans and a cute top.  If you have longer hair, loose beach waves add movement the camera loves.  Ella opted for both, along with a gorgeous bouquet of hydrangeas in beautiful colors that her mom made for her shoot!  I love how her personal style gave the cutest coastal town beachy vibes.

The evening of the shoot, I was so excited.  The sun was doing its amazing PNW summer thing.  Ella showed up looking cute as can be and right away I knew we were going to have so much fun.  She also brought one of her best friends which I love.  It can make for more comfortable portrait sessions to have someone with you for moral support, and for sure some lasting memories will be made as well!  

I have some favorite spots in the park where we can take advantage of the beautiful settings in different types of light.   The sun was still a little high when we started so we warmed up with some walking and standing shots in the open shade.  One of the best features of Meydenbauer Bay Park in Bellevue is it has a lot of different places to shoot.  The natural beauty of the park includes not only the beach, but a pathway lined with trees as well as some stunning overlooks.  During a senior session, I always have a variety of poses in mind, but one of the great things that usually ends up happening, is as the session continues and everyone starts to feel more relaxed, the best expressions and natural smiles start coming out.  I love this!!  Ella was seriously prepared and killing every direction I gave her.  There is no better way to get stunning, natural-looking photos than to put your trust in your photographer.  One of our very last shots had us both in the water past our knees.  The sun was casting a beautiful glow on the water and my gorgeous girl.  I had waded in with my tall rain boots on, and suddenly discovered they were quite cracked as I felt the water rapidly seeping in!!  No time to do anything but snap away, as we didn't have a lot of time before the sun dipped below the horizon.  I think the soaking-wet socks were worth it from the shot we got!  ​

I couldn't wait to start editing Ella's session and looking over the photos, I was reminded again how beautiful sunset photosessions are.  Her adorable white dress popped perfectly against the natural tones of the beautiful scenery.  She came prepared to have fun and brought a friend to help her feel more relaxed and it showed.  Mom's first text to me when I sent the gallery over was, "I'm obsessed.  Loving these!!"  Ella said, "In love!!  Couldn't be happier!!"  As you can see here, we got some amazing photos while having a blast.

I totally get it can be a little nerve-racking to be in front of the camera, but I want readers to know I will be there every step of the way, directing exactly how to stand, where to look, how to hold your hands, how to smile, etc.  Senior year of High School is such a significant milestone in a person's life.  Having Senior Portraits taken by a professional photographer is an investment you'll be so glad you made when you look back on your last year of high school.  If you’re ready to capture your senior year in photos that reflect who you really are, in a way that feels natural and fun, let’s create something unforgettable together!