When Kayla asked me about doing a double senior portrait session with her friend Eliana (stay tuned for a post with her photos!) at Roanoke’s Explore Park, I was so excited. With the water, woods, and beautiful views I knew it would be a perfect location for a fun and relaxed photo shoot.
We met on a cool October day in the late afternoon. The light in Explore Park at that time of day is just lovely - the colors of the trees always reflect beautifully off the surface of the river. After walking down some trails, we began taking photos at the water’s edge. What was great about photographing Kayla and Eliana in the same session is that they could help each other feel more comfortable right from the start. They kept making each other laugh and we immediately had a great dynamic. Kayla is also the kind of person who, while she is not one to shy away from hard work, she has a natural ability to laugh at herself and not take herself too seriously. She brought a wonderful, lighthearted energy to the session.
After climbing over rocks and logs on the river banks, we walked along some trails and meandered into the woods. We all agreed that we wanted that golden sunset light, but much of Explore Park by that point was in the shadows, so we climbed into our cars and caravanned down the road to Mayflower Hills Park. We were just able to catch the last of the beautiful rays coming through the trees. The way the yellow sunlight lit up Kayla’s hair and bronzed skin was just dazzling! With some lovely natural textures from the pines and field grasses, we caught some beautiful moments.
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation, Kayla! I know you will go on to do amazing things.