January 23, 2023

7 Creative Ideas for Senior Photos in Urban Locations

My passion is capturing photographs of heartfelt moments for families to savor forever as keepsake memories. Whenever I'm not helping your family, you can find me loving on my own. Camping trips, boba tea, and card games are our favorite ways to connect!  

I'm Kelly

Hey!

Greensboro Family & Lifestyle Photogapher

Categories

So you just booked your senior session and are trying to figure out what type of locations you want for your photos? Or maybe you are a senior photographer and you are feeling uninspired when it comes to location ideas for your next senior session…Well I gotcha boo! How about senior photos in urban locations!?!?

BELOW ARE 7 TIPS FOR FINDING UNIQUE URBAN LOCATIONS FOR SENIOR PHOTOS!


Some of my favorite spots for senior photos in urban locations are found in alleyways of downtown areas! This can include fire escape ladders, graffiti walls, grungy doors and flowering vines that have made for some of the most unique spots! Below are all photos shot in urban alleyways.

1. EXPLORE THE ALLEYWAYS

senior girl's photo with wildflowers, senior photography, senior girl photo, Indiana senior photos, Lafayette, Indiana

These gorgeous vining flowers were growing in the alley way parking area with cars literally right next to her. I wouldn’t have found this spot if I hadn’t walked all the alleys in this downtown area.

A vine covered wall in an alleyway made for a great stop for this senior session! I only had to photoshop an AC unit out of the photo 😉

urban senior photos, Lafayette Indiana senior photographer

Fire escape stairway.

urban guy's senior session

I look for old doors, textures, and colors that pop when walking through alleyways.

urban girl's senior photos, downtown Lafayette, Indiana senior photos, senior urban photo ideas

Next to the backdoor to a restaurant in a dirty alley… this spot stuck out to me for the peeling paint and orange chair that was already sitting there. I did have to photoshop a bit of garbage out of this one 😉

This random hydrangea bush was growing in an alleyway next to a few parked cars.

Embrace harsh light in alley ways for stunning and unique senior photos!

Indiana senior session in urban location, urban senior session, downtown senior girl's session
senior guys photography, urban downtown senior photos, urban guys senior photo,

Fire escape stairways always make for great photos because seniors can either sit on them and you can shoot up the staircase or you can stand above them and shoot down the staircase for a completely different look

senior girl's photo urban downtown Indiana

Textures, old door, vines, this photo has so many fun layers!

2. LOOK FOR CHAINLINK FENCES & RUNDOWN BUILDINGS

For seniors looking for urban spots with a flare of grunge, look for old warehouses or rundown buildings with chainlink fences or weathered and worn façades.

Chainlink fences provide beautiful visual lines, while old dilapidated buildings and warehouses have peeling paint, textures, and rusty colors that can pop with certain sessions! Here are a few examples below.

senior photography with chain link fence, Indiana senior photographer, girl's senior photo with off the shoulder dress

Try an 85mm lens or longer for beautiful bokeh shots with chain link fences.

urban grunge senior girl's session, Lafayette Indiana senior session

3. LOCATE URBAN FLOWERS

Surprisingly, there are so many flowering trees and bushes and downtown areas, but you just have to start looking for them! All of the shots below are in downtown/urban areas next to buildings, cars, alleyways, or roads!

As you start walking around your downtown area this spring/summer, look for flowers and get creative with your angles!

cherry blossom flowers senior photos, spring senior photos

Cherry blossoms in the spring lining the side of a buidling.

senior girl's photos, senior session with flowers, wildflower senior portraits

Flowering bushes along a sidewalk. Yes, she laid down in a little bare spot in the flowers and no flowers were hurt or broken in the making of this shot 😉

Flowering dogwoods on a university campus.

wildflower senior photos

Forsythias lining the side of a road.

Hydrangeas randomly growing in the alleyway.

Flowering vines next to a parking lot and an old rundown fence.

4. UNCOVER URBAN ART

I am loving the urban art trend and all of the beautiful murals around town these days! Graffiti walls might not fit with every senior session, but I love to figure out ways to incorporate them if possible! Here are a few examples below.

senior guy portrait session, senior photo with double bass, graffiti wall senior photo
guy's senior photo graffiti wall

5. WALK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES

We have two pedestrian bridges in our town and one happens to be an old converted train bridge! These walking bridges provide stunning visual lines and unique architectural elements to your senior photos!

senior photo ideas for girls, urban senior girl's session, senior photography Lafayette Indiana, Indiana senior photographer
Davis Ferry Walking Bridge Lafayette Indiana Senior Photos

6. DISCOVER DOWNTOWN DOORWAYS

I have a thing for old doors! I just loooove them, I’m obsessed. If you walk around your downtown area, I am POSITIVE that you will find some pretty cool doorways to use for your next senior session!

7. RIDE UP TO THE PARKING GARAGE ROOFTOP!

One of my favorite sunset spots downtown is the top of the parking garage! Not only do you have killer views, but the sunset cannot be beat!

Get creative and shoot in both harsh light and at sunset for a totally different look!

downtown roof top parking garage senior session

If your interested in booking senior photos with me in Greensboro, NC or the surrounding Triad area, feel free to reach out! I’d love to talk about possibilities to make your senior photos extra special for you.

FILED IN:
Seniors

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

My passion is capturing photographs of heartfelt moments for families to savor forever as keepsake memories. Whenever I'm not helping your family, you can find me loving on my own. Camping trips, boba tea, and card games are our favorite ways to connect!  

I'm Kelly

Hey!

Greensboro Family & Lifestyle Photogapher

Categories