When Maymont Park wasn’t an option for our session, we pivoted to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, and honestly, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect backdrop for Lily and Claire’s senior photos. The gardens gave us everything: dreamy floral paths, grassy fields, and that glow that every senior photographer (and senior!) hopes for.


This was an extra special shoot because it wasn’t just one senior session, it was a joint session between two best friends. Getting to photograph them together and individually gave the entire morning such a fun, lighthearted energy. We laughed, explored the gardens, and celebrated this exciting season of life before they head into their senior year of high school.

 

Friends posing together in a field of purple wildflowers surrounded by lush greenery.
Group enjoying a playful moment in a grassy field on an overcast day.
Friends standing together among purple wildflowers in a scenic outdoor setting.

 

Meet Lily


Lily described her dream aesthetic as “dreamy, floral, fieldly/grassy, golden lightish,” and I think we nailed it. The warm tones of Lewis Ginter perfectly matched her vision, with sunlit gardens framing her portraits in the best way. Beyond being a natural in front of the camera, Lily is a busy senior, she’s a cheerleader, involved in student government and honor societies, and still finds time for her hobbies like playing sports and baking. After graduation, she plans to pursue pre-medicine at a four-year university.

 

People in light dresses standing near blooming red rose bushes in a garden.
Person in flowing white dress posing gracefully on grass near white flowers.
Person in cream dress standing in garden with cacti and varied plants.

 

Meet Claire


Claire’s energy was just as vibrant as the garden around us. She’s deeply involved in field hockey, lacrosse, DECA, and multiple honor societies, which made it so fun to capture her confident, athletic spirit alongside her softer, more dreamy side in the photos. When she’s not on the field, she loves hanging out with friends, trying new restaurants, and exploring new places. Her future plans include studying communications and sports media at a four-year university, talk about a perfect fit for her outgoing, adventurous personality!

 

Person wearing white dress posing in landscaped garden with cacti and greenery.
A woman in a blue denim dress stands in a garden setting on an overcast day.
A white sundress contrasts beautifully against a backdrop of blooming red roses in a garden.

 

Why I Love Joint Senior Sessions


Senior photos are all about celebrating who you are right now, but when you bring a friend along, it makes the experience even more memorable. Lily and Claire hyped each other up the entire time, shared laughs between poses, and now not only have solo portraits but also images together that they’ll look back on for years to come. It’s like bottling up this season of friendship before they head off on their own adventures.

 

Friends in flowing white dresses dance together in a lush garden setting.
Close-up detail of white and cream summer dresses with delicate lace trim and pleating.
People in light-colored dresses twirl and dance along a brick pathway in a garden.

 

Planning Your Own Senior Session


If you’re a Class of 2026 senior in Richmond, Virginia (or nearby), and you’re dreaming of portraits that feel personal, warm, and a little magical, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is such a stunning option. Whether you want to book a solo shoot or a best friend session like Lily and Claire, I’d love to create something special for you.

 

Friends embrace while wearing flowing white and cream dresses in a garden setting.
People in flowing dresses run joyfully across a green hillside under cloudy skies.
Two people in light dresses stand on a stone wall surrounded by spring trees.