Jordan's Oak Ridge High School Senior Session at Folsom Lake
Some sessions are about the location. Some are about the look. And some, like Jordan's, are about everyone and everything you love, all gathered into one afternoon of golden fall light out at Folsom Lake.
Meet Jordan
Jordan is an Oak Ridge High School senior with an easy smile, a family who adores her, and a soft-hearted yellow lab who's convinced he's part of the family too (spoiler: he absolutely is). When she showed up for her session, she brought more than outfits and flowers. She brought her mom and her dog. And honestly? That's when I knew this session was going to hit differently.
Why We Chose Folsom Lake
For Jordan's senior session, we split time between Browns Ravine and the Granite Bay side of Folsom Lake. She lives in El Dorado Hills and attends Oak Ridge high School. This is one of my favorite areas to work as a Folsom Lake senior photographer, because within a short drive you get every backdrop a senior could dream of. Golden meadows. Rustic split-rail fencing. Wooded trails dappled with light. Glassy river water. Open California sky with oaks lit up in fall color. During our second planning Zoom, Jordan and her mom told me they were overwhelmed by location options, so I did what I always do. I listened, narrowed it down together with them, then actually drove out to the spot the day before her session to make sure everything was still open, still gorgeous, and still going to deliver. That kind of prep is the difference between a good session and a great one.
Choosing the right senior photographer is a big decision, and if you're still in that stage, my post on what to look for in a senior photographer walks you through it.
The Session
Jordan came prepared with a lineup of outfits that felt entirely like her, no cookie-cutter Pinterest energy anywhere in sight. A soft cream floral dress for the tall wildflower grasses. A rich burgundy dress paired with a full bouquet of baby's breath along the golden hour split-rail fence. A denim skirt and cozy knit sweater with a bright yellow gerbera daisy bouquet for the wooded trail. A flowy floral dress that she wore right into the shallow water of the river at Browns Ravine. And then the sweetest set of the day, Jordan in a navy dress kneeling in the grass with her lab (Broncos bandana and all) for the mother-of-all mother-daughter-dog moments. Fresh flowers appeared in nearly every look, from baby's breath to yellow gerberas to soft white carnations, and every scene felt intentional without ever feeling forced.
Prep is everything in a great session, which is exactly why I wrote, “what to bring to your senior pictures” blog.
What Her Mom Had to Say
"As a parent, I felt confident having Michelle take my daughter's senior photos. She really takes time to get to know her subjects and makes sure each shoot is personal and unique while giving professional guidance and suggestions. We were overwhelmed when trying to pick locations, so Michelle listened to what we were looking for and found us the perfect spot, even checking out the spot the day before the shoot to make sure everything was open. She made my daughter feel confident and beautiful!"
This review lives rent-free in my head, because it captures every single thing I want a mom to feel walking into this experience. Confident. Heard. Guided. And most importantly, watching her own daughter feel beautiful in front of the camera.
The Legacy Piece
Jordan's family walked away with all three of the tangible pieces I dream of for every senior. An heirloom album her mom can pull off the shelf and flip through at Thanksgiving. Custom prints for the walls of their home. And matching digital images to share with grandma, tag on Instagram, or tuck into graduation announcements. That's what a full senior experience is supposed to look like, because senior year isn't a folder buried in cloud storage. It's a story worth telling in something you can actually put your hands on.
Ready for Your Own Session?
If you're an El Dorado Hills, Folsom, or Sacramento area senior looking for the full-service senior portrait experience with a photographer who scouts your location the day before, guides you through wardrobe and prep on our two planning Zooms, and delivers your gallery as heirloom albums and wall art your family will actually keep, I'd love to plan yours next.
The class of 2026 calendar is open, and I take a limited number of seniors each season on purpose.
👉 Learn more about our senior portrait sessions
Want to see more recent senior photo sessions? Check these out:
Marissa's Senior Session at Sly Park | Vista del Lago High School | Folsom Senior Photographer
Summer Senior Picture Inspo, Featuring Cameron, Bella Vista High School, Sacramento
