The Connection Between Senior Photos and Boosted Self-Confidence
There's a real connection between senior photos and boosted self-confidence. I photographed Mia, a Westerville North high school senior, three times this year. And each time, she mentioned how much her self-confidence increased.
Self-esteem is tricky for teenagers. They’re inundated with social media, filters, and now AI images. I feel empathy for what they’re up against. And I also feel thankful to create positive experiences with my senior clients.
In this blog post, I’m sharing examples from each of her sessions, and you can see the transformation firsthand as her series progresses.
Whether you’re camera shy or outgoing, Mia’s experience will provide insight into a few things:
What it’s like working with me as your senior photographer.
Help you decide if having a multi-series senior photoshoot experience is right for you.
Show you how professional photos can boost your confidence and self-esteem.

But first, let me introduce Mia, a senior at Westerville North High School.
Meet Mia - Westerville North High School Senior
When I think of my time as a photographer and teacher, a handful of students come to mind regarding their thoughtfulness. Mia is one of those people.
She’s one of the nicest students I’ve ever had in class and always thinks of others. In fact, she even organized a birthday gift for me last year after only being in my class for a few months.
Mia became an unofficial ambassador for my studio as we crafted three different senior photoshoots together. I’m excited to share her sessions and show you how she felt more confident in each new session because it translates so well into her photos.

Best Friend Studio Senior Portraits - Session One
For Mia’s first session, we worked in my studio for a blog I was writing. She and her good friend, Abby, helped me create behind-the-scenes photos to show what it’s like working with me. My studio is small, as you can see in these photos, but it’s perfect for the type of work I produce.
Even though Mia and I knew each other before her first session, she still had some pre-shoot jitters. This is completely normal - for everyone.
I always remind clients that being nervous is 100% normal. But you'll be more comfortable as we go through poses and expressions. And that’s exactly what happened in Mia’s case, too.
By the end of her first senior session, she talked about how much she loved her new photos and mentioned how they had boosted her self-confidence.



