Downtown Phoenix Senior Photos | Class of 2026 | Asher

I've known Asher's family for close to 20 years. His dad Jeremy is the lead pastor at our church, and I shot their family session out at Superstition Mountain last year, so getting to come back and do Asher's senior session felt like a full-circle kind of moment.

He's a senior now. Class of 2026. I don't know how that happened, but here we are.

Downtown Phoenix for the Win

For his session, we headed into downtown Phoenix, which is genuinely one of my favorite places to shoot seniors. The textures, the light bouncing off buildings, the little hidden corners that most people walk right past, it gives you so much to work with! It doesn't feel like a typical "senior session" backdrop, which I think is exactly why it works so well for the right person.

Asher is the right person.

Here's the thing about shooting someone who's confident in who they are, Asher showed up and was himself, which is honestly the best thing a person can do. He's also genuinely kind, which I think comes through. There's a difference between someone who photographs as confident and someone who's actually confident without being arrogant. Asher is the second one. I think it's a pretty rare combination in a 17 or 18-year-old, and it made the whole session feel easy and fun.

I've watched this kid grow up through years of church, family dinners, and watching his parents do life well. Getting to show up for this milestone lik this one, means a lot to me!

Tips for a Downtown Phoenix Senior Session

1. Go early or go late. Midday light downtown is brutal and unflattering. Golden hour gives you warmth and drama without any extra effort.

2. Wear something you'd actually wear. Downtown has a lot of personality. Your outfits should too. Don't overthink it, but also don't show up in something that feels like a costume.

3. Don't stress the posing. Downtown gives you so much to interact with, walls, stairs, doorways, open streets. That's my job to navigate, so you don't have to think about it. Moving through a space always looks better than just standing in front of it anyway.

Senior sessions are one of my favorite things to shoot, mostly because they're such a weird and specific moment in someone's life. You're done, but you're also just starting. Downtown Phoenix felt right for Asher, somewhere with some edge and some energy, for a kid who's got both.

Congrats, Asher. You're going to do something great. I'm sure of it. 🎉

If you've got a senior coming up in 2026 and want something that doesn't look like everyone else's session, let's talk →

Check out more senior sessions on the blog.