3 Unexpected Perks of Being on My Senior Crew

When I first created my Senior Crew experience more than 12 years ago, I wanted to give seniors a chance to do something fun and different with their senior photos. Since then, the program has grown and changed. I wanted to offer something that truly meant something to the seniors I worked with — an experience that made them feel seen, celebrated, and confident stepping into senior year.

Over the years, I’ve had the honor of photographing my Senior Crews all over the greater Minneapolis area — from downtown alleyways and rooftops to family farms in Lakeville and Farmington, even a dreamy wedding venue in Hastings. Each location, and each senior, brings something different — but what they walk away with? That’s where the magic is.

Joining my Senior Crew is more than just the additional styled photo shoot opportunities my Senior Crew members receive. Here are three things you might not expect as a Senior Crew member

1. Confidence that Comes from Being Comfortable

I hear this all the time from my senior photo clients:“You made me feel so comfortable.”And when you’re truly comfortable and able to be yourself, that’s when confidence starts to shine through in your photos.

For my Senior Crew members, that transformation is one of the biggest reasons I offer this experience. Most of them show up to the Kickoff Shoot a little timid or unsure. But by the time we get to their personal senior session, they’re relaxed, having fun, and fully themselves. And by the end of their Senior Crew year? They’re suggesting ideas, posing naturally, and showing up with so much confidence it honestly gives me chills.

That kind of shift doesn’t come from perfect poses. It comes from being in an environment where they feel safe, seen, and trusted. They know I’ve got them — and they know I’ll never post anything they wouldn’t want out there. (I always send silly shots — laughing, giggling, funny faces — for approval first.) That’s the vibe I create with all of my seniors.

It’s just even more profound when we’ve had an entire year together.

2. Friendships You Didn’t Expect

You don’t have to already be “in the group” to feel included here. My Senior Crew is intentionally welcoming and the Kick off Shoot is designed to help the Crew members get to know each other. Friendships always form throughout the year and sometimes even faster. During the Senior Crew Kickoff Shoot in March of 2025, I stopped two girls mid way through the shoot to ask if they knew each other before. They were having so much fun together, laughing and being unapologetically wonderfully silly I was convinced they knew each other. Nope, they had just met the hour before when the photo shoot started.

3. A Photo With Your People Before You Leave

This one always hits deep, especially in the spring. Senior year goes by in a blink, and before you know it, they’re packing for what’s next. That’s why I now include a family mini session as part of the Senior Crew experience.

I started offering it for the Class of 2025 after hearing the same thing for years during senior sessions: “We haven’t had a family photo since they were in elementary school… or maybe since they were a baby.” And honestly? That stuck with me. These are milestone moments for the whole family, not just the senior. So I decided to build in a space for that — a quick, meaningful chance to capture their people before they launch into their next chapter.

So many families took advantage of it and shared how much it meant to them that it’s now a permanent part of my Senior Crew experience.

Applications for the Class of 2027 Senior Crew Open January 12

If you're a junior in the Rosemount, Lakeville, Edina, Eagan, Apple Valley, Farmington or in the greater Minneapolis area looking for a senior photo session experience that’s as real and unforgettable as you are and have the opportunity to be a part of the Senior Crew. Check back here on January 12. If you love the idea of the Senior Session Experience I offer but you don't feel the Senior Crew is right for you, that's okay too. My calendar opens on January 31 for any junior wanting to schedule their Focus or Adventure Senior Session.