Kate | Philadelphia Destination Shoot | Hershey High School

Senior portrait sessions have evolved significantly over the past few years. No longer are they limited to the familiar, often overused hot spots in our immediate area. When seniors book Slice of Lime, the majority of them mention that they are looking for unique, personalized experiences, that result in out-of-the-box senior photos that reflect their individuality.

The desire for something unique, has lead to a rise in the popularity of destination senior sessions. Many Slice of Lime clients want to avoid the common backdrops seen in everyone else’s photos and they crave an experience and a result that is distinctively theirs.

My recent destination sessions in Puerto Rico and Hawaii have underscored this trend. These destinations offered breathtaking landscapes and vibrant local culture, making for unforgettable senior photos. But destination sessions don’t always require a plane ticket!

From our base in the Harrisburg area, we are fortunate to be within driving or train distance of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC and Pittsburgh, as well as coastal spots in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, offer a plethora of unique backdrops. I’ve been lucky enough to get to shoot seniors in each of those places since each of those locations have their own character which = endless possibilities for senior sessions.

One of my destination sessions from a few years ago perfectly illustrates how you can capture an international vibe closer to home. My client, Kate, sent a mood board during her planning process that looked like scenes straight out of England. While Central PA couldn’t quite deliver on this vision, my familiarity with Philadelphia offered the perfect solution.

We kicked off Kate’s session at the studio and then ventured to Old City Philadelphia. In just a few blocks, we found everything we needed to bring Kate’s vision to life.

The charm of the historic district, with its cobblestone streets and colonial architecture, provided the perfect setting. We even stumbled upon Tartes Pastry Shop, a quaint pink building that complemented Kate’s denim and white outfit beautifully.

One of my favorite things about urban sessions is the spontaneity. In big cities, we focus on a handful of specific areas of interest and then I let my client’s outfits and my creative eye lead the way to where we shoot next. Roaming the streets of any big city often leads us to hidden gems like the pastry shop. Google maps is another way that I love to scout locations for destination sessions especially when I’m headed to areas I have never been to in person or to explore areas near places I’ve shot that I may have overlooked before.

Ready to book your own session? LET’S DO THIS!