Owen's Government Center Senior Session

“Owen loves brutalist architecture!” my close friend since second grade, Lauren told me when we were talking about her son’s senior session.

“For real?” I thought, I guess someone has to love brutalist architecture! “Let’s meet at Boston City Hall then!”

And we did. Of course the entire session didn’t take place in the city hall plaza, but that was partially because a festival was happening smack dab in the middle. But we made do and created an awesome collection, I think!


Carissa

Carissa is a fan of animals, Marvel comics, and all things creative. We met at Boston Public Garden (a reoccurring location this season!) and had a great time chatting and making photos while her two lovely parents hung back and enjoyed watching their daughter have fun.

Weekend of Seniors!

Good sports!

To say my first weekend of October was busy would be an understatement. As busy and hectic as it was, it was also so much fun! Here are some senior photos I captured that weekend. Three seniors; Funmi, Jared and Jasmine, in downtown Boston, and a group session with Anissa, Patricia, Sofia and Sarah in Boston Public Garden and the Beacon Hill.

This was the first time I had a group of high school seniors together for a session and they seemed to have the best time together. And they were game when I asked them “Are you willing to lay down on these cobblestones?”

Ivone's Boston Public Library Senior Session

When Ivone got in touch with me about a senior session she told me she’d been looking around for the right photographer for quite a while. She was excited to have found me. I was excited too! Then my most favorite thing happened. When I asked Ivone to bring her parent or guardian into the email conversation to confirm her as a client, her mom popped in, confirmed, and then shared with me “(Ivone) will be your contact, as I’m trying to raise her to advocate for herself but if you need me just let me know.”

I could not have loved this more. The importance of being comfortable speaking for yourself and talking to strangers is an essential life skill, and I loved that it was being encouraged and instilled in her.

I met Ivonne, her mom, and sister in Boston on a gorgeous Thursday evening and we made our way first through Boston Public Library, then wandered the surrounding area for fun architectural details to work with. We had a blast and I think Ivone - as the kids say - ate it!

Lindy and Aidan's Twin Senior Session!

Lindy and Aidan's mom was on TOP of it! I got an email from her way back in August inquiring about my session services for this year. I love this kind of thinking ahead!

The plan was for a Tuesday evening session with Aidan at Boston University, followed by one the next night for Lindy at Emerson where she was wrapping up her own college career.

When crummy weather managed to threaten to dampen Lindy’s sessions, I photographed them back-to-back on the same evening, starting at BU, then hustling over to Emerson for Lindy.

I think we pulled it off despite the slight Mother Nature-caused time crunch!

(Click to enlarge!)

Reghan's Boston University Senior Session

During the Senior Week Carnival, which is at Boston University where I am a full time photographer, I camped out where I had a good view of an inflated double slide. I waited to capture some great expressions of students taking advantage of the slide, and when I caught a photo of some joyous seniors, I approached the two to ask for their names for my caption.

When one gave me her name, I recognized it immediately. “Is your senior portrait photographer named Cydney Scott?” I asked her. She smiled back with some surprise and hesitancy, “yes!”

I stuck my hand out and laughed “hi! I’m Cydney Scott, your senior portrait photographer!”

Reghan’s mom had booked me for a senior session with her daughter, but we’d yet to meet at this point. We had a good laugh, wondered what the odds were of of us running into each other in this way before meeting, and told each other we’d see each other again in a few days for her session. You can see that photo HERE.

Cut to a few days later and Reghan and I had a great time wandering the BU campus to get a good variety of shots for her collection. It was a delightful time.

As we parted ways, I told her I’d keep an eye out for her on the field, since I would be there covering BU’s commencement two days later. “When I see you I’m going to point and scream like Elf ‘I KNOW HER!” I joked and we had a good laugh.

I was wandering the field that two days later at commencement when I heard my name called out from the crowd. I turned to find Reghan beaming from her seat. “I KNOW HER!” she yelled at me while laughing. It made me smile so wide. I love connecting with other humans.

Amelia's Senior Session

(When you draft a blog entry in October and suddenly realize months later you never published it. Until now!) High school senior Amelia and I, along with her mom, wandered Boston Common and Beacon Hill for her session. The weather here in Boston has been so hit or miss, so an overcast day was appreciated in lieu of rain!


Olivia's Senior Portrait Shoot

Olivia decided on Boston Common and the surrounding area for her session. I had a great time wandering on a beautiful Sunday (along with, apparently, everyone else in Boston!) with her and her mom. We explored into Beacon Hill as well, and finished our session back in the garden.

Olivia is smart, chill, and flexible with all our wandering.

An as you can see, she did a great job during her session. And shout out to all the parents, Olivia’s included, who help with my shoots. In this case, leaf sprinkling!

Click HERE to learn more about senior sessions!

Aidan's Senior Session

Lately I’ve been introduced to some new locations to shoot and it’s been so fun! Aidan’s mom Julie recommended downtown Arlington and it was a great suggestion with a variety of spots - big rocks, architectural features to play with. Fun!

And because the world is so small, while Julie and I were chatting we discovered her brother graduation from Ohio U one year before I started there.

Here are some of my favorites from my time with Aidan;

Fiona's Senior Session

Working with Fiona, a tall, sharp, easy-going senior from Arlington, was a delight. Her mom suggested we check out Arlington Reservoir and I’m so glad we did!

As you can see, it made a lovely backdrop for a session with variety!

Ashley's Graduating!

Ashley’s mom Kristen brought confetti. I mean, what more do you need than a pumped graduate-to-be and some confetti? Nothing, I say!

So much fun!

Congratulations, Ashley!

Molly's Senior Session

When Molly’s mom got in touch to schedule her daughter’s senior session, I learned that Molly was the drum major in her high school marching band, and I knew we were kindred spirits.

Photographing Molly was so easy and fun. She’s super comfortable in front of the camera, and was up for any location. We started in downtown Stoneham, then shifted over to a nearby beach.

When I asked her if she found the session tolerable she said something to the effect of “What’s not to like? I got to pose for photos for an hour or two while someone complimented me!”

Sounds good to me, too!

Angeles' Senior Session

Well it was hot-as-a-griddle outside during high school graduate Angeles’ senior session on Boston Common, but you wouldn’t know that from the photos. She did an awesome job keeping a breezy manner for her shoot!


Phebean's Senior Session

A short time ago I met up with two Boston University alums for a photo shoot for BU Today. They chose the location, which was a bridge in South Boston. They called it “Southie Bridge” but as far as I can figure, it doesn’t actually have a name. It leads to a very cool underpass with gorgeous murals, concrete walkways and lovely tree-lined trails.

I knew when I saw it that this is where I needed to meet Phebean for her senior session. Phebean arrived with a few outfit changes, ending her session proudly wearing the shirt of the school she’ll be attending in the fall - Brandeis.

We brain-stormed before meeting in person and Phebe told me about her pride for Nigeria where her family is from. It was luck that when she brought her flag out to be photographed with it, the sun came out and the skies opened up all at once!

Phebe is also an activist and has organized some BLM marches, so I we incorporated that too.

She was so much fun to work with, and didn’t bat an eye when I suggested “how about climbing over on those rocks (in your lovely non-hiking sandals)?”

And They're Off! {boston graduation photographer}

Last year I had the great pleasure of following the Boston University Dance Team through their competition season for picture story for BU Today. You can see the story here. I was in my happiest place when I was a fly on the wall documenting their hard work, their camaraderie, their challenges and triumphs. It was one of my favorite work things to happen last year.

Since then, I occasionally see some of the dancers on campus. I would give them a big hug and enjoy a quick chat before they rushed to their next class on campus.

When Nina contacted me at the end of this year asking if I would photograph some of dancers from last year who are now seniors, I was so excited to see them again and photograph them! This time was a bit different since they were not pushing their bodies to the limit perfecting dance routines (it was a bit more chill this time around), but I really loved being able to chat with them and hear about where they are headed next. We wandered campus photographing each grad in front of her college, did various group and single shots, and of course, got them stepping on the crest (which i recently learned we’ve been incorrectly referring to as a “seal” for many many years) - a BU superstition.

Congratulations, Terriers!