Anna Lisa Photography » Custom high school senior portrait photography on location in the Tacoma and Seattle Washington area

  • TACOMA & SEATTLE, WA

    Hello and welcome!
    I specialize in high school and college
    senior portraits,
    aim to provide a relaxed, fun
    photography experience
    and strive to deliver timeless images
    that capture your unique
    CONFIDENCE, JOY & BEAUTY.

    Click the INQUIRE TAB for more info!

    I’ve been to the Washington Park Arboretum once before, but that was a few years ago.  So, it was really important to me to scout the park prior to this session and see what all the arboretum had to offer.  It’s a beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors and I found so many great locations, starting on this terrace by the visitor’s center.

    This is Luke and he is a senior year at O’Dea High School in Seattle.

    Thanks to Luke’s mom, he had a nice variety of clothing options.  This polo shirt really made his blue eyes pop.  After finishing our photos at the terrace, Luke changed his outfit and we walked a short distance to our next location.  Even simple accessories make an impact in your images and I couldn’t pass up getting a detail shot!

    Luke is obviously a natural in front of the camera and it was tempting to stay in this location because the light was amazing.

    To save time and daylight, we drove to another parking lot that put us right at our next location.


    In my opinion, summer evenings are the best time to get your senior pictures taken.  Golden hour happens about two hours prior to sunset and makes everything look a little bit magical.

    The start of a brand new school year is just around the corner.  We were lucky to schedule Luke’s session before he started twice a day football practice.  When he’s not out on the field, you can find him on the ski slopes, playing tennis, kiteboarding and mountain biking.

    After graduation next spring, Luke wants to study computer science and is considering a number of colleges.  CU Boulder, USC, Georgia Tech and Duke University are just a few on Luke’s list.

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    • Gail - Thanks for such a great session!ReplyCancel

      • lisa.a.gonzalez@comcast.net - Luke did a fantastic job. He was so confident in front of the camera and really easy to photograph! I hope he has a great senior year!ReplyCancel

    Normally, you see senior sessions on this blog, but recently, I had the chance to do something a little different.  I met up with my sister in-law and nephew to shoot modeling headshots and we had such fun!  Kirsten and Ken did a great job coming up with four very different wardrobe looks for the session.  They had such attention to detail and I loved all the accessories they brought to complete each look.  We started off with a sports theme.

    Ken traded out his sports gear for a more fashion forward studious look.
    This one called for a detail shot!Next up was James Dean with a blond twist.We were losing light but wanted to capture one more look.You did such a great job, Ken!  Thank you so much for asking me to take your modeling headshots for you.  This was so much fun and I’m excited to see where this adventure takes you!

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    This beautiful girl is Samantha and she is an upcoming senior at Mt. Rainier High School.  I met her and her mom at the Kubota Garden in Seattle and I’m so happy they chose this location.  I had never been to the garden before and it did not disappoint.  We started off Samantha’s session right at the entrance and she was a natural from the get go.

    It’s an understatement to say that Samantha is busy with a lot of extra curricular activities.  She’s a gymnast, dance team member, plays musical instruments, sings and is part of the Hi-Liners, a musical theater group in Burien with a full season of productions, classes, and workshops.  I love that she’s not shy about performing and sharing her many talents.

    We were treated to this amazing golden sun all evening and it was magical.  I can give you a list of reasons why you should get your senior pictures taken before senior year begins.  Long summer evenings filled with golden sunlight is number one on that list!

    Samantha’s wardrobe choices were perfect for her and the setting and I love the pop of color from the hydrangeas, which are blooming around the garden.

    Samantha rightly laughed at some of the things I asked her to do or when I repeatedly put her in the shrubberies, but she trusted me when I told her it would all look great in her final images!

    It’s a success when I get a senior mom in the picture with her baby girl.  These are precious moments and they should be captured!  Thank you, Nancy, for letting me snap this shot of you and Sam!I saved the Japanese garden for last and Samantha’s red dress looks amazing in contrast with all of the greens.

    After graduation, Samantha hopes to attend Western or the University of Hawaii to study elementary education.  On the side, she hopes to fill out her schedule with as many extracurriculars as she can!

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    It’s one thing when clients hire you for their portraits once, but it’s such a blessing when they trust you enough to come back a second time!  I had the privilege to photograph Karla’s senior portraits last year, and just the other evening, we met at Pt. Defiance Park for her cap and gown session.  Karla’s mom, Angela, had these custom Mickey Mouse ears made for upcoming graduation.  Is this the cutest senior swag you’ve every seen?

    It’s obvious that the camera adores Karla.  She is so at ease and exudes a quiet confidence.  Karla also has the best “serious smile”.

    I’m a big fan of detail shots and I love to capture images from different perspectives, adding to the variety of your images.

    Bring the accessories that are meaningful to you and the occasion.  Karla is sporting her Bellarmine class of 2022 ring, so this was an important item deserving a close-up shot.  Senior girls take note.  Whether you wear polish or not, it’s a great idea to come with your nails looking neat.

    This was a special photo session for several reasons and Karla and her mom chose the pagoda and gardens as they are reminiscent of significant memories for the both of them.

    Angela has every right to be a very proud mom of this really lovely young lady.

    Big events and changes are on the horizon for Karla and her mom.  I wish you both every happiness as you celebrate the final weeks of senior year.  I hope you soak up all the good memories to be made and know that I pray for every blessing and success as you navigate college life and beyond!  Congratulations, Karla and Angela!  Thank you for allowing me to photograph this special time in your lives!

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    I met Maddie and her mom at Discovery Park in Seattle for Maddie’s senior session.  Now that I’ve been here a few times, it’s becoming one of my favorite places.  Of course I wanted to start out with some pictures of Maddie in front of this beautiful historic military house.

    Maddie brought several cute outfits and this first one was such a great choice.  I love the small, non distracting pattern, the pop of color, and the fun ruffle and rouching details.  Outfit aside, you can’t help but notice Maddie’s gorgeous brown eyes.  Stunning!

    One of the fun things about portrait sessions in a repeat location is finding ways to shoot from a different perspective.  We got a great variety of poses by these columns.

    With the help of mom, Maddie made her first outfit change.  The lace detail and puffed sleeves give this dress such a wow factor and I think it was the perfect choice for our next location.  I wasn’t kidding when I told Maddie I was putting her in the shrubberies, but she just laughed and went for it.  I really love this series of images and I think Maddie looks like a modern day princess!


    It’s so easy to get caught up in the moment when the beautiful light, location, outfits, and an extremely photogenic client all come together, but time management is so important when shooting on location!  I’ve started setting a timer so as not to short myself, or the client, at our next spot.  Maddie really wanted to get pictures at the beach and the West Point Lighthouse did not disappoint.

    This summer dress is the perfect blue for Maddie and provided a nice pop of color against the rocks and driftwood.  Here she is with her beautiful mom, Cyndee!  Senior year is such a bittersweet time for parents who are so proud of their kids but wonder how the last 18 years went by so fast!

    Outside of school, Maddie enjoys horse back riding and works at the Seattle Aquarium, where she rotates through the different exhibits and educates visitors about the animals and their habitats.  Following graduation from Holy Names Academy at the end of May, Maddie has her sights set on sunny California.  She will attend the University of San Diego and major in Environmental and Ocean Sciences, specifically the Marine ecology pathway, and pursue a life’s work as a marine biologist.

    Maddie, I hope you enjoy this last month of school, make all the good memories and celebrate your graduation with family and friends!  All the best, Anna Lisa!

     

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